Boston Celtics: Pair of Cs selected as finalists for Basketball Hall of Fame

It’s that time of year again, folks — the finalists for the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame have been announced, and a pair of former Boston Celtics find themselves listed.

The great Bill Russell, who was inducted as a player back in 1975, is up for the Hall once again, this time as a coach.

The shamrocks legend served as a player-coach from 1966-1969. He won two NBA Championships whilst serving as a coach, one in 1968 and the other a year later in 1969.

A 12x All-Star, 11x time NBA champion, 11x All-NBA, 5x league MVP, and an All-NBA Defensive team player, Russell could wind up adding yet another Hall of Fame induction to his resume.

Already widely regarded as one of the greatest centers of all time, another HOF nod would only strengthen such a claim.

The second member of the Boston Celtics up for induction into the Hall of Fame is Paul Pierce.

Boston Celtics legends Bill Russell & Paul Pierce finalists for HOF

Pierce, a large part of the success of the team throughout the early 2000s and into the 2010s, spent 15 years repping the green and white for Boston. The small forward was a 10x All-Star and a 4x All-NBA selection.

He was a member of the big 3’s 2008 championship team, winning Finals MVP.

He finished his career with the Boston Celtics as the team’s second-leading scorer of all-time behind only John Havlicek. He’s also slotted into the top-ten in both rebounds and assists for the team, sitting at seventh and sixth respectively.

After a very messy and dramatic saga in 2018, Pierce’s number 34 jersey was retired. Pierce was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year for his contributions as a member of the Kansas Jayhawks.

This is the first year Pierce is eligible for the Hall of Fame.

If Pierce is selected he will be joining former teammates Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in Springfield.