Boston Celtics: 15 players you forgot played for the Celtics

5. Chauncey Billups

The Boston Celtics drafted a player in 1997 who would eventually become one of the best players in the NBA throughout his career in Chauncey Billups. Unfortunately for the Celtics, Billups did not work out all that well with then-head coach Rick Pitino and it ultimately led to him getting traded to the Toronto Raptors prior to the trade deadline during his rookie season.

Billups bounced around teams for a while before finding a true home for himself on the Detroit Pistons in 2002 that would end up lasting for six years. He was the focal point of the Pistons and would average over 16 points per game in each season with the team. In 2004, Billups would lead the Pistons to an NBA Finals championship and earn Finals MVP. His No. 1 jersey was retired by the Pistons.

The best basketball player in the history of the state of Colorado, Billups, was a five-time NBA All-Star (2006-2010), two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team, NBA Sportsmanship Award recipient (2009), and also won NBA Teammate of the Year (2013). Billups was also on the 2010 USA National Team that won the Gold Medal.

If given the chance to prove himself in Boston with a coach that could have utilized him to his full potential, Billups could have been a centerpiece around a team that eventually drafted Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson in the following years after him. With the versatility of Billups, who could run the floor, that could have been a special team in Boston Celtics history.