The Boston Celtics, one of the most successful of all NBA teams, is a professional basketball team, hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. They play their home games at TD Gardens in Boston, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. It was originally founded in 1946 and, since that time, has earned such a stellar reputation that many think of the Celtics first when they think of NBA basketball.
Boston is currently tied for the number of NBA Finals wins with the LA Lakers. Each franchise has 17 titles. Furthermore, Boston has won the Eastern Conference title nine times and a division title an astonishing 33 times. This includes a division title from their most recent season.
In that season, the 2022/23 NBA season, Boston fell in the conference finals to the Miami Heat. They tried, and failed, to come back from an 0-3 deficit in the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals but managed to force a game seven after trailing by the large deficit.
Interesting Facts
The Celtics received an extra draft pick in 1986 as part of a deal from 1984 involving Gerald Henderson. The Celtics chose Len Bias, a star from the University of Maryland. Bias died 48 hours after being drafted due to cocaine overdose. Prior to his death, Bias was thought to be among his generations best talents. Accordingly, his death is often one of those much-debated points in sports history. Fans and pundits alike have often wondered how NBA history would have went in the 1980s and 1990s if Bias had not died.
The Boston Celtics and the 2023 NBA Draft
Who did the Celtics Pick in the 2023 NBA Draft? The Boston Celtics did not have any first-round picks heading into the 2023 NBA Draft. They dealt their pick away but it would have been a late-round pick anyways, due to their strong finish in 2022/23 season. With the 35th pick overall (ie. a second-round pick), Boston took Julian Phillips. However, he was swiftly traded to the Chicago Bulls.
The Celtics, following the 2022/23 season, were actually quite active in trades. They acquired Kristaps Porzingis in a trade that saw Marcus Smart leave Boston.
Boston Celtics: Management and Coaches
Boston Basketball Partners, a group of investors led by CEO Wyc Grousbeck, owns the franchise. The team’s president is Rich Gotham, who oversees the team’s operations and business activities. Brad Stevens, a former coach for Boston, serves as the team’s general manager. He is responsible for player personnel decisions and managing the team’s salary cap. Meanwhile, the Celtics’ head coach is Joe Mazzulla, who took over the position in 2021 following a controversy with the team’s former coach. Mazzulla has been with the team since 2019, serving as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach.
The team has also produced many Hall of Fame players, including Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and Paul Pierce. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, a venue that can seat almost 20,000 fans.
Key Boston Celtics Players Under Contract
The Boston Celtics have a strong and talented roster of players under contract ahead of the 2023 NBA draft. The team’s top players include Jayson Tatum, who is signed for $32,600,060, and Jaylen Brown, who is signed for $28,508,929 with a guaranteed amount of $28,508,928 (all contact details from Spotrac). Brown will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 NBA Draft. The recently acquired Kristaps Porzingis has the biggest contract at just over $36M for the upcoming season.
The Boston Celtics also have a strong supporting cast. Malcolm Brogdon is signed for $22,500,000. Derrick White, considered an underrated player, is signed for $17,607,143. Robert Williams III, Al Horford, and Danilo Gallinari have the next-biggest contracts on the team.
Current Boston Celtics Free Agents
The Boston Celtics have some somewhat notable free agents. Grant Williams, who is a restricted free agent, has been a contributor for Boston. Another free agent for the Celtics is Blake Griffin, a former No. 1 pick from several years ago. Griffin, who is at the tail end of his career, has not been a major contributor recently. His future with the team and in the NBA is uncertain. In addition to these two players, the Celtics also have two-way players J.D. Davison and Mfiondu Kabengele, both of whom are set to become restricted free agents.
