How Many Celtics Numbers Are Retired? Full Tally And Context
How many Celtics numbers are retired
The Boston Celtics have retired 24 jersey numbers as of the 2025-26 season, honoring a blend of all-time greats, coaches, and influential contributors who shaped the franchise's historic success.
Context and significance
Retired numbers serve as a lasting tribute to players and figures whose impact extended beyond individual seasons, helping establish the Celtics as a paragon of sustained excellence in the NBA. This practice reflects the club's tradition of recognizing on-court dominance, leadership, and community impact that reinforced Boston's basketball legacy. Franchise identity is reinforced by banners that narrate the club's dynastic eras from the Bill Russell era to the modern championship teams.
Full tally and notable entries
The current roster of retired Celtics numbers includes iconic athletes and influential figures who contributed to multiple championship runs. Some of the most frequently cited names and numbers include Larry Bird (No. 33), Bill Russell (No. 6), and Paul Pierce (No. 34), alongside earlier legends such as Ed Macauley and Bob Cousy (No. 22 and No. 14, respectively). The collection also features more recent honorees like Kevin Garnett, whose No. 5 was retired after a storied tenure with the club. Key eras span from the 1950s-60s dynasty through the Big Three era and into the KG-Pierce-Brook Lopez era's legacy.
Historical milestones
The Celtics first retired numbers in the 1960s, marking a formal acknowledgment of players who helped define early franchise greatness. The practice expanded over decades as the club accumulated more championships and added additional banners to honor modern legends while preserving the legacy of earlier pioneers. The exact tally has differed slightly across sources due to differing retirement ceremonies and organizational updates, but a widely cited figure places the count in the mid- to late-20s before recent additions. Ceremonial milestones include the 1963 ceremony for Macauley and Cousy and later ceremonies for Bird, Russell, and Garnett.
FAQ
Data snapshot
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total retired numbers | 24 |
| First retirees | Ed Macauley (No. 22) and Bob Cousy (No. 14), 1963 |
| Most famous retirements | Bill Russell (No. 6), Larry Bird (No. 33), Paul Pierce (No. 34) |
| Recent addition | Kevin Garnett (No. 5), added during the KG era |
Appendix: illustrative roster of notable honorees
- Bill Russell - No. 6
- Larry Bird - No. 33
- Paul Pierce - No. 34
- Bob Cousy - No. 14
- Ed Macauley - No. 22
- Kevin Garnett - No. 5
- KC Jones - No. 25
- Reggie Lewis - No. 35
- John Havlicek - No. 17
- Robert Parish - No. 00
Notes on sources
Retired-number tallies and individual honorees are consistently reported across multiple outlets, including league announcements and dedicated Celtics retrospectives, with recent coverage confirming the ongoing practice through the mid-2020s.
Expert answers to How Many Celtics Numbers Are Retired Full Tally And Context queries
[How many Celtics numbers are retired?]
The Boston Celtics have retired 24 jersey numbers as of the 2025-26 season, reflecting a broad history of impact and achievement across multiple generations.
[Who are the most famous Celtics with retired numbers?]
Among the most renowned are Bill Russell (No. 6), Larry Bird (No. 33), and Paul Pierce (No. 34), with other legendary honorees including Bob Cousy (No. 14) and Kevin Garnett (No. 5). Each represents a pivotal chapter in Celtics lore.
[When were the Celtics' numbers first retired?]
The club's tradition of retirement ceremonies began in the 1960s, starting with early pioneers such as Macauley and Cousy, and has evolved to include later legends as the franchise expanded its historical narrative.
[How many retired numbers are there compared to other franchises?]
Among NBA franchises, the Celtics are widely recognized for a large roster of retired numbers, a reflection of their prolonged success and deep historical footprint within the league. Exact comparisons vary by source, but the Celtics consistently rank at or near the top in retired-number tallies.
