Ranking the 5 best individual seasons of the 21st century

The Celtics have had great players walk through the door, from legendary seasons to iconic moments and championship banners. But which ones stand above the rest? Here are the 5 best individual seasons from a Celtic since 2000. 





Coming in at number 4 is Paul Pierce's 2001-2002 campaign. Pierce averaged 26 points per game, made the all-star team, all NBA third team, and led the team to an unexpected Eastern conference finals appearance. While he had quickly emerged as a star player by this point, this was the Celtics breakout year under him, winning 49 games, good for the 3rd seed in the east. 

The "Truth" earned his nickname on multiple occasions in the playoffs. The first instance being when Pierce dropped 46 points in the closeout game to eliminate the hated Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Then, in the conference finals against the New Jersey Nets, scoring 19 points in a 4th quarter barrage to rally the team back from a 20-point deficit. This season stamped Pierce as one of the best players in the league, and a new threat in the eastern conference.

 



Next at number 4 is Paul Pierce's 2007-2008 season. He once again made the all-star team, all NBA third team and averaged 19 points per game. While this season does not stand out in the box score, Pierce was still great player that simply no longer had to carry a team. 

The Celtics won 66 games on their way to a championship with Pierce being the leading scorer in the regular season and in the finals, earning him the finals MVP. While this season did not result in many monster scoring games, he still made his mark when it counted, getting better as the playoffs went on.

In game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pierce scored 41 of the teams 97 points to advance in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics needed every bit of this performance, and he delivered when the stakes were high. 

He followed up this performance by posting his most efficient series of the playoffs, shooting 49% from the field against the number 1 defense in the NBA. In the closeout game, Pierce scored 27 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter to send the Celtics to the NBA Finals. 

In the NBA finals, Pierce had the most well known and iconic moment of his career. The wheelchair game. With just under 7 minutes to go in the third quarter of game 1, Pierce went tumbling to the floor and was carted to the locker room in a wheelchair. In less than 2 minutes of game time, he returned to the floor, hitting back-to-back three pointers, giving the Celtics a huge momentum swing that helped them win game 1. 

In game 4 up 2-1 in the series, the Celtics overcame what is still the largest comeback in NBA finals history. Pierce scored 14 points and dished out 5 assists in the second half to rally the team from 24 points down to go up 3-1 in the series, effectively ending it. Now a champion and finals MVP, the Truth went from a hall of famer to a legendary player and an iconic name in the NBA landscape.




At number 3 is Kevin Garnett's 2007-2008 season. Similar to Paul Pierce, this season was not eye popping by the numbers, but he certainly made his mark. Garnett won the defensive player of the year, made the all star team, first team all defense, first team all-NBA and finished third in MVP voting. 

For some perspective, the Celtics ranked 2nd in points allowed, without a single other all defensive player on the team. Not only was the defensive side of the ball where Garnett's impact was most felt this season, it set him in rarified air for the Celtics franchise, being the first player in the teams history to win a DPOY.  

In the playoffs, the "Big Ticket" performed best when the stakes were the highest. In the conference finals, Garnett averaged 22 points, with his best game coming in game 5, where he scored 33 points to go up 3-2 in the series. Game 6 of the NBA finals is when Garnett became a legend, recording 26 points and 14 rebounds to cap off a career defining season. 



This next spot on the list is the most unexpected season in Celtics history. Isaiah Thomas went from a journeyman to an all star, MVP candidate and 2nd team all-NBA player in 2017. As a 5'9 point guard, Thomas averaged a career high 29 points per game, the most since Larry Bird in 1988. His play helped lead the Celtics to the number 1 seed and a conference finals appearance with no other all stars alongside him. 

In the playoffs, Thomas stamped his name in history with one of the most legendary games of all time. In game 2 of the second round, days after his sister had passed away as well as having a dental procedure between games, Thomas scored 53 points, with 33 of them coming in the 4th quarter and overtime. A fun season turned into a legendary one with this performance. 

In game 7 of this series, Thomas recorded 29 points and 12 assists to reach the conference finals for the first time in 5 seasons. This season took the Celtics from a transitioning team to being a true threat in the eastern conference. 



With the final spot, it is only right it goes to the best Celtics player of the century in a championship season. Tatum averaged 27 points a night, making the all star team, all-NBA first team and finished 6th in MVP voting. 

In the 2024 playoffs Tatum became the 6th player to ever lead the playoffs in points, rebounds and assists on their way to a championship. Not only did he eliminate some playoff demons from the past as a scorer, he also took a massive leap as a playmaker and was the team's most versatile defender. 

The best moments of the season came when it mattered most, delivering crucial performances in the conference finals and NBA finals.  In the conference finals, Tatum delivered a vintage performance, scoring 36 points in game 1, with 10 points in overtime to steal the win, along with averaging 30 points for the series. 

The finals was when the growth to being a complete player was on full display. From recording multiple double digit assist games to a 31 point masterpiece to win the championship, this season was the missing piece to an all time great start to a career. 

From emerging as a star to climbing the mountain, each of these seasons stand out in defining an era of Celtics basketball, and has created legacies for players that will only grow as time passes. 

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