The Boston Celtics‘ all-time depth chart is more known for their centers and forwards than their shooting guards, but that doesn't mean a whole lot of good to great two-guards have not come through Beantown.
As a matter of fact, the Celtics have some Hall-of-Famers at this position.
So, here are the five best shooting guards in C's history:
Honorable mention: Reggie Lewis
I had to get Reggie Lewis‘ name in here because it wouldn't have felt right otherwise.
Had it not been for Lewis tragically passing away during the summer of 1993, he probably would have been much higher on this list, because his potential was through the roof.
No, he never made Celtics news as a Boston champion, and he made just one All-Star team, but he averaged over 20 points per game twice and made 48.8 percent of his field-goal attempts.
A freak athlete and two-way player, Lewis was on his way to becoming a Celtics legend.
5. Frank Ramsey
Frank Ramsey began his NBA career with the Celtics during the 1954-55 campaign. After taking one year off due to military service, Ramsey returned in 1956-57 and proceeded to spend his entire NBA tenure in Boston through 1964.
Ramsey helped the C's win seven championships during his career, with his shining moment coming in 1959 when he averaged 23.2 points per game in the Celtics' finals run.
The Corydon, Ky. native never averaged 20 points per game in any one individual season, but he was a consistent threat in a loaded Celtics offense that also included Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, and, later on, Sam Jones.
Ramsey is a Hall-of-Famer for his contributions in one of the greatest runs in the history of sports, and his No. 23 is hanging in the rafters of TD Garden as a result.
4. Danny Ainge
Now the Celtics' renowned front-office executive, Danny Ainge also had quite an NBA playing career.
He was never a superstar by any means, but Ainge played a pivotal role on those great Celtics teams of the '80s, helping them win a pair of championships in 1984 and 1986 (he was not yet in the league when Boston won the title in 1981).
Ainge was a sharpshooter, a very pesky perimeter defender, and a guy who could also create for his teammates, as evidenced by the fact that he averaged over five assists per game four straight years in Beantown from 1985 through 1988.
Overall, Ainge spent seven-and-a-half seasons with the Celtics, making one All-Star appearance in 1988. He also shot over 40 percent from three-point range in both 1987 and 1988.
Again, Ainge is not going to be on any highlight reels, but there is no doubting his importance to Boston in the '80s.
3. Ray Allen
Ray Allen only spent five seasons with the Celtics, beginning in 2007 and ending in 2012. However, he was a critical piece in Boston re-establishing itself as an NBA power.
The C's acquired Allen on draft night in 2007, which paved the way for the Celtics to then swing a trade for Kevin Garnett, giving the club a dynamic trio of Garnett, Allen, and Paul Pierce.
The moves paid off instantly for the Celtics, as they won a championship that first season. They also made another finals appearance in 2010.
Allen made three All-Star appearances in Boston and shot over 40 percent from long distance in three of his seasons with the club.
Of course, Allen became public enemy No. 1 in New England when he traded in his Celtics threads for a Miami Heat uniform during the summer of 2012, but no one can deny his impact in helping put the C's back on the map.
2. Bill Sharman
While Sharman and Ramsey's careers overlapped, it should be noted that they were both shooting guards.
Sharman entered the NBA with the Washington Capitols in 1950 but spent just one season there before joining the Celtics for the 1951-52 campaign.
Sharman helped Boston win four championships during his tenure and has the distinction of being one of the best free-throw shooters the game has ever seen, as he made 88.3 percent of his foul shots in his career and shot over 90 percent from the charity stripe three times.
Moreover, Sharman was particularly adept at making free throws in the playoffs, as he connected on 91.1 percent of his foul shots in postseason play. As a matter of fact, in 1957 and 1959, he made 95.3 percent and 96.6 percent of his playoff free throws, respectively.
An eight-time All-Star and Hall-of-Famer, Sharman is one of the most decorated players in Celtics history.
1. Sam Jones
This isn't even a discussion.
Sam Jones, who played his entire career in Boston from 1957 through 1969, was one of the smoothest scorers to ever don the Celtic green, averaging over 20 points per game in four straight seasons between 1965 and 1968.
What's more, Jones was a monster in the playoffs, registering over 20 points per game in seven consecutive postseasons between 1962 and 1968. He also won 10 rings with the C's.
A no-brainer Hall-of-Famer, Jones heavily influenced the guards and wings of the future with his array of offensive moves, including pull-up jumpers and fallaways.
Jones was also an underrated defender in his heyday.
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