Retired Numbers (2024)

The Boston Celtics retired No. 14 in honor of Bob Cousy, one of the greatest players in franchise and NBA history.

Known as “The Houdini of the Hardwood,” Cousy emerged as one of Boston’s earliest stars. The flashy guard from nearby College of the Holy Cross joined the team in 1950, the start of Cousy’s 13-season pro career spent entirely with the Celtics. In that span, Cousy won six NBA World Championship titles, earned NBA MVP honors in 1957, made 13 consecutive All-Star teams (and won the game’s MVP award twice) and led the league in assists eight times. Cousy was known for his skilled and modern style of play, including unconventional passing methods, and became a fan favorite.

Cousy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971. He remains first in franchise history in assists (6,945), third in free throws (4,621) and sixth in games played (917).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 22 in honor of Ed Macauley, one of Boston’s top players during the franchise’s first decade.

Macauley was a member of the Celtics for six seasons from 1950 to 1956. He made the All-Star team in each of those campaigns and became the first-ever ASG MVP during the inaugural game in 1951, which was held at Boston Garden. A reliable scorer, Macauley led the team in points per game in two seasons and was second-best in three seasons. His pairing with Bob Cousy brought plenty of excitement to the Celtics offense.

Macauley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960. His 18.9 points per game average is still in the top 10 in franchise history.

The Boston Celtics retired No. 1 in honor of Walter Brown, the franchise’s founder and first owner.

A Beantown native, Brown served as owner of the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation and president of the NHL Boston Bruins beginning in 1937. He helped establish Boston as a professional basketball capital when he founded the Boston Celtics as a member of the Basketball Association of America in 1946. When the BAA merged with a competing league to form the new National Basketball Association in 1949, Brown’s team became a founding NBA franchise – one of just two franchises still playing in their original cities today. In 1951, Brown played an instrumental role in establishing the league’s first All-Star Game, which was held at Boston Garden. In addition, the Celtics won their first seven NBA World Championship titles during Brown’s nearly two-decade stint as owner and general manager.

Brown passed away unexpectedly in September 1964. The franchise honored him shortly after by retiring no. 1. Brown was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965.

The Boston Celtics retired No. 23 in honor of Frank Ramsey, known as the first “sixth man” in franchise and NBA history.

Ramsey spent his entire professional career with the Celtics from 1954 to 1964, though he missed the 1955-56 season due to military service. The “Kentucky Colonel” embraced his role off the bench and developed into a clutch scorer, becoming arguably the genesis of the sixth man strategy. During his stint in Boston, Ramsey won seven NBA World Championship titles, led the team in games played in two seasons and averaged a reliable 13.6 points per game in the playoffs.

Ramsey was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981.

The Boston Celtics retired No. 15 in honor of Tommy Heinsohn, one of the franchise’s most instrumental players during its first dynasty.

Heinsohn enjoyed great success over nine seasons as a Celtics player. In 1957, he earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors and made the first of six All-Star teams. Heinsohn won eight NBA World Championship titles, using his large frame and hustle to pose a defensive challenge to opposing teams. After spending his entire playing career in Boston, Heinsohn served as head coach for another nine seasons. He led the Celtics to two more NBA World Championship titles in that role before becoming a beloved Celtics broadcaster in his later career.

Heinsohn was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986 and as a coach in 2015.

The Boston Celtics retired No. 21 in honor of Bill Sharman, one of the most consistent shooters of the 1950s.

Sharman arrived in a trade in 1951 and would become an integral cog of Boston’s playoff machine over the following decade. During 10 seasons as a Celtics player, Sharman won four NBA World Championship titles, made eight All-Star teams (and won the ASG MVP in 1955) and led the league in free-throw percentage seven times. His consistency at the stripe was incredibly valuable during the postseason: Sharman’s .911 free-throw percentage (370-of-406) in the playoffs remains best in franchise history.

Sharman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976. He is still part of the franchise’s top 10 for free-throw percentage (.883) and free throws (3,047).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 25 in honor of K.C. Jones, one of the franchise’s top players during its first dynasty.

