2007–08 Boston Celtics season
Encyclopedia
The 2007–08 Boston Celtics season was the 62nd season of the Boston Celtics
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). Powered by the acquisitions of perennial All-Stars Kevin Garnett
and Ray Allen
in the offseason, the Celtics finished with a record of 66–16 and posted the best single-season turnaround in NBA history, improving by 42 wins from the previous season. They finished 1st in both the Atlantic Division
and the Eastern Conference
, and had the league's best record. Kevin Garnett
was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year
, while Danny Ainge
, who executed "the most dramatic NBA turnaround ever", was named NBA Executive of the Year
. The Celtics also sold out all 41 regular-season home games.
Their two-year absence from the playoffs
came to an end as they met the Atlanta Hawks
in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs
. Eventually, they advanced to the NBA Finals
for the first time in 21 years, where they met the Los Angeles Lakers
. The Celtics won 4–2, capturing their first championship since , and 17th all-time. However, they had a far difficult path to this championship, playing 26 games, the most any team had ever played in a post-season.
On May 22, the Celtics were assigned the 5th overall selection in the NBA Draft Lottery
, essentially losing their chance of drafting either Greg Oden
or Kevin Durant
, who both were considered to go 1st and 2nd in the Draft. The 5th pick was the worst-case scenario for the Celtics, who had a 19.9% chance of obtaining the 1st overall selection. However, on June 28, the day of the 2007 NBA Draft
, the Celtics traded the 5th pick along with Wally Szczerbiak
and Delonte West
to the Seattle SuperSonics
in exchange for All-Star 3-point specialist Ray Allen
and the 35th overall selection prior to the event, and with the 5th pick selected forward Jeff Green
for Seattle. In the second round of the Draft, the Celtics selected guard Gabe Pruitt
with the 32nd pick, which was their own, and forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis
with the 35th pick, previously obtained from Seattle.
On July 31, the Celtics traded for 10-time All-Star and 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett
in the single largest trade for one player in NBA history. He was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves
in exchange for Al Jefferson
, Ryan Gomes
, Theo Ratliff
, Gerald Green
, Sebastian Telfair
, Boston's 2009 first-round draft pick (top three protected), the return of Minnesota's conditional first-round draft pick previously obtained in the 2006 Ricky Davis
-Wally Szczerbiak
trade and cash considerations. By adding Garnett to All-Stars Paul Pierce
and Ray Allen
, the trade brought a new era of relevance to the long-struggling franchise, but it also left the roster short-handed.
and Jackie Manuel
on August 1, just two days after the Garnett trade, and center Scot Pollard
on August 9. Later, Ainge called and asked 5-time All-Star Reggie Miller
to return from his 2-year retirement and join the roster in a reserve role. Miller strongly considered the possibility of playing alongside Garnett, but ultimately announced on August 23 that he would not join the Celtics. On August 27, forward James Posey
signed with the team and was considered a decisive signing which instantly gave the Celtics a drastic improvement to their bench.
On September 26, center Esteban Batista
and guard Dahntay Jones
signed non-guaranteed contracts with the Celtics, two days before the beginning of training camp and the team's departure to Rome
for the 2007 NBA Europe Live Tour
. Curiously, Jones was involved in a trade back in the 2003 NBA Draft
, in which the Celtics drafted him with the 20th overall selection, but immediately traded him with the 16th pick, Troy Bell
, to the Memphis Grizzlies
in exchange for the 13th pick, Marcus Banks
, and the 27th pick, Kendrick Perkins
. Ultimately, the Celtics waived Batista on October 16, and Manuel and Jones on October 25, bringing the roster down to 14 players, one shy of the league maximum of 15 players, in order to have roster flexibility and be able to sign another player midway through the season.
Later in the season, on December 18, the Celtics released yet another player, Brandon Wallace
, in order to have even more roster flexibility that coach Doc Rivers
said they needed. This move brought the roster down to only 13 players, which is the league minimum for players allowed on a team's roster. On February 27, the Celtics signed center
P.J. Brown
for the remainder of the season, in order to bolster their front court. His decision to come to Boston was strongly aided by a conversation with future teammates Ray Allen
and Paul Pierce
, who convinced him to sign with the Celtics during the 2008
NBA All-Star Weekend
. On March 4, 2008, the Celtics officially announced that they had signed guard
Sam Cassell
. After the signing, Cassell immediately flew back to his hometown of Baltimore to attend funeral services for a deceased family member. This signing ultimately put the roster up to the league maximum of 15 players.
, whom Celtics coach Doc Rivers
played for, and the 2005 Detroit Pistons
, each of whom played 25, but lost their respective finals in seven games (Knicks in , Pistons in ). This record was set in Game 6 of the Finals.
|-
|
| 73 || 73 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 35.9 || .445 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .398 || .907 || 3.7 || 3.1 || 0.89 || 0.22 || 17.4
|-
|
| 75 || 11 || 18.3 || .434 || .316 || .762 || 2.2 || 1.5 || 0.83 || 0.28 || 6.6
|-
|
| 18 || 0 || 11.6 || .341 || .000 || .688 || 3.8 || 0.6 || 0.28 || 0.44 || 2.2
|-
|
| 55 || 34 || 23.1 || .438 || .303 || .882 || 2.5 || 3.9 || 0.67 || 0.11 || 11.2
|-
|
| 69 || 1 || 13.6 || .484 || .000 || .660 || 3.0 || 0.4 || 0.45 || 0.29 || 4.5
|-
|
| 71 || 71 || 32.8 || .539 || .000 || .801 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 9.2 || 3.4 || 1.41 || 1.25 || 18.8
|-
|
| 78 || 2 || 19.0 || .409 || .393 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .917 || 2.1 || 1.9 || 0.76 || 0.13 || 7.5
|-
|
| 78 || 78 || 24.5 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .615 || .000 || .623 || 6.1 || 1.1 || 0.40 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.46 || 6.9
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 80 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 80 || 35.9 || .464 || .392 || .843 || 5.1 || 4.5 || 1.26 || 0.45 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 19.6
|-
|
| 22 || 0 || 7.9 || .522 || .000 || .682 || 1.7 || 0.1 || 0.14 || 0.27 || 1.8
|-
|
| 74 || 2 || 24.6 || .418 || .380 || .809 || 4.4 || 1.5 || 0.97 || 0.26 || 7.4
|-
|
| 56 || 5 || 14.4 || .572 || .000 || .710 || 4.1 || 0.3 || 0.27 || 0.29 || 7.9
|-
|
| 15 || 0 || 6.3 || .359 || .250 || .500 || 0.5 || 0.9 || 0.33 || 0.00 || 2.1
|-
|
| 77 || 77 || 29.9 || .492 || .263 || .611 || 4.2 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 5.1 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.68 || 0.17 || 10.6
|-
|
| 48 || 9 || 10.7 || .309 || .326 || .750 || 1.6 || 0.8 || 0.19 || 0.17 || 1.8
|}
* Totals for season (incl. games with Los Angeles Clippers
).
