Boston Celtics GOAT Rankings

The debate rages on.

Many consider either LeBron James or Michael Jordan the greatest player in NBA history—the GOAT, as the title is widely abbreviated in sports circles. Some want to put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the conversation, while others seem determined to include Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

None of these answers are inherently correct or incorrect. Realizing that is vital.

We’re not going to fall into the trap made by other GOAT rankings and insist our order is the only acceptable one, since everyone values different legacy components uniquely. That’s what makes this conversation so difficult in and of itself: How much are you swayed by championships, longevity, era translations and every other possible piece of the argument?

Our rankings here are intended to tell you who produced the most on both ends of the floor relative to his peers. The longer the high-level production was sustained, the better. But team-based results like deep playoff runs and championships don’t have any bearing in this particular article, which focuses entirely on the Boston Celtics franchise.

Sections

  • Methodology
  • Flaws
  • GOAT Progression
  • Per-Season GOAT Standings
  • Top-Ranked Seasons
  • Top Rookie Seasons

Methodology

Our rankings are centered around the accumulation of GOAT points, which are calculated using the following steps:

  1. Isolate all TPA scores earned during any given season from 1951-52 through 2017-18, combining both regular-season and postseason numbers.
  2. Calculate the average and standard deviation of the data for the relevant season.
  3. Convert TPA scores to Z-Scores (standard deviations above or below the average). The Z-Scores then function as GOAT points.
  4. Sum GOAT points from all seasons to find career scores, though only players with at least 1.0 GOAT points will be depicted pictorially.

Flaws

This is by no means a perfect examination of basketball history, so treat it as a baseline if you desire.

Notable Flaw No. 1: TPA isn’t a Perfect Stat

Since TPA is derived from box plus/minus, we’re looking only at box-score stats and failing to give players proper credit for solid defensive switching, beneficial picks at the top of the key and so much more. Scores before 1973-74 are estimated through a correlation with win shares, which allows for some variance as well. A few players (see: Westbrook, Russell) even see their scores boosted by extreme interaction effects between assist percentage and usage rate, as BPM was never intended to handle such high numbers.

Notable Flaw No. 2: No Anecdotes

Memorable shots don’t matter here. Nor do performances that came in crunch-time scenarios. The stories told by these players can’t necessarily be quantified, even though they largely color our perception of these contributors.

Not a Flaw: Higher Scores for Modern Players

Because the league has more players these days (deeper rosters and more franchises), the standard deviation naturally shrinks. That makes it easier for modern standouts to earn higher Z-Scores, and thus higher numbers of GOAT points during a single go-round. This isn’t a flaw, so much as a purposeful part of the design.

Deviating from the pack in a positive fashion is harder in the modern Association, as back-end players who sit on the pine for large portions of contests have improved drastically. The supply/demand curve is the only justification necessary; the NBA has a finite number of roster spots and far more qualified players looking to earn them, which forces the level of those end-of-bench contributors to undergo an upward progression.

The league as a whole improves every year.

The GOAT Progression

  • Season Positives: Ed Macauley (3.021), Bob Cousy (0.653), Bob Donham (0.644), Bill Sharman (0.489), Bob Harris (0.077)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Everyone
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Ed Macauley (3.042), Bill Sharman (1.666), Bob Donham (0.211), Bob Cousy (0.147), Mo Mahoney (0.117)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Mo Mahoney
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bob Harris

  • Season Positives: Ed Macauley (2.745), Bill Sharman (1.499), Bob Cousy (0.384), Bob Donham (0.011)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Ed Macauley (0.948), Bill Sharman (0.673), Bob Cousy (0.46), Skippy Whitaker (0.054)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Skippy Whitaker
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Sharman (0.997), Ed Macauley (0.974), Bob Cousy (0.283), Jack Nichols (0.029)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Sharman (2.348), Bob Cousy (1.879), Bill Russell (1.577), Tom Heinsohn (1.34), Frank Ramsey (0.835), Arnie Risen (0.474), Dick Hemric (0.262), Andy Phillip (0.088)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Frank Ramsey, Dick Hemric, Arnie Risen
    • Entered the Top 20: Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Frank Ramsey, Dick Hemric, Arnie Risen, Andy Phillip
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Skippy Whitaker
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (2.89), Frank Ramsey (2.361), Bill Sharman (1.581), Tom Heinsohn (0.733), Bob Cousy (0.562), Sam Jones (0.433), Jim Loscutoff (0.098)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Sam Jones
    • Entered the Top 20: Sam Jones
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Arnie Risen
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Andy Phillip