Jones spent his entire playing career in Boston from 1958 to 1967. Regarded as a team player and noted for his selfless passing skills, Jones won eight NBA World Championship titles over nine seasons. He finished in the team’s top three for assists in eight consecutive seasons and led the team in assists in three of those campaigns. After he retired from playing, Jones returned as Celtics head coach for five seasons and led the team to two additional NBA World Championship titles.

Jones was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1989. He remains in the franchise’s top 10 for assists (2,908).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 24 in honor of Sam Jones, one of the franchise’s key playoffs heroes during its first dynasty.

Nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his timely scoring and playmaking ability, Jones spent his entire professional career with the Celtics from 1957 to 1969. He won 10 NBA World Championship titles, made five All-Star teams and led the team in points per game four times during that span. Jones’ keen scoring proved especially valuable in the postseason, where he averaged a crucial 18.9 points per game.

Jones was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He remains sixth in franchise history for field goals (6,271), seventh for points (15,411) and tenth for games played (871).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 6 in honor of Bill Russell, one of the greatest and most decorated players in franchise and NBA history.

Coming to Boston in a trade in 1956, Russell spent his entire 13-season playing career with the Celtics – including his final three as player-coach. He made league history by becoming the only player to win 11 NBA World Championship titles and being the Association’s first African American head coach. Russell also made 12 All-Star teams (and won ASG MVP in 1963), won five NBA MVP Awards and led the league in total rebounds four times. Russell changed the landscape of professional basketball with his defensive prowess and leadership on and off the court.

Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975 and as a coach in 2021. He remains first in franchise history for total rebounds (21,620), second in minutes played (40,726), fifth in games played (963), sixth in assists (4,100), seventh in free throws (3,148) and eighth in points (14,522).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 16 in honor of Tom “Satch” Sanders, one of the franchise’s most reliable players during its first dynasty.

Sanders joined the Celtics in 1960 and instantly contributed to the team’s title run. The scrappy forward won eight NBA World Championship titles over 13 seasons, spending his entire professional career in Boston. Sanders was known for his durability and desire to be a team player – he had a streak where he played in over 450 consecutive games and dressed for a season’s entire schedule four separate times. This humble work ethic made Sanders a fan favorite.

Sanders was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 as a contributor. He is still in the franchise’s top 10 for games played (916) and total rebounds (5,798).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 19 in honor of Don Nelson, one of the franchise’s major players during the 1960s and 1970s.

Affectionately known by his “Nellie” nickname, Nelson left the rival Los Angeles Lakers and signed as a free agent with Boston in 1965. Over the next 11 seasons, he won five NBA World Championship titles and averaged 11.4 points per game as a member of the Celtics. Following retirement from playing, Nelson became one of the most respected coaches in NBA history, retiring with a league-best 1,335 wins as a head coach.

Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012. He remains in the franchise’s 10 top for games played (872).

The Boston Celtics retired “Loscy” in honor of Jim Loscutoff, one of the franchise’s beloved players during the first dynasty.

Loscutoff was a no-nonsense small forward who spent his entire professional career in Boston from 1955 to 1964. He won seven NBA World Championship titles during that nine-season span. Though he was not the team’s top scorer, Loscutoff contributed points and minutes when it mattered the most. He enjoyed an especially strong sophom*ore season by averaging a double-double with 10.6 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game.

After his playing retirement, Loscutoff humbly asked the team not to retire his No. 18 so future players could wear it. (It would be retired for Dave Cowens in 1981.) Instead, Boston retired his “Loscy” nickname, one of the most distinctive banners in all of sports.

The Boston Celtics retired No. 17 in honor of John Havlicek, one of the franchise’s greatest players and holder of multiple team records.

Havlicek wore a Celtics uniform for 16 seasons, starting in 1962 in the midst of the first dynasty and ending in 1978 after a storied career. During that time, “Hondo” won eight NBA World Championship titles (and the 1974 NBA Finals MVP Award), made 13 All-Star teams and regularly qualified for NBA All-Defensive teams. In addition to his strong defense and rebounding skills, Havlicek proved his two-way abilities with accurate shooting and passing. His steal during the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals resulted in the most famous play-by-play call in franchise history.

