Following a forgettable 1998-99 season, Coach and Team President Rick Pitino continued to tinker with the team during the 1999-2000 campaign. He traded leading scorer Ron Mercer and two others to the Denver Nuggets for former college star Danny Fortson and Eric Williams, whom Pitino had previously traded away in 1997. Despite Fortson missing the […]

In 1997, the Celtics tapped University of Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino to run the team. He already had some experience coaching in New England with former stints at Boston University and Providence College. Pitino took on the twin titles of team president and head coach of the Celtics and a 10-year contract. He vowed to […]

A member of the 1994-95 NBA All-Rookie Team, Eric Montross arrived in Boston after a successful collegiate career with the University of North Carolina. He averaged 10.0 points and 7.3 rebounds a game during his first season. Before he finished his second season with the team, the Celtics traded the big man for the sixth […]

Due to a lockout, Celtics fans waited until February for the 1998-99 season to start. While the team had a rough campaign, as demonstrated by a 19-31 record, there were some silver linings. Rookie Paul Pierce joined a young core with Ron Mercer, Antoine Walker and Vitaly Potapenko along with veteran point guard Kenny Anderson. […]

Faced with four consecutive losing seasons, the Celtics turned to University of Kentucky Coach and former New York Knicks boss Rick Pitino to revitalize the franchise in 1997. Pitino held two high draft picks and selected Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. Within weeks of taking over, Pitino released or waived eight players, including Dino Radja […]

Paul Pierce’s rookie campaign in Boston was cut short by a lockout between players and team owners. The season tipped off in February 1999 and the Celtics rookie started 47 of the team’s 50 games. Pierce led the team in points and steals while collecting the second-most rebounds. Although Pierce made an instant impact in […]