Boston Celtics: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history
By Frank Urbina
1. Larry Bird (SF) — No. 6 pick in 1978 NBA Draft
Career stats (with the Celtics): 897 GP, 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 STL, 0.8 BLK, 3.1 TOV, 49.6 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 88.6 FT%
Where else could we close out our list but with one of the two greatest small forwards in NBA history, Larry Bird?
The legend’s career spanned for 13 seasons, all of which were spent in Boston, and his accolades are numerous:
- All-Star in all but one season of his career (1989, when he was only able to suit up for six games)
- Three-time MVP
- Two-time Finals MVP
- Nine-time All-NBA First Team
- One-time All-NBA Second Team
- Three-time All-Defensive Second Team
- Three-time NBA champion
It’s kind of scary to consider how much better Bird’s numbers would have been had his career not gotten cut short due to injury. His averages (I mean, for his career, the guy was a walking 24 and 10 double-double along with six-plus assists nightly) are absurd to consider as is — imagine if his prime was extended just a bit?
Nevertheless, he’s still No. 3 in Celtics history in scoring (21,791 points scored), No. 4 in threes made (649), No. 4 in rebounds (8,974), No. 2 in assists (5,695) and No. 3 in steals (1,556).
Bird was the perfect blend of scoring, rebounding and distributing — a LeBron James before LeBron James, even despite their difference in athleticism. For those who think James and Magic Johnson are the only two amazing passers to ever exist at 6’8″+, I have some news for you: Bird was just as good.
More importantly, though, as is the case with every great Celtic ever, Bird put winning above all else. And, once again, like the other guys on our countdown, he did a lot of it.
Next: Lakers - Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history
Now, it’s time for us to look toward the future. Boston is on the clock, owners of the first pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. Will the player they take — be it Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball or whoever else — have a career resembling any of the men we just listed? Probably not; but if they enjoy even one-fifth of any of their successes, the selection will be yet another home run by the Celtics.