Ranking: The highest-paid players in Boston Celtics history
The Boston Celtics have one of the richest histories of all the NBA teams, with 16 championships to their name and 37 members of the organization currently residing in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the highest-paid players in Celtics history, a list led by a familiar name surrounded by many current players.
Paul Pierce: $169,486,218
An all-timer in Celtics history to be sure, Paul Pierce might not be the franchise’s all-time greatest player but he did enjoy 15 very successful seasons there, helping guide the franchise to a championship in 2007-08, a title run for which he earned Finals MVP. The fact those campaigns came in the modern era is why Pierce finds himself at the top of this list, because had Bird or Russell come around in the 2000s, they would have been gazillionaires and probably at the top of this ranking themselves. Still, credit to Pierce, who was one of the game’s top scorers on the wing during his heyday.
Money per game: $136,903.25
Highest Celtics salary: $19,795,712 in 2009-10 (No. 7 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 21.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 44.7 FG% in 15 seasons
More on Paul Pierce’s earnings
Al Horford: $136,703,215
For an example of just how high salaries in the NBA are today, in just five seasons, Al Horford is already second all-time in Celtics history in player salary. Horford has obviously earned his money, maintaining his status to this day as a top big-man defender with floor-spacing abilities, a truly versatile two-way frontcourt threat fit for the modern NBA. At the same time, he’s averaged 12.1 points per game in his time as a Celtic and made $318,655 per outing. There are some who might call that a slight overpay on Boston’s behalf, but we’re not here to judge.
Money per game: $318,655.51
Highest Celtics salary: $28,928,709 in 2018-19 (No. 13 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.2 bpg, 49.0 FG% in five seasons
Kevin Garnett: $117,416,510
Although Kevin Garnett’s player salaries throughout his career still pretty much pale in comparison to those of today’s stars, he was still well-compensated during his time in the NBA, earning the highest amount for any player retired by 2015-16. Garnett led the league in player salary twice during his time in Boston, first in 2007-08 ($23.8 million) and then again in 2008-09 ($24.8 million). The Return On Investment for the Celtics was excellent, too, as Boston won a championship in 2007-08 and might have done so again the year after had Garnett not gotten injured late in the campaign.
Money per game: $244,617.73
Highest Celtics salary: $24,751,934 in 2008-09 (No. 1 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 15.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 bpg, 52.0 FG% in six seasons
More on Kevin Garnett’s earnings
Jaylen Brown: $102,975,100
The player who might be to sitting at the top of this ranking in the not-so-distant future, Jaylen Brown is rumored to sign the biggest contract in NBA history this offseason, one that reportedly could be worth up to $304 million, with $70 million going just to the final year of that deal – astronomical figures. The only thing stopping Brown from not being guaranteed to top these rankings one day is a potential trade, which can’t be totally ruled out considering how much his skill set overlaps with a player coming up soon on this list. Still, Brown has established himself as one of the top two-way wings in the game today, with an ability to hit difficult shots over tough defending, but he does have a poor ball handle and can be turnover prone at inopportune times. Side note: Just to show how high player salaries have gotten today, consider that in 2008-09, Garnett was first league-wide in player salary at $24.8 million. Last season, Brown made $29.8 million… the 46th-highest salary in the NBA. Shocking.
Money per game: $179,087.13
Highest Celtics salary: $29,776,785 in 2022-23 (No. 46 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 17.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.7 FG% in seven seasons
More on Jaylen Brown’s earnings
Gordon Hayward: $93,642,885
Former Celtic Gordon Hayward had an unfortunate time in Boston, breaking his leg on national television in his first game with the Celtics to kick off 2017-18. Hayward would miss the rest of that season but came back in 2018-19 to see action in 72 games. Hayward’s salary would peak the following year (at $32.7 million) when he also had his best statistical campaign in Boston, averaging 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 2019-20, albeit just in 52 games, leading to a huge four-year, $120 million contract from the Charlotte Hornets in 2020. Regardless, after just four seasons, Hayward already ranks Top 5 all-time in Celtics salary.
Money per game: $673,689.82
Highest Celtics salary: $32,700,690 in 2019-20 (No. 16 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 13.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 0.8 spg, 48.4 FG% in three seasons
More on Gordon Hayward’s earnings
Jayson Tatum: $88,528,600
The surest bet to eventually top this ranking is without a doubt Jayson Tatum, the focal point of the current Celtics iteration, already having led the team to the Finals once and to the Conference Finals multiple times at just 25 years old. Tatum continues to show improvement, too, and will be eligible for an extension in 2024-25, one that will likely be among the largest in NBA history. Although Brown’s future with the Celtics might be shaky – he’s come up in trade rumors various times throughout his career already – Tatum is without a doubt safe in Boston as the player the Celtics will build around for years to come.
