Ranking the Celtics role player Mount Rushmore
When talking about the Celtics, you typically think of the iconic names that took the franchise to all time heights, or the legendary teams that are immortalized in basketball history. But these teams are built on more than just the star players. The role players are the glue guys, the unsung heroes that were the missing piece to a great puzzle. These 4 players embodied this better than anybody in Celtics history.
Starting off the list at number 4 is Don Nelson. The consistency throughout his career allowed him to be apart of two Celtics eras in the 60's and 70's. During his Celtics tenure he averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds on 48% shooting, a high percentage for this era.
At the very top of the list is none other than Dennis Johnson. He manages to make this list despite only playing with the Celtics for half of his career. Johnson made three 2nd team all-defensive teams, one first team all-defense, an all-star team and won two NBA championships.
To clarify, in this article role players will be defined as good players that were anywhere between the 3rd to 5th best player on their team or a fringe all-star caliber player. For example, players such as Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Robert Parish will not make the list because they were multiple time all-stars and hall-of-famers with the Celtics.
Starting off the list at number 4 is Don Nelson. The consistency throughout his career allowed him to be apart of two Celtics eras in the 60's and 70's. During his Celtics tenure he averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds on 48% shooting, a high percentage for this era.
What set Nelson apart was his consistency, versatility and longevity. Mainly known for his mid-range jumper, Don developed a reputation as one of the league’s most consistent shooters, often coming through in key moments. None of which were bigger than the last two games of the 1969 NBA Finals.
In game 6, Nelson scored 25 points to keep the Celtics alive, and in game 7 he hit the iconic free throw line jumper to ice the game, engraving himself in basketball history. Despite his limited role, Nelson managed to make his prescence felt with his consistency and reliability on multiple championship teams spanning over the course of a decade.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the list, at number three is Derrick White. White has not been a Celtic for long but has been crucial in the teams recent success. After being traded for in the middle of the 2022 season, the Celtics took off. A team scraping by as a play in team quickly turned into a championship contender with White.
White went from a gritty and scrappy player to a legitimate threat on offense as a driver and three point shooter. This was only his second best attribute, however, as White was one of the league's best defenders, making two straight 2nd team all-defensive teams and being leading all guards in blocks twice. With Kristaps Porzingis missing most of the 2024 playoffs, someone had to step up, and White did, making huge plays in the clutch while also taking on a heavier scoring load.
In just 3 1/2 seasons, White has gone from an unknown mid-season acquisition to a cornerstone player and one of the most impactful role players in Celtics history, helping turn the Celtics into a championship team and perennial contender.
Coming in at number two is Cedrick Maxwell. Out of all the players on this list, only one of them has won a finals MVP, and he did it on a team with Larry Bird no less. Maxwell was a consistent, reliable scorer, an excellent offensive rebounder and a stout defender that was a perfect fit on two great all time great championship team's.
On the highest stages was when Cornbread was at his best. Winning the finals MVP in 1981 then delivering another crucial performance in game 7 of the 1984 finals displayed Maxwell's value. No game or moment was too big for him despite his role. He was the perfect complimentary player that was a proven winner and clutch player.
At the very top of the list is none other than Dennis Johnson. He manages to make this list despite only playing with the Celtics for half of his career. Johnson made three 2nd team all-defensive teams, one first team all-defense, an all-star team and won two NBA championships.
Much like Derrick White, Johnson was a complete player. He was locking down players on one end then turning around being a dynamic scorer and play maker on the other end. The 1980's Celtics had top end talent, but they needed a reliable player to keep things going when that talent was not on the floor, and Johnson always made sure that was the case.
Whenever people talk about the Celtics offense during this time period, Larry Bird's playmaking is often talked about as what helped the offense go. However, in the 1985, 1987 and 1988 playoffs, Dennis Johnson was actually the one leading the team in assists. His mix of offensive prowess and shutdown defensive abilities led to two historically great championship teams in the 1980's, making him the greatest role player in Celtics history.
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