Marcus Smart was all smiles when he accepted the 2021-22 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, becoming the first guard to win since Gary Payton in 1996. Smart was also the first Celtics player to be named DPOY since Kevin Garnett in 2008. “This is an honor and, literally, me and my teammates […]

It was a little bit of old and a little bit of new for the rebuilding Celtics and new Head Coach Doc Rivers in the 2004-05 season. With three middle first-round picks, Boston picked up Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Tony Allen. The team also traded for future Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton and signed veteran Tom […]

Just two days after the Celtics bounced out of the 2004 NBA Playoffs, Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge found his new head coach in former Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers. “Doc’s style is great for the type of team we have,” Ainge said of the 2000 NBA Coach of the Year. Ainge’s belief in […]

One of Kevin Garnett’s strengths was his defense. When he retired, Garnett’s nine selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team tied him with Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Gary Payton. Combined with his three selections to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, Garnett’s total of 12 selections tied him with Kobe Bryant for second most in […]