celtics retired jerseys hang from the TD Garden rafters as a physical record of the franchise's greatest eras, and the number of them surprises most fans. The Boston Celtics have retired more numbers than almost any other NBA team, a reflection of a dynasty culture that spans from the 1950s to the modern era.
The problem is that most lists online are incomplete, outdated, or mix up who wore which number and when. This guide breaks down the full retired set, explains the stories behind the biggest names, and shows you how to read the rafters like a historian.
You will also learn which numbers are unofficially off-limits and how the team decides who earns a banner.
How Many Numbers Are Hanging in the Rafters?
The Celtics have retired 23 numbers, one of the largest collections in professional basketball. That total includes numbers retired for players, coaches, and contributors rather than players alone.
The franchise's official records list honorees ranging from Bob Cousy's No. 14 to Kevin Garnett's No. 5. The team also retired No. 1 for Walter Brown, the founder and longtime owner, showing that celtics retired jerseys honor builders as well as athletes.
A few facts make this collection unusual:
- No. 18 was retired twice, for Dave Cowens and later Jim Loscutoff, who asked that his number stay in use.
- No. 2 belongs to Red Auerbach, the legendary coach and executive.
- The most recent addition came when the team raised Kevin Garnett's No. 5.
Because the list has grown over decades, older articles often miss recent ceremonies. Always check the team's own history page before quoting a number, since celtics retired jerseys change more often than many fans assume.
How to apply this: Bookmark the official Celtics history page and compare it against any list you read, noting the date it was last updated.
The Cornerstones: Russell, Bird, and the Dynasty Era
Bill Russell's No. 6 anchors the entire collection. Russell won 11 championships in 13 seasons, and the NBA retired his No. 6 league-wide in 2022, making it the first number honored across all teams.
Larry Bird's No. 33 represents the 1980s revival. Bird led Boston to three titles and won three consecutive MVP awards, and his rivalry with Magic Johnson helped carry the league into a new era of national popularity.
The dynasty years produced a cluster of celtics retired jerseys that still define the franchise:
- No. 14, Bob Cousy, the playmaking engine of the 1950s
- No. 15, Tom Heinsohn, player and later coach
- No. 16, Tom "Satch" Sanders
- No. 17, John Havlicek, the franchise's all-time leading scorer for decades
- No. 19, Don Nelson
- No. 21, Bill Sharman
- No. 23, Frank Ramsey
- No. 24, Sam Jones
- No. 25, K.C. Jones
Each name connects to a specific championship run, which is why historians treat the rafters as a timeline rather than a simple list. Seen together, celtics retired jerseys from this era trace a decade of dominance.
How to apply this: When you study the collection, group the numbers by decade so you can see which era each honoree represents.
Modern Honorees and the Numbers Retired Since 2000
The modern era added several names to the rafters. Reggie Lewis's No. 35 was retired in 1995 after his sudden death, and it remains one of the most emotional ceremonies in team history.
Paul Pierce's No. 34 went up in 2018 after a career that included a Finals MVP in 2008. The 2008 championship core also produced honors for Kevin Garnett, whose No. 5 was retired in 2022.
A common scenario is a fan trying to date a banner by the player's era. The table below helps sort the modern additions from the older ones.
| Number | Honoree | Era | Action to take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Paul Pierce | 1998–2013 | Check his Finals MVP season |
| 5 | Kevin Garnett | 2007–2013 | Note the 2008 title run |
| 35 | Reggie Lewis | 1987–1993 | Read the ceremony history |
| 32 | Kevin McHale | 1980–1993 | Compare with Bird's era |
| 3 | Dennis Johnson | 1983–1990 | Review the 1984 and 1986 titles |
| 00 | Robert Parish | 1980–1994 | Track the Big Three years |
The pattern is clear: celtics retired jerseys reward sustained excellence, not single great seasons.
How to apply this: Use the table to build a personal timeline, then verify each entry against the team's official announcements.
The Stories Behind the Most Famous Banners
Every banner carries a story that statistics alone cannot capture. Red Auerbach's No. 2 honors a coach who won nine championships and shaped the modern role of the executive.
John Havlicek's No. 17 reflects a career of relentless endurance. Havlicek played 16 seasons in Boston and retired as the team's all-time leading scorer, a mark later passed by Paul Pierce.
The Celtics organization has stated that retired numbers represent "the highest honor" a member of the franchise can receive. That standard explains why so few modern players qualify.
Consider Dennis Johnson's No. 3. Johnson arrived in 1983 and became the defensive backbone of two championship teams, showing that celtics retired jerseys value two-way contributions.
How to apply this: Pick one banner and read a full biography of that honoree before your next game or arena visit.
How the Celtics Decide Who Earns a Banner
The team applies an informal but demanding standard. Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is a strong signal, but it is not automatic.
Long tenure matters. Most honorees spent the bulk of their careers in Boston, and several won multiple championships. The franchise has also retired numbers for contributors like broadcaster Johnny Most, whose voice defined the team for generations.
A practical way to understand the criteria is to compare candidates who were passed over. Great players who spent short stretches in Boston rarely receive the honor, and that gap tells you much about how celtics retired jerseys are chosen.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame maintains official induction records you can cross-reference. For franchise-level data, the NBA's official site publishes team history and ceremony coverage.
How to apply this: Before arguing that a current player deserves a banner, check their tenure and championship count against the existing honorees.
Frequently Asked Questions About celtics retired jerseys
What number did the NBA retire league-wide for Bill Russell?
The NBA retired No. 6 across all teams in 2022 to honor Bill Russell's legacy. Boston had already retired the number, so the league-wide move added a second layer of recognition. Players who wore No. 6 at the time were allowed to keep it. This makes celtics retired jerseys unique because one of them is also a league-wide honor.
Are any Celtics numbers unofficially off-limits without a banner?
Yes. Some numbers carry informal weight even without a formal ceremony, and the team has historically avoided reissuing certain ones quickly. This practice varies by era and front-office preference. Fans researching celtics retired jerseys sometimes confuse these informal retirements with official ones, so always confirm with the team's published list.
Can a number be retired for a coach or executive?
Absolutely. Red Auerbach's No. 2 and Walter Brown's No. 1 show that the franchise honors builders, not just players. This is one reason the collection is larger than most teams'. If you are cataloging celtics retired jerseys, include non-player honorees or your count will be wrong.
What happens to a retired number if a player wants to wear it?
Retired numbers are not reissued. A player requesting one is typically redirected to another number. The Jim Loscutoff case is the notable exception, since he asked that his No. 18 remain available. That decision is why celtics retired jerseys include a number shared by two honorees.
How can I see the banners in person?
The banners hang in the TD Garden rafters and are visible during home games and arena tours. Check the arena's official tour schedule before visiting. Photographing the rafters is allowed during most tours, which makes it easy to document celtics retired jerseys on your own.
Conclusion
The rafters tell a story that goes far beyond a list of names. Keep these takeaways in mind:
- The franchise has retired 23 numbers, one of the largest collections in the NBA.
- Honorees include players, coaches, and executives, not athletes alone.
- Bill Russell's No. 6 carries both team and league-wide significance.
- Modern additions like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett continue a decades-long tradition.
Your next step is simple: pull up the official team history page, compare it with this guide, and build your own timeline of celtics retired jerseys. Then plan an arena visit to see the banners in person, where celtics retired jerseys finally become something you can see rather than just read about.
