Invoice Russell. Larry Hen. Paul Pierce. Jayson Tatum.
The Boston Celtics group has been residence to many nice gamers spanning practically each period of NBA basketball. Naturally, these gamers grew to become beloved by the fanbase.
Greatness all the time shines by way of, propelling those that obtain it into the highlight. However there are various paths to stardom relating to Celtics followers. Oftentimes, essentially the most liked gamers aren’t stars in any respect, however the actual reverse.
Celtics followers are among the most linked within the sport. That’s simply the best way Boston operates. Within the case of most, the phrase “bleed inexperienced” is as near literal because it presumably might be. They eat, sleep, and breathe Celtics basketball with each recreation, basket, and dribble.
That degree of dedication breeds essentially the most unlikely bonds the place bizarre Celtics Twitter meets diehard fandom.
Daniel Theis
Throughout his tenure with the Celtics, Daniel Theis fairly actually had followers able to go to battle for him. “The Warfare on Theis” was an all-too-real motion, and regardless of solely showing in 257 video games with Boston in a supporting position, Theis developed a severe following.
The massive man is most well-known for his 2019-20 marketing campaign with the Celtics, by which he began 64 of the 65 common season video games he performed in and all 17 playoff video games. He wasn’t the beginning heart Boston wanted to win a title, however even throughout his second stint with the Celtics, followers gravitated to the German vet.
Tacko Fall
Twenty-six. Twenty-six and 169. That’s what number of video games and minutes Tacko Fall performed for the Celtics. Regardless of spending simply two years in Boston, followers had been completely obsessive about the 7-foot-6 behemoth.
From chanting his title in rubbish time to getting Brad Stevens to taunt the group, urging them to deliver their greatest earlier than subbing him into the sport, Fall captivated the group each time he stepped onto the courtroom. He could not have was the rotation participant many hoped he’d be, however the Fall expertise in Beantown is an period followers can look again on with a smile.
Jonas Jerebko
A premier choice by CelticsBlog editor extraordinaire Invoice Sy, Jonas Jerebko was an underrated position participant in Boston who performed some big-time playoff minutes. One peek at Celtics Reddit unveils a submit the place a Utah Jazz fan requested if Boston followers favored Jerebko. The primary response? “Yeah he was nice are you ******* insane? WE all liked him.”
Jerebko was inclined to some clutch threes, however his vitality on the courtroom could have been his greatest attribute. Most followers nonetheless keep in mind when the Swedish ahead stood over Kevin Love and informed him to “rise up” and cease flopping. How may Celtics followers not fall in love with a man like that?
Luigi Datome
One way or the other, right here’s a man who spent even much less time with the Celtics than Fall did. Whether or not it’s a meals or a online game character, Boston followers seemingly have a factor for guys with enjoyable names as a result of Luigi Datome was beloved throughout his transient 18-game stint with the workforce.
As you may think about, Datome didn’t accomplish a lot in Boston (he by no means actually had the time to), however he was a loveable aspect character throughout the workforce’s 2014-15 marketing campaign. And whereas it didn’t happen throughout his time with the Celtics, kudos to CelticsBlog’s Oliver Fox for gracing us with this video of Datome getting blocked… by the backboard.
Brandon Bass
Falling extra in keeping with the Jerebko-Theis pipeline somewhat than the Fall-Datome duo, Brandon Bass loved one of the best years of his profession in Boston. His silky-smooth mid-range recreation made him a pleasure to look at. (If solely he may have prolonged it right into a three-point shot, he could have caught round within the league for a bit longer.)
Bass performed with the right mixture of finesse, shock hops, and vitality to make him an on the spot fan favourite throughout his time with the Celtics. There was nothing like watching the large man jab step, faux a middy, after which drive to the ring for a slam. He was a terrific carryover piece from the Large 3 period to the rebuilding years. (And Brandon Bass Jr. is on his method to the league, with presents from LSU, Houston, and Illinois already.)
Walter McCarty
“I LOVE WALTAH!” If the nice Tommy Hainsohn loves a man, then Celtics followers ought to (and did), too. Walter McCarty was a member of the dark-age Celtics, spending seven-and-a-half years in Boston from 1997-2004. The 6-foot-10 ahead gave the league a primary have a look at what a stretch 4 was.
He shot 34.9% from deep throughout his time with the Celtics, together with two separate seasons of capturing above 37.0% from behind the arc. He by no means even averaged eight factors a recreation, however he performed with nice hustle and seemingly made all the large photographs he obtained. It was an ideal combine for a Celtic, and Heinsohn, fan favourite.
Jordan Crawford
A private favourite of the First to the Ground podcast, Jordan Crawford offered the mix of “apparent position participant” and “whoa, this man could possibly be actually good” that just a few guys can. Boston traded Leandro Barbosa and Jason Collins for him in 2013, and whereas they flipped him a 12 months later, his time with the Celtics was electrical.
Crawford solely spent 66 video games with the Celtics, and he solely averaged 12 factors, however he scored 20+ in 10 video games. The 6-foot-4 guard even took residence Japanese Convention Participant of the Week honors in December of 2013. Plus, he dunked on LeBron James throughout his personal camp in 2009, so he was really destined to be liked by Celtics followers.
Leon Powe
Cherished largely for his position in Boston’s 2008 championship run, Leon Powe endeared himself to Celtics followers with a 21-point efficiency in Sport 2 of the NBA Finals towards the Los Angeles Lakers. His exhibiting propelled the Celtics to a six-point win. They took the collection in six video games, and he even chipped in with eight factors within the last contest.
Alongside the likes of James Posey and Eddie Home, who is also on this checklist, Powe could not have been a star, however he’s liked like one. Powe continued his work with the Celtics after his short-lived enjoying profession was accomplished, too, as they employed him as a group ambassador in 2014.
Evan Turner
After being drafted second general by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2010, Evan Turner was traded within the last 12 months of his rookie contract. He signed with the Celtics the next summer time and instantly made an affect. Turner wasn’t a terrific three-point shooter, however he did nearly all the pieces else on the courtroom effectively. His time with the Celtics even helped him earn an enormous contract from the Portland Path Blazers.
Whereas Turner performed fairly stable throughout his time in Boston, it was his persona that made him so lovable. Turner was so well liked by the Celtics group that they introduced him again in a training position as soon as he retired from basketball in 2020. He nonetheless interacts with Celtics followers on Twitter to this present day.
Marcus Good
His DPOY win may qualify him for the “too good for this checklist” group, however contemplating he’s by no means been an All-Star, leaving Marcus Good out appeared fallacious. The final word fan-favorite throughout his nine-year stint with the Celtics, Good stands out as the most beloved non-star within the historical past of the group.
From his on-court hustle to his off-the-court group work, Good was the epitome of what a Celtic ought to be. Clearly, his time with the workforce didn’t finish the best way he or the followers needed, however his return to TD Backyard would be the excellent indicator of simply how a lot he meant to the town.
Different gamers who may have been included on this checklist embrace Shane Larkin, Vitor Faverani, David Wesley, Ed Pickney, and Jared Sillinger, all of whom had been talked about within the CelticsBlog chat.
For sure, few different fanbases fall in love with position gamers fairly like Celtics Nation.