Havlicek was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He remains the franchise’s leader for games played (1,270), minutes played (46,471), points (26,395) and field goals (10,513), and is second-best in assists (6,114) and free throws (5,369).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 18 in honor of Dave Cowens, one of the most talented big men in franchise and NBA history.

“Big Red” was Boston’s man in the middle from 1970 to 1980. Over his decade with the Celtics, Cowens won two NBA World Championship titles and the 1973 NBA MVP Award, shared NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1971 and made eight All-Star teams (plus won ASG MVP in 1973). Cowens cleaned up the boards as the team’s rebounding leader in six of those campaigns. Additionally, he spent the majority of the 1978-79 season as player-coach.

Cowens was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. He is still third in franchise history for total rebounds (10,170) and remains in the top 10 for minutes played (28,551), points (13,192) and assists (2,828).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 10 in honor of Jo Jo White, one of the franchise’s top scorers of the 1970s.

Drafted in 1969, White spent a decade wearing his Celtics uniform. The sharp shooting point guard won two NBA World Championship titles (including 1976 NBA Finals MVP) and made seven All-Star teams during his time in Boston. His offensive production blossomed during his sophom*ore campaign; over the next seven consecutive seasons White averaged at least 18.1 points per game and finished top three in team scoring. White’s heroics during Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals helped lead the Celtics to a memorable triple-overtime victory.

White was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. He remains in the franchise’s top 10 for assists (3,686), minutes played (26,770), field goals (5,648) and points (13,188).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 2 in honor of Red Auerbach, the most successful coach and executive in franchise history.

Auerbach turned the organization into a winning machine after joining the Celtics in 1950. Over his 16 seasons as head coach, Boston won nine NBA World Championship titles, including a league-record eight straight from 1958 to 1966. The league recognized Auerbach as NBA Coach of the Year in 1965. The following year, Auerbach transitioned to team president and general manager and led the Celtics to seven more NBA World Championship titles. He was then honored as NBA Executive of the Year in 1980. According to the team, his retired no. 2 “signifies the fact that Auerbach is second only to Walter Brown as the most significant person in the history of the Boston Celtics organization.”

Auerbach was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 1969. His nine NBA World Championship titles as head coach are second-most in NBA history. Auerbach remains the franchise leader for wins (795) and games coached (1,192).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 3 in honor of Dennis Johnson, a defensive guard who played a key role in the franchise’s 1980s dynasty.

After a successful tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns, Johnson was traded to Boston in 1984. Using his veteran experience, “DJ” won two NBA World Championship titles and made one All-Star team over seven seasons with the Celtics. Johnson especially shined in the postseason with strong defense and clutch shots at big moments. His buzzer-beater in Game 4 of the 1985 NBA Finals and winning basket in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals showed how cool Johnson could be under pressure.

Johnson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He remains in the franchise’s top 10 for assists (3,486) and steals (654).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 33 in honor of Larry Bird, one of the greatest players in franchise and NBA history.

Bird was highly decorated throughout his 13-season pro career spent entirely with the Celtics. He won three NBA World Championship titles (including NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986), three consecutive NBA MVP Awards and NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Bird also made 12 All-Star teams and won the first three ASG 3-Point Contests in league history. While in Boston, “Larry Legend” was respected as a team leader and an anchor of the original Big Three. Bird led the team in points per game over 10 seasons, including his outstanding 1987-88 season with a 29.9.

Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. He remains second in franchise history for field goals (8,591) and steals (1,556), third for points (21,791) and blocks (755), fourth for free throws (3,960) and fifth for minutes played (34,443).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 32 in honor of Kevin McHale, one of the franchise’s foundational players of the 1980s.

McHale played his entire professional career in Boston from 1980 to 1993. As a power forward, his savvy inside game and defensive awareness made him a valuable member of the original Big Three. McHale won three NBA World Championship titles and two consecutive NBA Sixth Man Awards, the first player in league history to win the award back-to-back. He also made seven All-Star teams. McHale was a regular member of NBA All-Defensive teams and well recognized for his ability to guard the game’s toughest opponents.

