Invoice Russell. Larry Hen. Paul Pierce. Jayson Tatum.
The Boston Celtics group has been house to many nice gamers spanning almost each period of NBA basketball. Naturally, these gamers grew to become beloved by the fanbase.
Greatness at all times shines by, propelling those that obtain it into the highlight. However there are various paths to stardom with regards to Celtics followers. Oftentimes, probably the most beloved gamers aren’t stars in any respect, however the precise reverse.
Celtics followers are a number of the most related within the sport. That’s simply the way in which Boston operates. Within the case of most, the phrase “bleed inexperienced” is as near literal because it presumably could be. They eat, sleep, and breathe Celtics basketball with each recreation, basket, and dribble.
That degree of dedication breeds probably the most unlikely bonds the place bizarre Celtics Twitter meets diehard fandom.
Daniel Theis
Throughout his tenure with the Celtics, Daniel Theis fairly actually had followers able to go to battle for him. “The Conflict on Theis” was an all-too-real motion, and regardless of solely showing in 257 video games with Boston in a supporting position, Theis developed a critical following.
The massive man is most well-known for his 2019-20 marketing campaign with the Celtics, wherein he began 64 of the 65 common season video games he performed in and all 17 playoff video games. He wasn’t the beginning heart Boston wanted to win a title, however even throughout his second stint with the Celtics, followers gravitated to the German vet.
Tacko Fall
Twenty-six. Twenty-six and 169. That’s what number of video games and minutes Tacko Fall performed for the Celtics. Regardless of spending simply two years in Boston, followers have been completely obsessive about the 7-foot-6 behemoth.
From chanting his title in rubbish time to getting Brad Stevens to taunt the gang, urging them to convey their finest earlier than subbing him into the sport, Fall captivated the gang each time he stepped onto the courtroom. He might not have become the rotation participant many hoped he’d be, however the Fall expertise in Beantown is an period followers can look again on with a smile.
Jonas Jerebko
A premier choice by CelticsBlog editor extraordinaire Invoice Sy, Jonas Jerebko was an underrated position participant in Boston who performed some big-time playoff minutes. One peek at Celtics Reddit unveils a put up the place a Utah Jazz fan requested if Boston followers preferred Jerebko. The primary response? “Yeah he was nice are you ******* insane? WE all beloved him.”
Jerebko was inclined to some clutch threes, however his power on the courtroom might have been his finest attribute. Most followers nonetheless bear in mind when the Swedish ahead stood over Kevin Love and instructed him to “rise up” and cease flopping. How might Celtics followers not fall in love with a man like that?
Luigi Datome
In some way, right here’s a man who spent even much less time with the Celtics than Fall did. Whether or not it’s a meals or a online game character, Boston followers seemingly have a factor for guys with enjoyable names as a result of Luigi Datome was beloved throughout his transient 18-game stint with the workforce.
As you’ll be able to think about, Datome didn’t accomplish a lot in Boston (he by no means actually had the time to), however he was a loveable aspect character throughout the workforce’s 2014-15 marketing campaign. And whereas it didn’t happen throughout his time with the Celtics, kudos to CelticsBlog’s Oliver Fox for gracing us with this video of Datome getting blocked… by the backboard.
Brandon Bass
Falling extra consistent with the Jerebko-Theis pipeline slightly than the Fall-Datome duo, Brandon Bass loved one of the best years of his profession in Boston. His silky-smooth mid-range recreation made him a pleasure to observe. (If solely he might have prolonged it right into a three-point shot, he might have caught round within the league for a bit longer.)
Bass performed with the right mixture of finesse, shock hops, and power to make him an immediate fan favourite throughout his time with the Celtics. There was nothing like watching the massive man jab step, faux a middy, after which drive to the ring for a slam. He was an awesome carryover piece from the Large 3 period to the rebuilding years. (And Brandon Bass Jr. is on his option to the league, with presents from LSU, Houston, and Illinois already.)
Walter McCarty
“I LOVE WALTAH!” If the good Tommy Hainsohn loves a man, then Celtics followers ought to (and did), too. Walter McCarty was a member of the dark-age Celtics, spending seven-and-a-half years in Boston from 1997-2004. The 6-foot-10 ahead gave the league a primary have a look at what a stretch 4 was.
He shot 34.9% from deep throughout his time with the Celtics, together with two separate seasons of capturing above 37.0% from behind the arc. He by no means even averaged eight factors a recreation, however he performed with nice hustle and seemingly made all the massive photographs he bought. It was an ideal combine for a Celtic, and Heinsohn, fan favourite.
Jordan Crawford
A private favourite of the First to the Ground podcast, Jordan Crawford offered the mix of “apparent position participant” and “whoa, this man could possibly be actually good” that only some guys can. Boston traded Leandro Barbosa and Jason Collins for him in 2013, and whereas they flipped him a yr later, his time with the Celtics was electrical.
Crawford solely spent 66 video games with the Celtics, and he solely averaged 12 factors, however he scored 20+ in 10 video games. The 6-foot-4 guard even took house Japanese Convention Participant of the Week honors in December of 2013. Plus, he dunked on LeBron James throughout his personal camp in 2009, so he was really destined to be beloved by Celtics followers.
Leon Powe
Cherished largely for his position in Boston’s 2008 championship run, Leon Powe endeared himself to Celtics followers with a 21-point efficiency in Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers. His displaying propelled the Celtics to a six-point win. They took the sequence in six video games, and he even chipped in with eight factors within the ultimate contest.
Alongside the likes of James Posey and Eddie Home, who may be on this listing, Powe might not have been a star, however he’s beloved like one. Powe continued his work with the Celtics after his short-lived enjoying profession was finished, too, as they employed him as a neighborhood ambassador in 2014.
Evan Turner
After being drafted second total by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2010, Evan Turner was traded within the ultimate yr of his rookie contract. He signed with the Celtics the next summer season and instantly made an impression. Turner wasn’t an awesome three-point shooter, however he did nearly the whole lot else on the courtroom nicely. His time with the Celtics even helped him earn a large contract from the Portland Path Blazers.
Whereas Turner performed fairly strong throughout his time in Boston, it was his character that made him so lovable. Turner was so popular with the Celtics group that they introduced him again in a training position as soon as he retired from basketball in 2020. He nonetheless interacts with Celtics followers on Twitter to at the present time.
Marcus Good
His DPOY win might qualify him for the “too good for this listing” group, however contemplating he’s by no means been an All-Star, leaving Marcus Good out appeared unsuitable. The final word fan-favorite throughout his nine-year stint with the Celtics, Good would be the most beloved non-star within the historical past of the group.
From his on-court hustle to his off-the-court neighborhood work, Good was the epitome of what a Celtic ought to be. Clearly, his time with the workforce didn’t finish the way in which he or the followers wished, however his return to TD Backyard would be the excellent indicator of simply how a lot he meant to town.
Different gamers who might have been included on this listing embody Shane Larkin, Vitor Faverani, David Wesley, Ed Pickney, and Jared Sillinger, all of whom have been talked about within the CelticsBlog chat.
Evidently, few different fanbases fall in love with position gamers fairly like Celtics Nation.
