The Boston Celtics have a long, impressive history of jersey numbers. With 24 retired jersey numbers, they have the most in the NBA, but that’s not where it ends. They also have the most retired jerseys across all organizations in American professional sports. And it seems as though No. 0 could be next for Jayson Tatum.
When Tatum came on board in Boston in 2017, his potential was clear, but nobody could have guessed exactly what he would become. Now, eight years later, Tatum is an NBA Champion and destined to have his number retired by the Celtics. But he wasn’t the first player to don No. 0.
Here is every Celtics player in history to wear No. 0.
Every Boston Celtics player to wear No. 0
Eric Montross (1995-1996)
Eric Montross only spent two seasons with the Celtics, playing 139 games in green. The seven-foot center ended up playing in the NBA for eight years, and his first two were with Boston, as they selected him with the ninth pick of the 1994 NBA Draft.
Walter McCarty (1998-2005)
After being drafted by the New York Knicks in 1996, Walter McCarty was traded to the Celtics in the summer after his rookie year. He then spent seven full seasons playing in Boston before getting traded to the Phoenix Suns mid-way through his eighth. The 6-foot-10 forward spent 10 seasons in the NBA.
Orien Greene (2006)
The Celtics selected Orien Green with the 53rd pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, but he only spent one year with the team. The 6-foot-4 guard played in 80 games for the Celtics during his rookie season but was not brought back. After seasons with the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings and one comeback attempt with the then-New Jersey Nets, Greene’s career was over.
Leon Powe (2007-2009)
The only other Celtics champion to wear the No. 0 in Boston, Leon Powe was a significant part of Boston’s 2008 NBA Championship run. They acquired him in a draft-day trade with the Denver Nuggets in 2006, and he went on to play for five seasons in the NBA.
Avery Bradley (2011-2017)
Before Tatum wore No. 0, Avery Bradley laid claim to the digit. Boston drafted Bradley with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and he spent seven years with the team, earning two All-Defensive nods while wearing green.
Jayson Tatum (2018-Present)
That brings the number to its current home—Tatum. The Celtics superstar has won a championship in Boston and will undoubtedly be the last player to ever wear No. 0 for the organization.