1995–96 Boston Celtics season

1995–96 Boston Celtics season
Head coachM. L. Carr
General managerJan Volk
OwnerPaul Gaston
ArenaFleet Center
Results
Record33–49 (.402)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWSBK-TV
SportsChannel New England
RadioWRKO

The 1995–96 Boston Celtics season was the 50th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] A new era began for the Celtics as the team moved into a new arena known as the FleetCenter.[2][3][4] In addition, this also ended their practice of playing occasional home games at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.[5][6]

The Celtics had the 14th overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected small forward Eric Williams out of Providence College.[7][8][9] There was much speculation during the previous off-season over who would coach the team after the firing of Chris Ford, with candidates that included former Celtics coaches Dave Cowens and K. C. Jones, and even former Celtic player Paul Silas.[10][11] Ultimately, General Manager M. L. Carr decided to hire himself as the team's new head coach.[12][13] The Celtics also signed free agent All-Star guard, and former Boston College star Dana Barros, who won the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award the previous season with the Philadelphia 76ers.[14][15][16]

Under Carr, and with the addition of Barros and Williams, the Celtics started the regular season losing their first game at the Fleet Center, 101–100 to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 3, 1995.[17][18] Near the end of the month, the team traded Sherman Douglas to the Bucks in exchange for Todd Day and Alton Lister.[19][20][21] The Celtics played around .500 in winning percentage with a 12–12 start to the season, but then struggled losing 15 of their next 18 games, and later on holding a 17–30 record at the All-Star break.[22] The Celtics finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 33–49 record, and failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs.[23][24]

Dino Radja averaged 19.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, but only played 53 games due to a season-ending ankle injury,[25][26][27] while Rick Fox averaged 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and Barros provided the team with 13.0 points and 3.8 assists per game, and also led them with 150 three-point field goals. In addition, David Wesley contributed 12.3 points and 4.8 assists per game, along with 116 three-point field goals, while Day contributed 12.0 points per game in 71 games after the trade, Dee Brown provided with 10.7 points and 1.2 steals per game, Williams averaged 10.7 points per game, and second-year guard Greg Minor contributed 9.6 points per game. On the defensive side, second-year center Eric Montross averaged 7.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, but only played 61 games due to a sprained ankle,[27][28] and Pervis Ellison provided with 5.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.[29]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Barros participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the fourth consecutive year,[30][31] while Williams was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team,[30][32] and Minor participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.[30][31] Wesley finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting.[33]

The Celtics finished ninth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 730,842 at the FleetCenter during the regular season.[29][34] Following the season, Montross was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft.[35][36][37]

Draft picks

Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 14 Eric Williams SF  United States Providence
2 33 Junior Burrough SF  United States Virginia

Roster

1995–96 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 11 Dana Barros 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 1967–04–13 Boston College
G 7 Dee Brown 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1968–11–29 Jacksonville
F 5 Junior Burrough 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1973–01–18 Virginia
G 13 Todd Day 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1970–01–07 Arkansas
F 29 Pervis Ellison 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1967–04–03 Louisville
F 44 Rick Fox 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
C 53 Alton Lister 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1958–10–01 Arizona State
G 9 Greg Minor 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–09–18 Louisville
C 0 Eric Montross  7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1971–09–23 North Carolina
C 51 Todd Mundt 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1970–05–17 Delta State
F 40 Dino Radja  6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–04–24 Croatia
F 34 Doug Smith  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1969–09–17 Missouri
G 4 David Wesley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–11–14 Baylor
F 55 Eric Williams 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–07–17 Providence
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
y–Orlando Magic6022.73212.037‍–‍423‍–‍1821–382
x–New York Knicks4735.57325.026‍–‍1521‍–‍2016–882
x–Miami Heat4240.51230.026‍–‍1516‍–‍2513–1282
Washington Bullets3943.47633.025‍–‍1614‍–‍2710–1482
Boston Celtics3349.40239.018‍–‍2315‍–‍2612–1282
New Jersey Nets3052.36642.020‍–‍2110‍–‍318–1782
Philadelphia 76ers1864.22054.011‍–‍307‍–‍345–1982
Eastern Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1z–Chicago Bulls7210.878–82
2y–Orlando Magic6022.73212.082
3x–Indiana Pacers5230.63420.082
4x–Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57325.082
5x–New York Knicks4735.57325.082
6x–Atlanta Hawks4636.56126.082
7x–Detroit Pistons4636.56126.082
8x–Miami Heat4240.51230.082
9Charlotte Hornets4141.50031.082
10Washington Bullets3943.47633.082
11Boston Celtics3349.40239.082
12New Jersey Nets3052.36642.082
13Milwaukee Bucks2557.30547.082
14Toronto Raptors2161.25651.082
15Philadelphia 76ers1864.22054.082