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 38.0 || .428 || .396 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .913 || 3.8 || 2.7 || 0.92 || 0.31 || 15.6
|-
|
| 15 || 0 || 4.3 || .563 || .000 || .400 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 0.13 || 0.00 || 1.3
|-
|
| 25 || 0 || 13.6 || .464 || .000 || .840 || 2.4 || 0.5 || 0.20 || 0.40 || 2.9
|-
|
| 21 || 0 || 12.6 || .333 || .214 || .824 || 0.7 || 1.2 || 0.38 || 0.05 || 4.5
|-
|
| 17 || 0 || 8.1 || .412 || .000 || .611 || 1.5 || 0.4 || 0.29 || 0.24 || 2.3
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 38.0 || .495 || .250 || .810 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 10.5 || 3.3 || 1.35 || 1.12 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 20.4
|-
|
| 21 || 0 || 7.9 || .304 || .355 || .875 || 1.0 || 0.9 || 0.24 || 0.05 || 2.5
|-
|
| 25 || 25 || 25.2 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .585 || .000 || .678 || 6.1 || 0.5 || 0.60 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.28 || 6.6
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 38.1 || .441 || .361 || .802 || 5.0 || 4.6 || 1.08 || 0.31 || 19.7
|-
|
| 0 || 0 || 0.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.0
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 0 || 22.0 || .437 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .398 || .875 || 3.6 || 1.1 || 1.00 || 0.31 || 6.7
|-
|
| 23 || 1 || 11.7 || .493 || .000 || .667 || 2.7 || 0.2 || 0.00 || 0.13 || 5.0
|-
|
| 0 || 0 || 0.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.0
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 32.0 || .407 || .250 || .691 || 4.1 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 6.6 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.73 || 0.31 || 10.2
|-
|
| 0 || 0 || 0.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.0
|}
All-Star
Finals
| valign="top" |
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| style="width:140px"|Player || style="width:70px"|Signed || style="width:210px"|Former team
|- style="height:40px"
| Brandon Wallace
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 10 || South Carolina Gamecocks
|- style="height:40px"
| Eddie House
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 1 || New Jersey Nets
|- style="height:40px"
| Scot Pollard
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 9 || Cleveland Cavaliers
|- style="height:40px"
| James Posey
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 27 || Miami Heat
|- style="height:40px"
| Esteban Batista
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 26 || Atlanta Hawks
|- style="height:40px"
| Dahntay Jones
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 26 || Memphis Grizzlies
|- style="height:40px"
| P.J. Brown
|| style="font-size: 80%"|February 27 || Chicago Bulls
|- style="height:40px"
| Sam Cassell
|| style="font-size: 80%"|March 4 || Los Angeles Clippers
|}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| style="width:140px"|Player || style="width:70px"|Left || style="width:210px"|New team
|- style="height:40px"
| Michael Olowokandi
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 1 || free agent
|- style="height:40px"
| Allan Ray
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 27 || Lottomatica Roma
|- style="height:40px"
| Esteban Batista
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 16 || Maccabi Tel Aviv
|- style="height:40px"
| Dahntay Jones
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 25 || Sacramento Kings
|- style="height:40px"
| Jackie Manuel
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 25 || Iowa Energy
|- style="height:40px"
| Brandon Wallace
|| style="font-size: 80%"|December 18 || Iowa Energy
|}
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). Powered by the acquisitions of perennial All-Stars Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
and Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
in the offseason, the Celtics finished with a record of 66–16 and posted the best single-season turnaround in NBA history, improving by 42 wins from the previous season. They finished 1st in both the Atlantic Division
Atlantic Division (NBA)
The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Boston Celtics, the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors...
and the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
, and had the league's best record. Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
, while Danny Ainge
Danny Ainge
Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
, who executed "the most dramatic NBA turnaround ever", was named NBA Executive of the Year
NBA Executive of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Executive of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1972–73 NBA season, to the league's best general managers. Before 2009, the Executive of the Year is presented annually by Sporting News, although it is officially recognized by the NBA. Since then,...
. The Celtics also sold out all 41 regular-season home games.
Their two-year absence from the playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
came to an end as they met the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
. Eventually, they advanced to the NBA Finals
2008 NBA Finals
The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
for the first time in 21 years, where they met the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. The Celtics won 4–2, capturing their first championship since , and 17th all-time. However, they had a far difficult path to this championship, playing 26 games, the most any team had ever played in a post-season.
Key dates
- June 28: The 2007 NBA Draft2007 NBA DraftThe 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
took place in New York City, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; acquired perennial All-Star Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
. - July 1: The free agencyFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
period started. - July 31: Acquired perennial All-Star Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
. - October 6: The pre-season started with a game against the Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
in RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
as part of the 2007 NBA Europe Live Tour2007 NBA Europe Live TourThe 2007 NBA Europe Live Tour was a basketball exhibition tour featuring teams from the NBA and teams from Europe's top professional leagues. The hosting countries were England, Italy, Spain and Turkey. The NBA teams traveled to Europe to begin their training camps, and played a series of...
. - November 2: The regular season started with a game against the Washington WizardsWashington WizardsThe Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
. - December 27: Matched their victory total of the previous season with a win against the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. - March 5: First team to clinch a playoff berthNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
for the 2008 NBA Playoffs2008 NBA PlayoffsThe 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
. - March 10: Won 50 games in a season for the first time since 1991–921991-92 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
with a win against the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. - March 14: Clinched the Atlantic Division title despite a loss to the Utah JazzUtah JazzThe Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. - March 18: Ended the 2nd longest winning streak in NBA historyNBA recordsThis article lists all-time leading figures in the regular season achieved in the NBA in major statistical categories recognized by the league, including records set by teams and individuals in single games, seasons, and careers. NBA history also recognizes achievements from its original...
with a win against the Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. - March 28: Matched the amount of wins of the previous two season combined (57) with a win against the New Orleans Hornets.