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (3.218), Bob Cousy (1.782), Tom Heinsohn (1.107), Sam Jones (1.055), Bill Sharman (1.031), Frank Ramsey (0.865), Bennie Swain (0.349)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Bennie Swain
    • Entered the Top 20: Bennie Swain
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Mo Mahoney
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (3.268), Bill Sharman (1.441), Bob Cousy (1.218), Tom Heinsohn (1.178), Sam Jones (1.096), Frank Ramsey (0.568), K.C. Jones (0.514), Maury King (0.147)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: K.C. Jones
    • Entered the Top 20: K.C. Jones, Maury King
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Dick Hemric
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (2.718), Sam Jones (1.493), Bob Cousy (1.072), Frank Ramsey (0.927), Tom Heinsohn (0.926), Bill Sharman (0.859), Tom Sanders (0.457), Gene Conley (0.307), K.C. Jones (0.13), Gene Guarilia (0.059)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Tom Sanders
    • Entered the Top 20: Tom Sanders, Gene Guarilia
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bennie Swain
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (3.551), Sam Jones (1.681), Tom Heinsohn (1.658), Frank Ramsey (1.191), Tom Sanders (1.039), Bob Cousy (0.966), K.C. Jones (0.409), Gene Guarilia (0.092)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (3.259), Sam Jones (1.892), Tom Heinsohn (1.226), Tom Sanders (1.066), John Havlicek (0.917), Bob Cousy (0.754), Clyde Lovellette (0.326), Frank Ramsey (0.296), Dan Swartz (0.258), K.C. Jones (0.064)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: John Havlicek
    • Entered the Top 20: John Havlicek, Clyde Lovellette, Dan Swartz
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bob Donham
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (4.189), Sam Jones (1.383), Tom Sanders (1.115), John Havlicek (0.97), Tom Heinsohn (0.891), K.C. Jones (0.649), Willie Naulls (0.508), Frank Ramsey (0.358), Clyde Lovellette (0.266), Larry Siegfried (0.128), Johnny McCarthy (0.05)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Willie Nauls, Larry Siegfried
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Arnie Risen, Skippy Whitaker

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (4.768), Sam Jones (2.655), Tom Sanders (1.138), K.C. Jones (1.01), Larry Siegfried (0.561), Ron Bonham (0.53), Tom Heinsohn (0.371), John Thompson (0.331), Mel Counts (0.327), John Havlicek (0.257), Bevo Nordmann (0.161), Willie Naulls (0.059), Gerry Ward (0.048)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Ron Bonham, John Thompson, Mel Counts
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Maury King, Mo Mahoney, Gene Guarilia

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (2.652), Sam Jones (2.143), Larry Siegfried (0.97), Don Nelson (0.791), Tom Sanders (0.782), K.C. Jones (0.638), Mel Counts (0.554), John Thompson (0.214), Ron Watts (0.145), John Havlicek (0.084), Si Green (0.07)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Don Nelson
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Dick Hemric

  • Season Positives: Bill Russell (2.742), Bailey Howell (2.615), John Havlicek (1.218), Sam Jones (1.054), Larry Siegfried (1.029), Don Nelson (0.434), Toby Kimball (0.176), Wayne Embry (0.122), Tom Sanders (0.075), Ron Watts (0.065)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Bailey Howell
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Dan Swartz

  • Season Positives: Bailey Howell (1.971), Bill Russell (1.531), Don Nelson (1.515), Sam Jones (1.186), John Havlicek (0.824), Larry Siegfried (0.576), Tom Sanders (0.224)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Bailey Howell
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: K.C. Jones
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Bailey Howell (2.91), Bill Russell (2.676), Don Nelson (1.891), Sam Jones (0.658), John Havlicek (0.645), Tom Sanders (0.628), Larry Siegfried (0.317), Rich Johnson (0.051)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Don Nelson (1.65), John Havlicek (1.549), Rich Niemann (0.18)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: John Havlicek (2.234), Don Nelson (1.252), Don Chaney (0.552), Jo Jo White (0.372), Art Williams (0.31), Dave Cowens (0.27), Rich Johnson (0.204), Rex Morgan (0.099), Tom Sanders (0.047), Hank Finkel (0.006)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Don Nelson
    • Entered the Top 20: Art Williams
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Tom Sanders
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Willie Naulls

