NBA: The 30 best trios in league history
Best trios in NBA history: 15. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen
- Pierce: 19.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg
- Garnett: 15.9 ppg, 8.4 rbg, 52.2 fg%
- Allen: 16.5 ppg, 91.3 ft%, 41.3 fg%
- Finals record: 1-1
- Time together: 2008-2012
For decades upon decades, the Boston Celtics were essentially an afterthought. We all remember the 1960s and 80s where Bean Town would make constant trips to the NBA Finals. For approximately 20 plus years, there was nothing that interesting about one of the more glorified franchises.
Sure they had superstar Paul Pierce. And while he made numerous trips to All-Star games and lit up the scoreboards from an individual standpoint, there was virtually no team success to speak of.
Everything changed during the 2007-08 season. General Manager Danny Ainge swung for the fences and brought in two Hall of Famers in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. In years past, when all three players were solo acts, they all averaged over 20 plus points. Once they joined forces, they placed their egos to the side and played winning basketball.
In five seasons together, the Celtics made two Finals appearances and took home an NBA title. Seemingly every year, the Celtics were at the top of the charts in terms of defensive ratings. Even some of the all time best players in franchise history tipped their caps to that squad and their ability to lock down on that end of the floor.
Pierce was selected to the All-Star game all five seasons, Garnett managed to get selected in four out of those five seasons and Allen made three trips himself. Regardless of the praise and adulation that is oftentimes sent in their direction, the Celtics ultimately rank a bit lower on this list due to their inability to rack up more than one title. Considering how good they were historically, we believe at least one additional title slipped through their fingers.