- April 2: Won 60 games in a season for the first time since 1985–861985-86 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
with a win against the Indiana PacersIndiana PacersThe Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. - April 5: Clinched the best record in the Eastern ConferenceEastern Conference (NBA)The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
, and simultaneously home-court advantage throughout the 2008 Playoffs2008 NBA PlayoffsThe 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
, with a win against the Charlotte BobcatsCharlotte BobcatsThe Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
. - April 16: The regular season concluded with a game against the New Jersey NetsNew Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. - May 4: Advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a win in Game 7 of the First Round against the Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. - May 18: Advanced to the Eastern Conference FinalsNBA Conference FinalsThe National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship series of the National Basketball Association , a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America...
with a win in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. - May 30: Advanced to the NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
for the first time since 19871987 NBA FinalsThe 1987 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1986-87 NBA season. The match took place between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The Lakers won 4–2, beating the Celtics in the Finals. The key moment of the series was Magic Johnson's junior sky hook in Game 4...
with a win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit PistonsDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. - June 17: Captured their 17th NBA ChampionshipNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
with a win in Game 6 of the NBA Finals2008 NBA FinalsThe 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
against the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
was named the Finals MVP.
NBA Draft 2007: The Ray Allen trade
NBA Draft Lottery
The NBA Draft Lottery is an annual event held by the National Basketball Association in which the teams who had missed the playoffs in the previous season, or teams who hold the draft rights of another team that missed the playoffs in the previous season, participate in a lottery process to...
, essentially losing their chance of drafting either Greg Oden
Greg Oden
Gregory Wayne Oden, Jr. is an American basketball player at the center position. Oden is a member of the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA....
or Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association . A 6'9" small forward/shooting guard who is also capable of playing power forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the...
, who both were considered to go 1st and 2nd in the Draft. The 5th pick was the worst-case scenario for the Celtics, who had a 19.9% chance of obtaining the 1st overall selection. However, on June 28, the day of the 2007 NBA Draft
2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
, the Celtics traded the 5th pick along with Wally Szczerbiak
Wally Szczerbiak
Walter Robert "Wally" Szczerbiak is an American former professional basketball player.-Early life:Szczerbiak was born in Madrid, Spain, while his father Walter was playing for Real Madrid, and spent much of his childhood in Europe during his father's playing career...
and Delonte West
Delonte West
Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...
to the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in exchange for All-Star 3-point specialist Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
and the 35th overall selection prior to the event, and with the 5th pick selected forward Jeff Green
Jeff Green (basketball)
Jeffrey Lynn Green is an American professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Green attended Georgetown University until following his junior year, when he entered the 2007 NBA Draft...
for Seattle. In the second round of the Draft, the Celtics selected guard Gabe Pruitt
Gabe Pruitt
Gabriel Michael Pruitt , commonly referred to as Gabe Pruitt, is an American professional basketball player.-High school:...
with the 32nd pick, which was their own, and forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis
Glen Davis (basketball)
Ronald Glen Davis , commonly known as Glen Davis and by his nickname Big Baby, is an American basketball player who last played for the NBA's Boston Celtics...
with the 35th pick, previously obtained from Seattle.
Kevin Garnett trade
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
in the single largest trade for one player in NBA history. He was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in exchange for Al Jefferson
Al Jefferson
Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the NBA.-Early life:...
, Ryan Gomes
Ryan Gomes
Ryan Anthony Gomes is an American professional basketball forward with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association....
, Theo Ratliff
Theo Ratliff
Theophilus Curtis Ratliff , better known as Theo Ratliff, is an American professional basketball player who last played with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Primarily a center, he was an excellent shot-blocker who has led the league three times in blocks per game...
, Gerald Green
Gerald Green
Gerald Green, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Foshan Dralions of the CBA. He was selected by the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics with the 18th pick of the first round in the 2005 NBA Draft...
, Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Telfair was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers out of Abraham Lincoln High School...
, Boston's 2009 first-round draft pick (top three protected), the return of Minnesota's conditional first-round draft pick previously obtained in the 2006 Ricky Davis
Ricky Davis
Tyree Ricardo Davis , better known as Ricky Davis, is an American professional basketball player.-Biography:...
-Wally Szczerbiak
Wally Szczerbiak
Walter Robert "Wally" Szczerbiak is an American former professional basketball player.-Early life:Szczerbiak was born in Madrid, Spain, while his father Walter was playing for Real Madrid, and spent much of his childhood in Europe during his father's playing career...
trade and cash considerations. By adding Garnett to All-Stars Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
and Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
, the trade brought a new era of relevance to the long-struggling franchise, but it also left the roster short-handed.
Free agency
The Garnett trade left the roster depleted and depth became an immediate concern. Eventually, the Celtics signed guards Eddie HouseEddie House
Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:...
and Jackie Manuel
Jackie Manuel
Jackie Kameron Manuel is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant strength and conditioning coordinator at the University of North Carolina.-NCAA career:...
on August 1, just two days after the Garnett trade, and center Scot Pollard
Scot Pollard
Scot L. Pollard is a retired American professional basketball player. In an eleven-year NBA career, he played for five teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers...
on August 9. Later, Ainge called and asked 5-time All-Star Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...
to return from his 2-year retirement and join the roster in a reserve role. Miller strongly considered the possibility of playing alongside Garnett, but ultimately announced on August 23 that he would not join the Celtics. On August 27, forward James Posey
James Posey
James Mikely Mantell Posey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player, currently a small forward for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.-Early life:...
signed with the team and was considered a decisive signing which instantly gave the Celtics a drastic improvement to their bench.
On September 26, center Esteban Batista
Esteban Batista
Esteban Damián Batista Hernández is a Uruguayan professional basketball player currently with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League and Euroleague. He is also the first ever Uruguayan to play in the NBA....
and guard Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Lavall Jones is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.Originally a student at Rutgers University, Jones transferred to Duke University...
signed non-guaranteed contracts with the Celtics, two days before the beginning of training camp and the team's departure to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for the 2007 NBA Europe Live Tour
2007 NBA Europe Live Tour
The 2007 NBA Europe Live Tour was a basketball exhibition tour featuring teams from the NBA and teams from Europe's top professional leagues. The hosting countries were England, Italy, Spain and Turkey. The NBA teams traveled to Europe to begin their training camps, and played a series of...
. Curiously, Jones was involved in a trade back in the 2003 NBA Draft
2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
, in which the Celtics drafted him with the 20th overall selection, but immediately traded him with the 16th pick, Troy Bell
Troy Bell
Troy Delvon Bell is an American professional basketball player formerly of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. He played at Boston College and finished as one of the greatest players in the program's history....
, to the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
in exchange for the 13th pick, Marcus Banks
Marcus Banks
Arthur Lemarcus Banks III, commonly known as Marcus Banks , is an American professional basketball player who most recently played with the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA....