  • Season Positives: John Havlicek (1.872), Don Nelson (1.733), Dave Cowens (1.714), Art Williams (0.815), Don Chaney (0.629), Clarence Glover (0.129), Rex Morgan (0.062), Garfield Smith (0.006)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Dave Cowens
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Bennie Swain

  • Season Positives: Paul Silas (2.948), Dave Cowens (2.669), John Havlicek (2.359), Don Chaney (1.58), Don Nelson (1.314), Art Williams (0.6), Paul Westphal (0.322), Hank Finkel (0.26), Mark Minor (0.135), Steve Kuberski (0.036)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Paul Silas, Don Chaney
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: John Thompson, Ron Bonham

  • Season Positives: Dave Cowens (1.591), John Havlicek (1.523), Paul Silas (0.609), Don Chaney (0.403), Paul Westphal (0.073), Art Williams (0.044)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Dave Cowens (2.479), John Havlicek (1.499), Don Nelson (0.936), Paul Silas (0.601), Don Chaney (0.453), Paul Westphal (0.411), Jo Jo White (0.357)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Dave Cowens
    • Entered the Top 20: Paul Westphal
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bailey Howell
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Clyde Lovellette

  • Season Positives: Dave Cowens (2.83), Paul Silas (0.705), John Havlicek (0.547), Charlie Scott (0.458), Jo Jo White (0.104)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Dave Cowens (1.214), Jo Jo White (0.559), Sidney Wicks (0.44), John Havlicek (0.375), Tom Boswell (0.047), Charlie Scott (0.045)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Dave Cowens (3.147), Cedric Maxwell (0.424)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Cedric Maxwell (2.768), Dave Cowens (0.56)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Cedric Maxwell
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Paul Westphal

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (3.095), Cedric Maxwell (2.928), Chris Ford (0.906), Dave Cowens (0.539), M.l. Carr (0.496)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Larry Bird, Chris Ford
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Mel Counts, Bob Donham

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (3.325), Cedric Maxwell (2.634), Robert Parish (2.308), Kevin McHale (0.083)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Cedric Maxwell
    • Entered the Top 20: Robert Parish
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Frank Ramsey
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Chris Ford

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (4.399), Robert Parish (2.001), Cedric Maxwell (1.992), Kevin McHale (0.792), M.L. Carr (0.194)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Larry Bird
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Tom Heinsohn
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (2.588), Robert Parish (1.095), Kevin McHale (0.562), Cedric Maxwell (0.488), Danny Ainge (0.28)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (4.835), Robert Parish (1.173), Cedric Maxwell (0.969), Kevin McHale (0.891), Gerald Henderson (0.413), Dennis Johnson (0.2)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Kevin McHale
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Don Chaney

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (5.387), Kevin McHale (1.208), Danny Ainge (0.857), Robert Parish (0.611), Cedric Maxwell (0.16), Dennis Johnson (0.1)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (5.721), Kevin McHale (2.189), Robert Parish (1.316), Bill Walton (0.939), Danny Ainge (0.557), Dennis Johnson (0.361)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (2.743), Kevin McHale (1.61), Robert Parish (0.685), Danny Ainge (0.448)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (4.537), Kevin McHale (1.69), Danny Ainge (1.455), Robert Parish (0.584)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Danny Ainge
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Art Williams

  • Season Positives: Robert Parish (1.945), Kevin McHale (1.025), Reggie Lewis (0.553), Larry Bird (0.001)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Robert Parish
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bob Cousy
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (1.667), Kevin McHale (0.936), Reggie Lewis (0.306), Robert Parish (0.291), Ed Pinckney (0.123)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Kevin McHale
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Ed Macauley
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (1.818), Kevin Gamble (0.955), Kevin McHale (0.867), Ed Pinckney (0.74), Robert Parish (0.692), Brian Shaw (0.503), Reggie Lewis (0.374)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Bird (1.577), Reggie Lewis (1.266), Ed Pinckney (1.117), Kevin Gamble (0.719), Robert Parish (0.336), Kevin McHale (0.049)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Reggie Lewis (1.347), Dee Brown (1.205), Kevin Gamble (0.855), Xavier McDaniel (0.302), Robert Parish (0.253), Rick Fox (0.157)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Reggie Lewis
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Danny Ainge