McHale was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. He remains second in franchise history for blocks (1,690), fourth for games played (971) and fifth for field goals (6,830) and points (17,335).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 35 in honor of Reggie Lewis, one of the most beloved players in franchise history.

Boston fans already knew how talented Lewis was when he starred on the Northeastern University basketball team. In 1987, he was drafted from the local college to play for the hometown NBA franchise. Lewis spent six seasons wearing a Celtics uniform, during which he started all 352 career games and made one All-Star team. His points per game average improved every season, including a solid 20.8 in his final two campaigns. Though quiet by nature, Lewis was respected by teammates for his leadership and passion to win.

During a playoff series against the Charlotte Hornets in April 1993, Lewis collapsed on the floor and left the game, remaining sidelined for the rest of the series. Later, during an offseason practice on July 27, 1993, Lewis collapsed again and went into cardiac arrest. He passed away that day, cutting short a promising career.

The Boston Celtics retired No. 00 in honor of Robert Parish, the franchise’s dominant center during the 1980s dynasty.

Parish came to Boston in 1980 from one of the greatest trades in NBA history. The fourth-year big man broke out as a member of the original Big Three, finding success with a smooth mid-range jumper and great agility. Over 14 seasons with the Celtics, Parish won three NBA World Championship titles and made nine All-Star teams. “The Chief” led the team in rebounding in eight seasons and contributed as one of the team’s top blockers of the decade. At the time of his retirement, Parish was the first player in NBA history to play 21 seasons.

Parish was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. He remains second in franchise history for games (1,106) and total rebounds (11,051) and fourth for points (18,245), field goals (7,483) and minutes played (34,977).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 31 in honor of Cedric Maxwell, one of the franchise’s most accurate sharp shooters of the 1980s.

Drafted by the Celtics in 1977, Maxwell spent the first eight seasons of his NBA career in Boston. He won two NBA World Championship titles (including NBA Finals MVP in 1981). “Max” impressed with consistent shooting on the floor and from the free-throw line. He twice led the league in field-goal percentage – including an astounding .609 percent in the 1979-80 campaign – and he led the team in field-goal percentage during his first five seasons as a member of the Celtics.

Maxwell is still in the top 10 in franchise history for field goal percentage (.559) and for free throws (2,738).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 34 in honor of Paul Pierce, one of the most respected leaders in franchise history.

Pierce was a mainstay in Boston’s lineup for 15 seasons from 1998 to 2013. He won one NBA World Championship title (including NBA Finals MVP in 2008) and made 10 All-Star teams during that span. Though the Celtics faced tough seasons while rebuilding early in his career, Pierce quickly emerged as a team leader and incredible offensive weapon. His accurate jumper, calculated style of play and endless confidence guided Boston toward becoming a perennial playoff contender. Pierce led the team in points per game in 13 consecutive seasons, including five campaigns averaging 25-plus points. “The Truth” used an NBA Finals MVP performance to help end the team’s title drought in 2008, a fitting reward for Paul’s loyalty to the Celtics since day one.

Pierce was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. He remains first in franchise history for steals (1,583), free throws (6,434) and 3-pointers (1,823), second for points (24,021) and third for games played (1,102), minutes played (40,360) and field goals (7,882).

The Boston Celtics retired No. 5 in honor of Kevin Garnett, one of the greatest power forwards in franchise and NBA history.

After a legendary career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Garnett arrived in Boston from a trade in 2007, bringing with him energy and an intense desire to win. The veteran forward won one NBA World Championship title and made five All-Star teams over six seasons wearing a Celtics uniform. As a member of the modern Big Three, Garnett provided stellar defensive skills and a team-first mentality that helped Boston make a successful run for the title in 2008. “The Big Ticket” kept the pressure on as the Celtics made another run in 2010. His rebounding and scoring proved particularly important as one of the top two-way players of his era.

Garnett was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. He averaged 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds and started all 396 games played as a member of the Celtics.