Previous Boston Celtics Draft Selections Since 2000
Year Round Pick Player Pos Age Pre-Draft Team
2023 2 35 Julian Phillips F United States Tennessee
2022 2 53 JD Davison PG United States Alabama
2021 2 45 Juhann Begarin SG France
2020 1 14 Aaron Nesmith F 21 Vanderbilt
2020 1 26 Payton Pritchard PG 22 Oregon
2020 1 30 Desmond Bane SG 22 Texas Christian
2020 2 47 Yam Madar G 19 Hapoel Tel Aviv
2019 1 14 Romeo Langford SG 19 Indiana
2019 1 20 Matisse Thybulle SF 22 Washington
2019 1 22 Grant Williams SF 20 Tennessee
2019 2 51 Tremont Waters SG 21 LSU
2018 1 27 Robert Williams PF 20 Texas A&M
2017 1 3 Jayson Tatum SF 19 Duke
2017 2 37 Semi Ojeleye SF 22 Southern Methodist
2017 2 53 Kadeem Allen G 24 Arizona
2017 2 56 Jabari Bird SG 22 California
2016 1 3 Jaylen Brown SF 19 California
2016 1 16 Guerschon Yabusele PF 20 Rouen Metropole Basket
2016 1 23 Ante Zizic C 19 KK Cibona
2016 2 31 Deyonta Davis PF 19 Michigan State
2016 2 35 Rade Zagorac SF 20 KK Mega Bemax
2016 2 45 Demetrius Jackson G 21 Notre Dame
2016 2 51 Ben Bentil F 21 Providence
2016 2 58 Abdel Nader SF 22 Iowa State
2015 1 16 Terry Rozier G 21 Louisville
2015 1 28 R.J. Hunter G 21 Georgia State
2015 2 33 Jordan Mickey PF 20 LSU
2015 2 45 Marcus Thornton G 22 William & Mary
2014 1 6 Marcus Smart PG 20 Oklahoma State
2014 1 17 James Young SG 18 Kentucky
2013 1 16 Lucas Nogueira C 20 Movistar Estudiantes
2012 1 21 Jared Sullinger C 20 Ohio State
2012 1 22 Fab Melo C 22 Syracuse
2012 2 51 Kris Joseph SF 23 Syracuse
2011 1 25 MarShon Brooks GF 22 Providence
2011 2 55 E’Twaun Moore SG 22 Purdue
2010 1 19 Avery Bradley PG 19 Texas
2010 2 52 Luke Harangody F 22 Notre Dame
2009 2 58 Lester Hudson G 24 Tennessee Martin
2008 1 30 J.R. Giddens GF 23 New Mexico
2008 2 60 Semih Erden C 21 Fenerbahce Ulker
2007 1 5 Jeff Green F 20 Georgetown
2007 2 32 Gabe Pruitt G 21 USC
2006 1 7 Ryan Foye G 22 Villanova
2005 1 18 Gerald Green GF 19 Gulf Shores Academy
2005 2 50 Ryan Gomes F 22 Providence
2005 2 53 Oriane Green G 23 Louisiana
2004 1 15 Al Jefferson FC 19 Prentiss High School
2004 1 24 Delonte West G 20 Saint Joseph’s
2004 1 25 Tony Allen SG 22 Oklahoma State
2004 2 40 Justin Reed F 22 Ole Miss
2003 1 16 Troy Bell G 22 Boston College
2003 1 20 Dahntay Jones GF 22 Duke
2003 2 56 Brandon Hunter C 22 Ohio
2002 2 49 Darius Songaila PF 24 Wake Forest
2001 1 10 Joe Johnson SG 19 Arkansas
2001 1 11 Kedrick Brown GF 20 UCLA
2001 1 21 Joseph Forte SG 20 North Carolina
2000 1 11 Jerimo Moiso FC 22 UCLA
Boston Celtics Draft Picks FAQs
Is Jaylen Brown playing for the Celtics?
He is signed through the 2023/24 NBA season. There has been some NBA discussion suggesting that he will get signed to an extension prior to the expiration of his current contract.
Is Marcus Smart playing for the Boston Celtics still?
Unfortunately, Smart was traded from Boston.