, and the 27th pick, Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA....
. Ultimately, the Celtics waived Batista on October 16, and Manuel and Jones on October 25, bringing the roster down to 14 players, one shy of the league maximum of 15 players, in order to have roster flexibility and be able to sign another player midway through the season.
Later in the season, on December 18, the Celtics released yet another player, Brandon Wallace
Brandon Wallace
Brandon Wallace is an American professional basketball player.-High school:Wallace spent his high school years at Silver Bluff, where he averaged 21.9 points, 15.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4.3 blocks per game during his senior season...
, in order to have even more roster flexibility that coach Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
said they needed. This move brought the roster down to only 13 players, which is the league minimum for players allowed on a team's roster. On February 27, the Celtics signed center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
P.J. Brown
P. J. Brown
Collier Brown, Jr. , commonly referred to as P. J. Brown, is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association...
for the remainder of the season, in order to bolster their front court. His decision to come to Boston was strongly aided by a conversation with future teammates Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
and Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
, who convinced him to sign with the Celtics during the 2008
2008 NBA All-Star Game
-Eastern Conference roster:The Boston Celtics, the team with the league's best record, came into New Orleans with three players. Kevin Garnett, top vote-getter in the league with 2,399,148 votes, was selected as a starter, while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were selected as reserves by the coaches of...
NBA All-Star Weekend
NBA All-Star Weekend
The National Basketball Association holds an All-Star Weekend every February, the festival has a variety of basketball-related events, exhibitions, and performances culminating in the NBA All-Star Game held on Sunday night.-The All-Star Game:...
. On March 4, 2008, the Celtics officially announced that they had signed guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell
Samuel James "Sam" Cassell , is a retired American professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The , point guard was selected out of Florida State University by the Houston Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft...
. After the signing, Cassell immediately flew back to his hometown of Baltimore to attend funeral services for a deceased family member. This signing ultimately put the roster up to the league maximum of 15 players.
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 31 | Gabe Pruitt Gabe Pruitt Gabriel Michael Pruitt , commonly referred to as Gabe Pruitt, is an American professional basketball player.-High school:... |
PG Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... /SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team... |
Southern California | |
| 2 | 35 | Glen Davis Glen Davis (basketball) Ronald Glen Davis , commonly known as Glen Davis and by his nickname Big Baby, is an American basketball player who last played for the NBA's Boston Celtics... (from Seattle Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... ) |
PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... |
Louisiana State | |
Roster
Depth chart
| Pos. | Starter | Bench | Reserve | Inactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |
Kendrick Perkins Kendrick Perkins Kendrick Perkins is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA.... |
P. J. Brown P. J. Brown Collier Brown, Jr. , commonly referred to as P. J. Brown, is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association... |
"color:#008040;">Scot Pollard Scot Pollard Scot L. Pollard is a retired American professional basketball player. In an eleven-year NBA career, he played for five teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers... |
|
| PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... |
Kevin Garnett Kevin Garnett Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he... |
Leon Powe Leon Powe Leon Powe, Jr. is an American professional basketball power forward who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association . Drafted in 2006 by the Denver Nuggets, Powe grew up in Oakland, California and played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley... |
Glen Davis Glen Davis (basketball) Ronald Glen Davis , commonly known as Glen Davis and by his nickname Big Baby, is an American basketball player who last played for the NBA's Boston Celtics... |
Brian Scalabrine Brian Scalabrine Brian David Scalabrine is an American professional basketball power forward who plays for the Italian club Benetton Treviso. Raised in Enumclaw, Washington, Scalabrine attended the University of Southern California after transferring from Highline Community College... |
| SF Small forward The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall... |
Paul Pierce Paul Pierce Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the... |
James Posey James Posey James Mikely Mantell Posey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player, currently a small forward for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.-Early life:... |
||
| SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team... |
Ray Allen Ray Allen Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of... |
Tony Allen Tony Allen (basketball) Anthony Allen is an American professional basketball player with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.-Early career:... |
||
| PG Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... |
Rajon Rondo Rajon Rondo Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a... |
Sam Cassell Sam Cassell Samuel James "Sam" Cassell , is a retired American professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The , point guard was selected out of Florida State University by the Houston Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft... |
Eddie House Eddie House Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:... |
Gabe Pruitt Gabe Pruitt Gabriel Michael Pruitt , commonly referred to as Gabe Pruitt, is an American professional basketball player.-High school:... |
Playoffs
Although the Celtics had the best record in the NBA with 66-16 in the regular season, their path to their first championship since was far from easy. They ended up playing the most games a team had ever played in a postseason, with 26, surpassing the 1994 New York Knicks1993–94 New York Knicks season
The 1993–94 New York Knicks season was the 48th season of NBA basketball in New York City, New York.This marked the last season in which the Knicks were owned by Paramount Communications , which was sold near the end of the season to Viacom, which in turn sold them to ITT Corporation and Cablevision...
, whom Celtics coach Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
played for, and the 2005 Detroit Pistons
2004–05 Detroit Pistons season
-NBA Draft:-Depth chart:-Player stats:Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; STL= Steals; REB = Rebounds; ASST = Assists; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points-External links:* * -References:...
, each of whom played 25, but lost their respective finals in seven games (Knicks in , Pistons in ). This record was set in Game 6 of the Finals.
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Season
|-
|
| 73 || 73 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 35.9 || .445 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .398 || .907 || 3.7 || 3.1 || 0.89 || 0.22 || 17.4
|-
|
| 75 || 11 || 18.3 || .434 || .316 || .762 || 2.2 || 1.5 || 0.83 || 0.28 || 6.6
|-
|
| 18 || 0 || 11.6 || .341 || .000 || .688 || 3.8 || 0.6 || 0.28 || 0.44 || 2.2
|-
|
| 55 || 34 || 23.1 || .438 || .303 || .882 || 2.5 || 3.9 || 0.67 || 0.11 || 11.2
|-
|
| 69 || 1 || 13.6 || .484 || .000 || .660 || 3.0 || 0.4 || 0.45 || 0.29 || 4.5
|-
|
| 71 || 71 || 32.8 || .539 || .000 || .801 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 9.2 || 3.4 || 1.41 || 1.25 || 18.8
|-
|
| 78 || 2 || 19.0 || .409 || .393 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .917 || 2.1 || 1.9 || 0.76 || 0.13 || 7.5
|-
|
| 78 || 78 || 24.5 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .615 || .000 || .623 || 6.1 || 1.1 || 0.40 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.46 || 6.9
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 80 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 80 || 35.9 || .464 || .392 || .843 || 5.1 || 4.5 || 1.26 || 0.45 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 19.6
|-
|
| 22 || 0 || 7.9 || .522 || .000 || .682 || 1.7 || 0.1 || 0.14 || 0.27 || 1.8
|-
|
| 74 || 2 || 24.6 || .418 || .380 || .809 || 4.4 || 1.5 || 0.97 || 0.26 || 7.4
|-
|
| 56 || 5 || 14.4 || .572 || .000 || .710 || 4.1 || 0.3 || 0.27 || 0.29 || 7.9
|-
|
| 15 || 0 || 6.3 || .359 || .250 || .500 || 0.5 || 0.9 || 0.33 || 0.00 || 2.1
|-
|
| 77 || 77 || 29.9 || .492 || .263 || .611 || 4.2 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 5.1 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.68 || 0.17 || 10.6
|-
|
| 48 || 9 || 10.7 || .309 || .326 || .750 || 1.6 || 0.8 || 0.19 || 0.17 || 1.8
|}
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
).