Money per game: $166,094.93
Highest Celtics salary: $30,351,780 in 2022-23 (No. 42 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 22.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.1 spg, 45.8 FG% in six seasons
More on Jayson Tatum’s earnings
Marcus Smart: $82,538,401
After nine seasons, the Marcus Smart era in Boston shockingly came to an end this offseason with a surprising trade to the Memphis Grizzlies. Smart seemed like the type of player to spend his entire career with a team like Boston, as he was not only a fan favorite there but also a very effective player, especially on defense. Just goes to show the business-minded approach NBA teams have to take when trying to build a champion. Either way, Smart checks in at No. 7 among the highest-paid Celtics players, making north of $82 million during his near-decade with the franchise.
Money per game: $119,794.49
Highest Celtics salary: $17,207,142 in 2022-23 (No. 85 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 10.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.6 spg, 38.6 FG% in nine seasons
More on Marcus Smart’s earnings
Ray Allen: $73,165,290
One of the best shooters in NBA history, Ray Allen spent five seasons in Boston, getting to the Finals twice in that span and winning a championship alongside Pierce and Garnett in 2007-08. Allen ranked just inside the Top 10 in salary league-wide in 2009-10, when he also had his highest salary as a Celtic, earning $18.8 million that year. Allen’s time with the Celtics didn’t end in the nicest fashion, as the Hall-of-Famer would leave Boston – after years of trade rumors surrounding his name – and join the direct rival Miami Heat ahead of 2012-13, where he’d also reach two Finals and win one championship.
Money per game: $162,951.65
Highest Celtics salary: $18,776,860 in 2009-10 (No. 9 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 16.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.9 spg, 47.2 FG% in five seasons
Kemba Walker: $67,121,100
Despite spending just two seasons in Boston, Kemba Walker made enough money in that span to already rank in the Top 10 all-time among Celtics’ highest-paid players. Walker was brought in as a potential star-level Irving replacement and did have one All-Star season with the Cs, but an injury-plagued 2020-21 campaign spelled the end of Walker’s time in Boston. In the 2021 offseason, Walker was traded to the New York Knicks where he’d spend one season before playing nine games as a Dallas Maverick in 2022-23, his final season in the NBA – for now, at least. Walker recently made waves by signing with Euroleague club Monaco.
Money per game: $564,042.86
Highest Celtics salary: $34,379,100 in 2020-21 (No. 11 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 19.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 42.3 FG% in two seasons
More on Kemba Walker’s earnings
Antoine Walker: $53,161,628
Arguably Pierce’s best teammate with the Celtics prior to the formation of the vaunted Big 3 of the late 2000s was Antoine Walker, a forward who might have fit better in today’s game. On offense, Walker could slide between the 3 and the 4, proving too quick and skilled for slow-footed big men and too powerful for smaller defenders. Walker loved to launch deep threes although he wasn’t the most proficient at them and his defense left something to be desired, but as an offensive weapon, the three-time All-Star was an impactful player in his time. Walker would get traded by Boston to Miami in the 2005 offseason and helped the Heat win the 2005-06 championship as a role player alongside Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. (Fun fact: The trade that landed Walker in Miami was the largest trade in NBA history, featuring five teams and 13 players, also netting the Heat Jason Williams and James Posey, two other pivotal role players on the ’06 championship team.)
Money per game: $91,030.19
Highest Celtics salary: $12,375,000 in 2002-03 (No. 15 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 20.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 41.3 FG% in eight seasons
More on Antoine Walker’s earnings
Rajon Rondo: $51,382,662
There were some who would argue that the Celtics’ Big 3 of the late 2000s, early 2010s was actually more of a Big 4, especially as we got to the latter years of that era. That’s because Rajon Rondo, a second-year starter on the 2008 Celtics championship team, blossomed into one of the best point guards in the NBA around that time, leading the Association in nightly assists in 2011-12 and 2012-13. Rondo was never really compensated as such, though, never earning more than $12.0 million in a single season with the Celtics, and he was eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2014-15. Rondo would go on to win another championship in 2019-20, that time with the Los Angeles Lakers, making Rondo just the second player ever to win a ring as a Celtic and a Laker, joining Clyde Lovellette on the list.
Money per game: $83,009.15
Highest Celtics salary: $12,000,000 in 2013-14 (No. 44 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 8.5 apg, 1.9 spg, 47.3 FG% in nine seasons
More on Rajon Rondo’s earnings
Vin Baker: $41,785,000
Owner of one of the worst contracts in NBA history, Vin Baker suffered through injuries and alcohol-addiction problems during his one-plus season with the Celtics, who had traded for the then-four-time All-Star big man from the Seattle SuperSonics ahead of the 2002-03 season. Baker wouldn’t even last two years with the Celtics before Boston waived him in 2004 for “violating the terms of his alcohol treatment program.” It’s a shame Baker couldn’t get out of his own way, as he was a very talented player in his prime, peaking in 1996-97 when he averaged 21-plus points and 10-plus rebounds over 78 games for the Milwaukee Bucks. After waiving him, the Celtics were paying off Baker’s contract until 2006-07 in $5 million-plus increments.
Money per game: $469,494.38
Highest Celtics salary: $13,500,000 in 2003-04 (No. 8 in the NBA that season)
Celtics stats: 7.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.5 spg, 49.4 FG% in two seasons
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