Game log

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dana Barros 80 25 29.1 .470 .408 .884 2.4 3.8 .7 .0 13.0
Dee Brown 65 23 24.5 .399 .309 .854 2.1 2.2 1.2 .2 10.7
Junior Burrough 61 3 8.1 .376 .656 1.8 .2 .2 .2 3.1
Charles Claxton 3 0 2.3 .500 .000 .7 .0 .0 .3 .7
Todd Day† 71 12 23.0 .371 .343 .766 2.8 1.4 1.1 .7 12.0
Sherman Douglas† 10 4 23.4 .429 .143 .625 2.3 3.9 .2 .0 9.8
Pervis Ellison 69 29 20.7 .492 .641 6.5 .9 .6 1.4 5.3
Rick Fox 81 81 32.0 .454 .364 .772 5.6 4.6 1.4 .5 14.0
Thomas Hamilton 11 0 6.4 .290 .389 2.0 .1 .0 .8 2.3
Alton Lister† 57 14 11.4 .490 .629 4.4 .3 .1 .7 2.3
Greg Minor 78 47 22.6 .500 .259 .762 3.3 1.9 .5 .1 9.6
Eric Montross 61 59 23.5 .566 .376 5.8 .7 .3 .5 7.2
Todd Mundt† 9 0 3.7 .333 .3 .1 .1 .1 .7
Dino Rađa 53 52 37.4 .500 .695 9.8 1.6 .9 1.5 19.7
Doug Smith 17 2 5.4 .359 .625 1.3 .2 .2 .0 1.9
Larry Sykes 1 0 2.0 2.0 .0 .0 .0 .0
David Wesley 82 53 25.7 .459 .426 .753 3.2 4.8 1.2 .1 12.3
Eric Williams 64 6 23.0 .441 .300 .671 3.4 1.1 .9 .2 10.7
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.

Player statistics citation:[29]

Transactions

Overview

Players Added

Via draft

Via free agency

Via trade

Players Lost

Via free agency

Via trade

Waived

Trades

November 25, 1995 To Boston Celtics
 To Milwaukee Bucks
June 21, 1996 To Boston Celtics
  • 1996 First-Round Pick
  • 1997 First-Round Pick
 To Dallas Mavericks

Player Transactions Citation:[38]

References

  1. ^ 1995-96 Boston Celtics
  2. ^ Cavanaugh, Jack (April 16, 1995). "BACKTALK; The Last Days of a Garden Where Memories Grew". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Araton, Harvey (April 22, 1995). "ON PRO BASKETBALL; A Not-So-Fond Farewell to a Shrine". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Greenberg, Alan (October 26, 1995). "Celtics Playing in Lap of Luxury". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Arace, Michael (April 15, 1995). "Civic Center Farewell for Celtics?". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Arace, Michael (August 2, 1995). "1995 Celtics Exhibition Schedule". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board". The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  8. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 29, 1995). "NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "1995 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  10. ^ Arace, Michael (May 18, 1995). "Ford Reaches Point of No Return with Celtics". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  11. ^ Arace, Michael (June 19, 1995). "Celtics Should Borrow Knicks' List of Coaches". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics Gamble on Carr". The New York Times. June 20, 1995. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  13. ^ Greenberg, Alan (June 20, 1995). "Initially, M.L. Wasn't on List of Prospects". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Barros Follows Road Home to the Celtics". The New York Times. September 23, 1995. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  15. ^ "Former Sonic Barros Signs Contract with Celtics, Creating a Backcourt Log-Jam". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. September 23, 1995. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  16. ^ Greenberg, Alan (September 24, 1995). "Carr Still Not on the Money". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  17. ^ Greenberg, Alan (November 4, 1995). "Celtics Meet Their Match, Still Lose". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 3, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  19. ^ "Douglas Traded for Day, Lister". United Press International. November 26, 1995. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "Celtics Trade Douglas to Bucks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 27, 1995. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  21. ^ "Celtics Trade Douglas for Lister, Day". Deseret News. Associated Press. November 27, 1995. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  22. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  23. ^ Greenberg, Alan (April 22, 1996). "Once-Proud Teams Bottoming Out". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  24. ^ "1995–96 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  25. ^ "Celtics' Dino Radja Has Severe Sprain, Put on Injured List". Greensboro. Wire Reports. March 1, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  26. ^ "Basketball Briefs". Deseret News. March 2, 1996. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  27. ^ a b Brown, Clifton (April 10, 1996). "BASKETBALL; Tough Times for Knicks' Offense, But Defensive Effort Saves the Day". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  28. ^ "Heat 111, Celtics 95". United Press International. March 24, 1996. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  29. ^ a b c "1995–96 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  30. ^ a b c "Pro Basketball". The Gainesville Sun. February 10, 1996. p. 15. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  31. ^ a b "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  32. ^ "1996 NBA Rising Stars: East 94, West 92". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  33. ^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  34. ^ "1995–96 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  35. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Celtics Trade Montross to Mavericks". The New York Times. June 22, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  36. ^ "Celtics Trade Montross, Move Up in Draft". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. June 22, 1996. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  37. ^ Greenberg, Alan (June 22, 1996). "Mavs Trade Sixth Pick to Celtics". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  38. ^ "1995–96 Boston Celtics Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2021.

See also

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