Playoffs
|-|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 38.0 || .428 || .396 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .913 || 3.8 || 2.7 || 0.92 || 0.31 || 15.6
|-
|
| 15 || 0 || 4.3 || .563 || .000 || .400 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 0.13 || 0.00 || 1.3
|-
|
| 25 || 0 || 13.6 || .464 || .000 || .840 || 2.4 || 0.5 || 0.20 || 0.40 || 2.9
|-
|
| 21 || 0 || 12.6 || .333 || .214 || .824 || 0.7 || 1.2 || 0.38 || 0.05 || 4.5
|-
|
| 17 || 0 || 8.1 || .412 || .000 || .611 || 1.5 || 0.4 || 0.29 || 0.24 || 2.3
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 38.0 || .495 || .250 || .810 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 10.5 || 3.3 || 1.35 || 1.12 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 20.4
|-
|
| 21 || 0 || 7.9 || .304 || .355 || .875 || 1.0 || 0.9 || 0.24 || 0.05 || 2.5
|-
|
| 25 || 25 || 25.2 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .585 || .000 || .678 || 6.1 || 0.5 || 0.60 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.28 || 6.6
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 38.1 || .441 || .361 || .802 || 5.0 || 4.6 || 1.08 || 0.31 || 19.7
|-
|
| 0 || 0 || 0.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.0
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 0 || 22.0 || .437 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .398 || .875 || 3.6 || 1.1 || 1.00 || 0.31 || 6.7
|-
|
| 23 || 1 || 11.7 || .493 || .000 || .667 || 2.7 || 0.2 || 0.00 || 0.13 || 5.0
|-
|
| 0 || 0 || 0.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.0
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 26 || 32.0 || .407 || .250 || .691 || 4.1 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 6.6 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.73 || 0.31 || 10.2
|-
|
| 0 || 0 || 0.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.0
|}
Week/Month
- Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
was named Eastern ConferenceEastern Conference (NBA)The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
Player of the Week for games played from November 5 through November 11. - Head coach Doc RiversDoc RiversGlenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November. - Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from December 10 through December 16. - Paul Pierce was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from December 24 through December 30.
- Kevin Garnett was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from March 17 through March 23.
- Head coach Doc Rivers was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in March.
- Kevin Garnett was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from April 7 through April 13.
- Head coach Doc Rivers was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in April.
All-Star2008 NBA All-Star Game-Eastern Conference roster:The Boston Celtics, the team with the league's best record, came into New Orleans with three players. Kevin Garnett, top vote-getter in the league with 2,399,148 votes, was selected as a starter, while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were selected as reserves by the coaches of...
- Doc RiversDoc RiversGlenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
and the Celtics coaching staff earned the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game2008 NBA All-Star Game-Eastern Conference roster:The Boston Celtics, the team with the league's best record, came into New Orleans with three players. Kevin Garnett, top vote-getter in the league with 2,399,148 votes, was selected as a starter, while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were selected as reserves by the coaches of...
in New Orleans as a result of the CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
' 109–93 victory over the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on January 21. The win guaranteed that the Celtics would have the best record in the Eastern ConferenceEastern Conference (NBA)The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
as of February 3, the cutoff date for the selection. - Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
was voted as a starter for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, leading all players in final votes received in the NBA All-Star Ballot with 2,399,148 votes, the 6th highest total in NBA All-Star Balloting history. - Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
was named as a reserve for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. - Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
was named by NBA Commissioner David SternDavid SternDavid Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
to replace injured EastEastern Conference (NBA)The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
All-Star Caron ButlerCaron ButlerJames Caron Butler, widely known as Caron Butler , is an American professional basketball player who most recently played at small forward for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.-Early life:...
as a reserve for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. - Rajon RondoRajon RondoRajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...
was named to participate in the T-MobileT-MobileT-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
Rookie Challenge and Youth JamRookie ChallengeThe Rookie Challenge is an exhibition basketball game held by the National Basketball Association on the Friday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend....
.
Season
- Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
was named NBA Defensive Player of the YearNBA Defensive Player of the Year AwardThe National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
. - Kevin Garnett was named to the All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA TeamThe All-NBA Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. The voting is conducted by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The team has been selected in every season of the...
. - Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
was named to the All-NBA Third TeamAll-NBA TeamThe All-NBA Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. The voting is conducted by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The team has been selected in every season of the...
. - Kevin Garnett was named to the NBA All-Defensive First TeamNBA All-Defensive TeamThe NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
. - General manager Danny AingeDanny AingeDaniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
was named NBA Executive of the YearNBA Executive of the Year AwardThe National Basketball Association's Executive of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1972–73 NBA season, to the league's best general managers. Before 2009, the Executive of the Year is presented annually by Sporting News, although it is officially recognized by the NBA. Since then,...
. - Paul Pierce was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
Season
- Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
joined a very short list of NBA players to record a 20 pointPoint (basketball)Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
, 20 reboundRebound (basketball)A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
, 5 assistAssist (basketball)In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
game in their first night with a new team, with the others being Charles BarkleyCharles BarkleyCharles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
, Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
and Maurice StokesMaurice StokesMaurice Stokes was an American professional basketball player in the 1950s, whose career was cut short by a debilitating injury...
