1. Jayson Tatum 

If Danny Ainge’s trade with the Brooklyn Nets was the heist of the century, then Jayson Tatum was the crown jewel.

The Celtics used the Brooklyn Nets’ 2017 first-round pick to draft Tatum third overall. In his first season, Tatum led the team in points per game during the postseason, helping the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference Finals. While the Celtics lost in a decisive Game 7, Tatum’s poise helped establish a new normal for the team.

STatum has blossomed into a perennial MVP contender and premier three-level scorer, leading the Celtics in scoring in each of the last five seasons. In that time, he’s helped the Celtics stage multiple deep postseason runs, which finally culminated in the team’s championship last season.

In the Finals, Tatum’s versatility was on full display as he led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists per game against the Dallas Mavericks. Defensively, Tatum was stellar, accepting all assignments, from Luka Doncic to Derrick Lively II and everyone in between.

Tatum will still be 26 years old when the 2024-25 season begins. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and LeBron James were all between the ages of 27 and 32 when they finally reached their apex. That means Jayson Tatum is still potentially on the cusp of another breakthrough before he finally reaches the peak of his powers.

2. Jaylen Brown 

When Danny Ainge traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets for a collection of future draft picks and a long list of inconsequential roleplayers, the deal was universally panned. In actuality, it was the heist of the century. With the Brooklyn Nets’ 2016 first-rounder, the Celtics selected Jaylen Brown with the third overall pick from California.

Entering the 2024-25 season, Jaylen Brown is still only 27 years old. Conventionally speaking, basketball players begin entering their prime at 27. However, his age belies his experience.

In eight seasons, Jaylen Brown has already played in six Eastern Conference Finals. In 2021-22, Brown helped the Celtics reach their first NBA Finals in over a decade, losing to the Golden State Warriors. Last season, he helped the Celtics capture Banner 18, earning both the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP honors.

Brown has emerged as one of the league’s premier wings. He’s a savvy three-level scorer and a terrific point-of-attack defender. Brown’s defense on Luka Doncic, in particular, was paramount in the Celtics championship effort.

Joe Mazzulla has spoken at length about the team’s unique mindset entering the 2024-25 season — making a clear distinction between defending their and chasing another. With the proverbial weight finally off his shoulders, it’ll be interesting to see how Jaylen Brown performs in the Celtics quest to win their second consecutive championship.

3. Al Horford 

When Al Horford joined the Celtics in 2016, the team was in the process of cultivating a new identity in the post-Big 3 era. The former two-time All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks provided a veteran’s presence, joining the team via free agency in 2016.

Horford’s first stint with the Celtics was between 2016 and 2019. In Horford’s first two seasons with the Celtics, the team reached the Conference Finals (losing twice to the Cleveland Cavaliers).

After the 2018-19 season, Horford joined the Celtics’ Eastern Conference rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers. In the following season, Horford was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder — where his season ended prematurely.

In 2021-22, Brad Stevens traded Kemba Walker, a 2021 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Thunder for Horford, Moses Brown, and a 2023 second-round pick.

In Horford’s last three seasons with the Celtics, the team reached the NBA Finals in 2021-22 (losing to the Golden State Warriors), the Conference Finals in 2022-23 (losing to the Miami Heat), and finally captured the elusive Banner 18 in 2023-24.

Throughout his six seasons with the Celtics, Horford’s versatility and superb defense have been essential to the Celtics’ success. However, it’s his consummate professionalism and leadership that have helped Stevens’ Celtics foster a team-oriented dynamic.  

4. Isaiah Thomas 

While Isaiah Thomas’ stint with the Celtics was brief, his impact was extraordinary. When he joined the Celtics midway through the 2014-15 season, Brad Stevens’ team was struggling to find a new identity.

After losing Ray Allen in 2012, and Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Doc Rivers in 2013, the Celtics were entering a new era. The team only won 25 games in 2013-14 and were 20-33 when Isaiah Thomas arrived in Feb. 2015.

In the final 29 games of the 2014-15 season, the Celtics went 20-9 — finishing with a 40-42 record. Then, in 2015-16, the Celtics continued to improve, winning 48 games.

In 2016-17, Isaiah Thomas averaged 28.9 points (third best in the league) and led the Celtics to a record of 53-29 (best in the Eastern Conference). The Celtics returned to the Conference Finals but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.

The height of his career came in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals when Thomas scored 53 points against John Wall and the Washington Wizards.

Unfortunately, during the Celtics’ series against the Wizards, Thomas re-aggravated a lingering hip injury. Thomas appeared in the first two games of the Conference Finals but missed the rest of the postseason to prevent further injury. And in the ensuing offseason, Ainge traded Thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a package deal for Kyrie Irving.

While Isaiah Thomas’ departure was acrimonious, there’s no denying that he helped establish a new standard of excellence for the Celtics.

After competing in six Eastern Conference Finals over the last eight seasons, the Boston Celtics finally won Banner 18. However, the Celtics’ journey began over a decade ago when Danny Ainge hired Brad Stevens to replace Doc Rivers as head coach.

Stevens had never coached on the professional level, hailing from the collegiate ranks. As the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs, Stevens reached two National Championship games — losing in 2010 to Duke and in 2011 to UConn.

As the Celtics coach, Stevens helped restore the Celtics to prominence in the post “Big Three” era — reaching three Eastern Conference Finals.

After coaching the Celtics for eight seasons, Stevens transitioned to the role of President of Basketball Operations after his predecessor, Danny Ainge, announced his retirement. As executive, Stevens promoted Joe Mazzulla to head coach, re-signed Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and acquired Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford via trades.

All of his work over the last decade, as both head coach and executive, culminated in last year’s championship run. Stevens has proved to be a throughline for the Celtics organization in the post-Big 3 era, defining the last 11 years as the Brad Stevens era.

Over the course of the last decade, the Celtics’ roster has gone through great upheaval. All-Star caliber players like Rajon Rondo, Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, and Gordon Hayward have come and gone.

Here are the top five players of the “Brad Stevens” era:

Honorable Mention: Derrick White 

Derrick White joined the Celtics during the 2021-22 season, when Brad Stevens traded Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson, a 2022 first-round draft pick, and a 2028 first-round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for White.

He has averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists with the Celtics, earning two All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2022-23 and 2023-24. White’s accuracy from beyond the arc and defensive acumen were essential components for the Celtics last season when they captured Banner 18.

5. Marcus Smart 

While the Celtics ultimately improved in his absence, there’s no denying that Marcus Smart was at the heart of the team’s success during Brad Stevens’ tenure.

Smart’s offensive woes are well documented, but he earned three All-Defensive First Team honors during his tenure with the Celtics and was the 2021-22 season’s Defensive Player of the Year. Smart’s impact was so profound that many fans have urged the Celtics organization to recognize his contributions with an honorary championship ring.