  • Season Positives: Dee Brown (1.343), Dino Radja (0.242), Rick Fox (0.218), Ed Pinckney (0.182)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Dee Brown (1.251), Rick Fox (0.554), David Wesley (0.113)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Dee Brown
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: K.C. Jones

  • Season Positives: Rick Fox (1.471), David Wesley (1.066), Dana Barros (0.07), Pervis Ellison (0.006)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: K.C. Jones
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Dee Brown

  • Season Positives: Rick Fox (1.122), David Wesley (0.505)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Rick Fox
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: K.C. Jones

  • Season Positives: Antonie Walker (0.459), Dana Barros (0.226), Pervis Ellison (0.175), Travis Knight (0.104), Bruce Bowen (0.033), Andrew DeClercq (0.01)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (1.937), Antoine Walker (0.427), Tony Battie (0.374), Dana Barros (0.048)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (1.763), Antoine Walker (0.71), Adrian Griffin (0.644), Kenny Anderson (0.61)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Paul Pierce
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Larry Siegfried

  • Season Positives: Antoine Walker (2.499), Paul Pierce (1.929)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (3.302), Antoine Walker (2.077), Tony Battie (0.014)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Antoine Walker
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Rick Fox

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (2.346), Antoine Walker (0.212), Tony Delk (0.044)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Paul Pierce
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Don Nelson
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (1.283), Mark Blount (0.43), Raef LaFrentz (0.078)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (2.601), Raef LaFrentz (1.107)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (2.546), Delonte West (0.892), Raef LaFrentz (0.091), Kendrick Perkins (0.001)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (1.213), Al Jefferson (0.213), Rajon Rondo (0.164), Tony Allen (0.158)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kevin Garnett (3.229), Paul Pierce (2.58), Ray Allen (1.508), Rajon Rondo (1.104), James Posey (0.969), Kendrick Perkins (0.91), Eddie House (0.193)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Rajon Rondo (2.221), Ray Allen (2.148), Paul Pierce (1.352), Kevin Garnett (1.282), Kendrick Perkins (0.913), Eddie House (0.536), Leon Powe (0.095)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Kevin Garnett
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Reggie Lewis

  • Season Positives: Rajon Rondo (2.105), Paul Pierce (1.263), Kevin Garnett (1.075), Ray Allen (0.902), Tony Allen (0.121), Rasheed Wallace (0.085), Kendrick Perkins (0.064)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Rajon Rondo
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Paul Silas

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (1.575), Ray Allen (1.258), Kevin Garnett (1.101), Rajon Rondo (0.612), Shaquille O’Neal (0.139), Marquis Daniels (0.037)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Ray Allen
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Antoine Walker

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (2.316), Kevin Garnett (1.646), Ray Allen (1.054), Greg Stiemsma (0.855), Rajon Rondo (0.622)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Paul Pierce (1.797), Rajon Rondo (0.508), Kevin Garnett (0.437), Chris Wilcox (0.182)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kelly Olynyk (0.116)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Jared Sullinger (0.648), Kelly Olynyk (0.618), Marcus Smart (0.441), Tyler Zeller (0.272)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Isaiah Thomas (0.898), Jae Crowder (0.731), Amir Johnson (0.611), Jared Sullinger (0.237), Kelly Olynyk (0.188), Marcus Smart (0.13), Avery Bradley (0.055)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Isaiah Thomas (2.482), Al Horford (1.232), Amir Johnson (0.633), Jae Crowder (0.627), Kelly Olynyk (0.154), Demetrius Jackson (0.004)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kyrie Irving (2.552), Al Horford (1.937), Terry Rozier (0.781), Jayson Tatum (0.505), Daniel Theis (0.504)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

Per-Season GOAT Standings

Perhaps you wish to take longevity out of the equation.

In that case, allow us to reveal the top 30 per-season scores, found simply by dividing total GOAT points by the number of NBA seasons recorded. Do note that injury-shortened campaigns (for example, Michael Jordan’s 1985-86 efforts, in which he played only 18 games while not sidelined with a broken foot) still count the same as full go-rounds. This methodology can also benefit players still in their primes, as they haven’t yet posted twilight seasons that drag down their averages.

Top-Ranked Seasons

Top Rookie Seasons