, against the Washington WizardsWashington WizardsThe Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
on November 2. - With an 8–0 season start, the Celtics were off to their best opening since winning 10 in a row to start the 1972-73 season1972-73 NBA seasonThe 1972–73 NBA season was the 27th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the New York Knicks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
. - Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
's streak of 410 consecutive games with double figures in points came to an end as he scored only 8 points in Boston's 104–59 blowout victory over the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on November 29, 2007. This was the longest streak among active players and is good for 7th in NBA history, with Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
holding the record with 840 games. - The Celtics marked their 6th biggest win in the history of the franchise and the biggest since a 153–107 victory over the Baltimore BulletsWashington WizardsThe Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in the 1970-71 season1970-71 NBA seasonThe 1970–71 NBA season was the 25th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
with a 104-59 blowout victory over the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on November 29, 2007. Their biggest win came against the Philadelphia WarriorsGolden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1961-62 season1961-62 NBA seasonThe 1961–62 NBA season was the 16th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 4th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
with a 153–102 victory. - With a 12–0 season start at home, the Celtics matched their 2nd best home opening since winning 12 in a row to start the 1984-85 season. Their best home opening came in the 1957-58 season1957-58 NBA seasonThe 1957–58 NBA Season was the 12th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the St. Louis Hawks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
, when they started the season with 17 wins in a row. - The Celtics matched their longest winning streak since the 1992-93 season1992-93 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns*Rookie of the Year: Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, when they won 9 in a row from March 16 to March 31, 1993, with a win against the Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
on December 16. - With a 20–2 start, the Celtics matched the best start in franchise history. The only other team to achieve that record was the 1963-641963-64 NBA seasonThe 1963–64 NBA season was the 18th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 6th straight NBA Championship, beating the San Francisco Warriors 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals....
Celtics. - With a 27–3 start, the Celtics matched the best start through 30 games in NBA history. One of the other 5 teams to accomplish that record was the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who hold the NBA recordNBA recordsThis article lists all-time leading figures in the regular season achieved in the NBA in major statistical categories recognized by the league, including records set by teams and individuals in single games, seasons, and careers. NBA history also recognizes achievements from its original...
for most games won in a single season, with a record of 72–10. - Prior to their matchup on January 5, the Celtics and PistonsDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
combined for the 3rd highest winning percentageWinning percentageIn sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
(.844) in the shot clock era after at least 30 games. - The Celtics matched their best start in the history of the franchise by reaching 30 wins after only 34 games.
- With a 34–7 start, the Celtics matched their best record at mid-season in the history of the franchise. The other 3 teams to achieve that record were the 1964-651964-65 NBA seasonThe 1964–65 NBA Season was the 19th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 7th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.-Preseason:...
, 1972-731972-73 NBA seasonThe 1972–73 NBA season was the 27th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the New York Knicks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
and 1984-85 Celtics. - With a 16–0 start against the WestWestern Conference (NBA)Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
, the Celtics were off to the 2nd best opening against teams from the other conference in NBA history. The only other team to accomplish that record was the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won their first 19 games against Eastern ConferenceEastern Conference (NBA)The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
teams. - With 16 assists against the Charlotte BobcatsCharlotte BobcatsThe Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
on February 29, Rajon RondoRajon RondoRajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...
had the most assists in a game by a Celtics player since Sherman DouglasSherman DouglasSherman Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player from Syracuse University who played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers from 1989 to 2001...
had 18 on March 1, 1995. - The Celtics won 10 straight games for the first time since the 1985-86 season1985-86 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
, when they won 14 in a row from March 11 to April 4, 1986, with a win against the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
on March 12. - The Celtics swept the Texas Triangle, consisting of the San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
and Dallas MavericksDallas MavericksThe Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
, with a record of 3–0 in consecutive road games from March 17 through March 20, the first team to do it since the 2001-02 Sacramento Kings. It was the 4th sweep in franchise history, and the first since the 1986-87 season. - With a 6–0 record against the Texas Triangle, the Celtics were the 13th team in NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
history to sweep the season series against each of the three teams, doing it for the 5th time in franchise history, and the first team since the 1999-20001999-2000 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers*Co-Rookies of the Year: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls; Steve Francis, Houston Rockets*Defensive Player of the Year: Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat...
Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
. - The Celtics defeated every team in the league at least once for the first time since the 1990-91 season1990-91 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets*Defensive Player of the Year: Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons...
. - The Celtics broke the record for the best single-season turnaround in franchise history by improving from 24 wins in 2006-072006-07 NBA seasonThe 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
to 66 wins in 2007-082007-08 NBA seasonThe 2007–08 NBA season was the 62nd season of the National Basketball Association. The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, and ended on Wednesday, April 16, 2008...
, a total of 42 games. The previous record of 32 games was held by the 1979-801979-80 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Coach of the Year: Bill Fitch, Boston Celtics*All-NBA First Team:**Paul Westphal, Phoenix Suns...
Celtics, who improved from 29 to 61 wins. - The Celtics broke the record for the best single-season turnaround in NBA history by improving from 24 wins in 2006-072006-07 NBA seasonThe 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
to 66 wins in 2007-082007-08 NBA seasonThe 2007–08 NBA season was the 62nd season of the National Basketball Association. The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, and ended on Wednesday, April 16, 2008...
, a total of 42 games. The previous record of 36 games was held by the 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs, who improved from 20 to 56 wins. - The Celtics set a franchise record for fewest free throws attempted and made, with 5 and 4.
- With 3 Eastern ConferenceEastern Conference (NBA)The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
Player of the Week awards, Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
has had the most such awards in a single season by a Celtics player since Larry BirdLarry BirdLarry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
had 4 in the 1985-86 season1985-86 NBA season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
. - The Celtics sold out all 41 home games with an average attendance of 18,624 and set a single-season attendance record of 763,584.
Playoffs
- Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
has recorded a double-double in 16 straight playoffNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
games dating back to the 2004 Playoffs2004 NBA PlayoffsThe 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
. Shaquille O'NealShaquille O'NealShaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
is the only active player with longer such streaks, with 19 and 22. - The Celtics allowed a playoffNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
low in franchise history in opponent score in a half by holding the Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
to 26 points in the first half of Game 7 in the First Round on May 4. - Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
's streak of 852 consecutive games with points scored came to an end as he went scoreless in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals2008 NBA PlayoffsThe 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
against the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
on May 6. - Rajon RondoRajon RondoRajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...
was the first Celtics player to record at least 12 assists twice in one postseason since Danny AingeDanny AingeDaniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
did it in the 1988 Playoffs1988 NBA PlayoffsThe 1988 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987-1988 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons four games to three in the Finals...
. - With 41 pointsPoint (basketball)Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
in the Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
on May 18, Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
recorded the 2nd highest point total in franchise history in a Game 7Game sevenA game seven is the final game of a best of seven series. This game can occur in the postseasons for Major League Baseball , the National Basketball Association , and the National Hockey League .The game is traditionally played at the site of team holding the home...
. - Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
and LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
combined for the 2nd highest point total (86) in NBA history in a Game 7Game sevenA game seven is the final game of a best of seven series. This game can occur in the postseasons for Major League Baseball , the National Basketball Association , and the National Hockey League .The game is traditionally played at the site of team holding the home...
on May 18. - The Celtics tied the record for the most consecutive road losses (6) in the playoffsNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
in NBA history with a loss in Game 6 of the Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
on May 16. - The Celtics were held to the 2nd fewest field goals (21) in an Conference FinalsNBA Conference FinalsThe National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship series of the National Basketball Association , a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America...
or NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game in the shot clock era in Game 4 of the Conference Finals against the Detroit PistonsDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
on May 26. - The Celtics became the 4th team in NBA history to be tied at 2–2 in each of the first three playoff seriesNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
. - The Celtics tied the record for the most home wins (12) in the playoffsNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
in NBA history with a win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals2008 NBA FinalsThe 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
against the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on June 8. - The Celtics broke the record for playoffNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
games (26) and home wins (13), and tied the record for most road losses (9) in a single postseason.
Finals2008 NBA FinalsThe 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
- With 21 pointsPoint (basketball)Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
in Game 2 on June 8, Leon PoweLeon PoweLeon Powe, Jr. is an American professional basketball power forward who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association . Drafted in 2006 by the Denver Nuggets, Powe grew up in Oakland, California and played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley...
recorded the 4th highest point total by a Celtic reserve since the 1970 Finals1970 NBA FinalsThe 1970 NBA Finals was a best-of-7 series for the world championship of the National Basketball Association. It featured the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks and the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers...
. - With 16 assistsAssist (basketball)In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
in Game 2 on June 8, Rajon RondoRajon RondoRajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...
had the most assists in a FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game since Magic JohnsonMagic JohnsonEarvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
had 20 on June 20, 1991. - The Celtics recorded the 2nd best turnaround in FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
history in a game after halftime since the 1948 Finals1948 NBA FinalsThe 1948 BAA Finals was the championship round of the Basketball Association of America's 1947–48 season. Basketball Association of America would eventually become the National Basketball Association .-Series Summary:Bullets win series 4-2...
after overcoming an 18-point deficit in Game 4 on June 12. - Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
was the first player to play all 48 minutes in an NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game since Jason KiddJason KiddJason Frederick Kidd is an American professional basketball point guard who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Raised in Oakland, California, Kidd played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley and was drafted second overall by the Dallas...
did it in the 2003 Finals2003 NBA FinalsThe 2003 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2002–03 NBA season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference took on the New Jersey Nets of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format. The Spurs...
. - With 38 points in Game 5 on June 15, Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
recorded the 3rd highest point total in franchise history in an NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game. - With 7 three-pointersThree-point field goalA three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
in Game 6 on June 17, Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
tied the record for three-pointers made in a NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game. - With 22 three-pointersThree-point field goalA three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
, Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
broke the record for three-pointers made in a NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
series, eclipsing the previous record of 17 by Dan MajerleDan MajerleDaniel Lewis Majerle is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA. Known by his fans as "Downtown Dan," "Thunder Dan," and "Dan the Man," he played 14 years in the NBA, primarily with the Phoenix Suns, also with the Miami...
and Derek HarperDerek HarperDerek Ricardo Harper is a retired American professional basketball player from the University of Illinois, who spent 16 seasons as a point guard in the National Basketball Association with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.-College:After graduating from...
. - With 52 three-pointersThree-point field goalA three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
, the Celtics broke the record for three-pointers made in a NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
series. - The Celtics became the 1st team to win an NBA ChampionshipNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
after finishing with a winning percentage below .450 in the previous season since the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
did it in 1977. - The Celtics became the 1st team to score at least 130 points in a NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game since the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
defeated the Celtics 141–122 in the 1987 Finals1987 NBA FinalsThe 1987 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1986-87 NBA season. The match took place between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The Lakers won 4–2, beating the Celtics in the Finals. The key moment of the series was Magic Johnson's junior sky hook in Game 4...
. - Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
became the 8th player to record a double-double throughout a FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
series, joining Bob PettitBob PettitRobert Lee "Bob" Pettit Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks . He was the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970...
, Elgin BaylorElgin BaylorElgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
, Wilt ChamberlainWilt ChamberlainWilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
, Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
, Bill WaltonBill WaltonWilliam Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
, Moses MaloneMoses MaloneMoses Eugene Malone is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who starred in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association...
and Shaquille O'NealShaquille O'NealShaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
. - Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
and Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
became the 2nd pair of teammates each to score 500 points in a single postseasonNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
, with 530 and 511 points, respectively. - With 39 points in Game 6 on June 17, the Celtics broke the record for largest margin of victory in a title clinching game, and 2nd largest margin in an NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game. - With 17 stealsSteal (basketball)In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
in Game 6 on June 17, the Celtics broke the record for steals in an NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
game.
Milestones
- Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
moved up to 6th on Boston's all-time scoring list by passing Sam JonesSam Jones (basketball)Samuel Jones is a retired American professional basketball player at shooting guard and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was known for his quickness and game-winning shots, especially during the NBA Playoffs...
with a layupLayupA layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in...
in the third quarter against the Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
on November 4. - Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
passed 17,000 pointsPoint (basketball)Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
for his career with his first of two 3-pointersThree-point field goalA three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
in overtime against the Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
on November 4. - Paul PiercePaul PiercePaul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
became the 9th player in Celtics historyHistory of the Boston CelticsThis is a history of the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics are an American basketball team currently playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
to play over 25,000 minutes against the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on November 23. - Ray Allen passed 30,000 minutes for his career and became 103rd in minutes in NBA history against the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on November 23. - Kevin Garnett moved up to 35th in points in NBA history by passing Walter DavisWalter Davis (basketball)Walter Paul Davis is a retired American basketball player. A 6'6" forward/guard, Davis spent 15 years in the National Basketball Association, spending the bulk of those years with the Phoenix Suns...
with a jumper in the second quarter against the Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
on December 26. - Kevin Garnett moved up to 26th in reboundsRebound (basketball)A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
in NBA history by passing Jack SikmaJack SikmaJack Wayne Sikma is a retired American NBA basketball center. He was known for his distinctive curly, blonde hair in his playing days....
with a rebound in the second quarter against the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
on December 27. - Ray Allen passed 2,000 three-point field goalThree-point field goalA three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
s for his career with a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
on January 16. - Kevin Garnett moved up to 23rd in blocksBlock (basketball)In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
in NBA history by passing Vlade DivacVlade DivacVlade Divac is a retired Yugoslav and Serbian professional basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. At , he played center and was known for his passing skills...
with a block in the second quarter against the Washington WizardsWashington WizardsThe Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
on January 12. - Kevin Garnett passed 11,000 rebounds for his career with a rebound in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
on February 27. - Kevin Garnett passed 20,000 points for his career, becoming the 32nd player in NBA history to achieve that mark, with a layupLayupA layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in...
in the second quarter against the Memphis GrizzliesMemphis GrizzliesThe Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
on March 8. The only other active players who have passed that mark are Shaquille O'NealShaquille O'NealShaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
, Allen IversonAllen IversonAllen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
and Kobe BryantKobe BryantKobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
. - Ray Allen passed 18,000 points for his career with a 3-pointerThree-point field goalA three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
in the third quarter against the Memphis GrizzliesMemphis GrizzliesThe Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
on March 8. - Kevin Garnett moved up to 25th in reboundsRebound (basketball)A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
in NBA history by passing Bill BridgesBill Bridges (basketball)William C. "Bill" Bridges is a retired American basketball player.A 6'6" power forward from the University of Kansas, he spent 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors...
with a rebound in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
on March 10. - Kevin Garnett moved up to 31st in points in NBA history by passing Tom Chambers with a layupLayupA layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in...
in the third quarter against the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
on March 12.
Trades
| June 28, 2007 |
To Boston Celtics Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which... Ray Allen Ray Allen Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of... , and the 35th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft 2007 NBA Draft The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S... (Glen Davis Glen Davis (basketball) Ronald Glen Davis , commonly known as Glen Davis and by his nickname Big Baby, is an American basketball player who last played for the NBA's Boston Celtics... ) |
To Seattle SuperSonics Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... Delonte West Delonte West Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:... , Wally Szczerbiak Wally Szczerbiak Walter Robert "Wally" Szczerbiak is an American former professional basketball player.-Early life:Szczerbiak was born in Madrid, Spain, while his father Walter was playing for Real Madrid, and spent much of his childhood in Europe during his father's playing career... , and the 5th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft 2007 NBA Draft The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S... (Jeff Green Jeff Green (basketball) Jeffrey Lynn Green is an American professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Green attended Georgetown University until following his junior year, when he entered the 2007 NBA Draft... ) |
| July 31, 2007 |
To Boston Celtics Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which... Kevin Garnett Kevin Garnett Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he... |
To Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... Al Jefferson Al Jefferson Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the NBA.-Early life:... , Ryan Gomes Ryan Gomes Ryan Anthony Gomes is an American professional basketball forward with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association.... , Theo Ratliff Theo Ratliff Theophilus Curtis Ratliff , better known as Theo Ratliff, is an American professional basketball player who last played with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Primarily a center, he was an excellent shot-blocker who has led the league three times in blocks per game... , Gerald Green Gerald Green Gerald Green, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Foshan Dralions of the CBA. He was selected by the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics with the 18th pick of the first round in the 2005 NBA Draft... , Sebastian Telfair Sebastian Telfair Sebastian Telfair is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Telfair was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers out of Abraham Lincoln High School... , Boston's 2009 1st round pick, and Minnesota's own conditional 1st round pick |
Additions
{| cellspacing="0"| valign="top" |
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| style="width:140px"|Player || style="width:70px"|Signed || style="width:210px"|Former team
|- style="height:40px"
| Brandon Wallace
Brandon Wallace
Brandon Wallace is an American professional basketball player.-High school:Wallace spent his high school years at Silver Bluff, where he averaged 21.9 points, 15.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4.3 blocks per game during his senior season...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 10 || South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976...
|- style="height:40px"
| Eddie House
Eddie House
Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 1 || New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|- style="height:40px"
| Scot Pollard
Scot Pollard
Scot L. Pollard is a retired American professional basketball player. In an eleven-year NBA career, he played for five teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 9 || Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
|- style="height:40px"
| James Posey
James Posey
James Mikely Mantell Posey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player, currently a small forward for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.-Early life:...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 27 || Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
|- style="height:40px"
| Esteban Batista
Esteban Batista
Esteban Damián Batista Hernández is a Uruguayan professional basketball player currently with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League and Euroleague. He is also the first ever Uruguayan to play in the NBA....
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 26 || Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
|- style="height:40px"
| Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Lavall Jones is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.Originally a student at Rutgers University, Jones transferred to Duke University...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 26 || Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
|- style="height:40px"
| P.J. Brown
P. J. Brown
Collier Brown, Jr. , commonly referred to as P. J. Brown, is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|February 27 || Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
|- style="height:40px"
| Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell
Samuel James "Sam" Cassell , is a retired American professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The , point guard was selected out of Florida State University by the Houston Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|March 4 || Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|}
Subtractions
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| style="width:140px"|Player || style="width:70px"|Left || style="width:210px"|New team
|- style="height:40px"
| Michael Olowokandi
Michael Olowokandi
Michael Olowokandi is a retired Nigerian British professional basketball center who played in the American National Basketball Association from 1998 to 2007....
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 1 || free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
|- style="height:40px"
| Allan Ray
Allan Ray
Allan Ray is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the French team Pau-Orthez. He played college basketball for four years at Villanova University. He played one season with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 27 || Lottomatica Roma
Pallacanestro Virtus Roma
Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, also known for sponsorship reasons as Acea Virtus Roma, is a prominent Italian League professional basketball club, and is also currently one of 13 European clubs that hold ULEB A Licenses, which provide their holders with a guaranteed place in the Euroleague. The club...
|- style="height:40px"
| Esteban Batista
Esteban Batista
Esteban Damián Batista Hernández is a Uruguayan professional basketball player currently with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League and Euroleague. He is also the first ever Uruguayan to play in the NBA....
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 16 || Maccabi Tel Aviv
|- style="height:40px"
| Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Lavall Jones is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.Originally a student at Rutgers University, Jones transferred to Duke University...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 25 || Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|- style="height:40px"
| Jackie Manuel
Jackie Manuel
Jackie Kameron Manuel is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant strength and conditioning coordinator at the University of North Carolina.-NCAA career:...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 25 || Iowa Energy
Iowa Energy
The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center....
|- style="height:40px"
| Brandon Wallace
Brandon Wallace
Brandon Wallace is an American professional basketball player.-High school:Wallace spent his high school years at Silver Bluff, where he averaged 21.9 points, 15.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4.3 blocks per game during his senior season...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|December 18 || Iowa Energy
Iowa Energy
The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center....
|}
External links
See also
- 2007–08 NBA season