Last Updated on September 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > Boston Celtics > Roster & Statistics
The 1969–70 Boston Celtics relied on John Havlicek as their primary offensive leader, with his scoring, playmaking, and all-around versatility driving the team. Rookie Dave Cowens quickly established himself as a key frontcourt contributor through rebounding and interior play, while Jo Jo White provided steady backcourt scoring and ball distribution. The statistics reflected a balanced lineup built on shared scoring, strong rebounding, and well-rounded contributions as Boston transitioned into a new era.
Here’s the 1969–70 Boston Celtics roster and their regular season player statistics. This season marked a transition period for the Celtics as it was their first season after the retirement of Bill Russell.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | BIRTH DATE | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Em Bryant | PG | 6-1 | 175 | November 4, 1938 | DePaul |
| 10 | Jo Jo White | PG | 6-3 | 190 | November 16, 1946 | Kansas |
| 11 | Steve Kuberski | PF | 6-8 | 215 | November 6, 1947 | Bradley |
| 12 | Don Chaney | SG | 6-5 | 210 | March 22, 1946 | Houston |
| 16 | Tom Sanders | SF | 6-6 | 210 | November 8, 1938 | NYU |
| 17 | John Havlicek | SG | 6-5 | 203 | April 8, 1940 | Ohio State |
| 18 | Bailey Howell | PF | 6-7 | 210 | January 20, 1937 | Mississippi State |
| 19 | Don Nelson | PF | 6-6 | 210 | May 15, 1940 | Iowa |
| 20 | Larry Siegfried | PG | 6-3 | 190 | May 22, 1939 | Ohio State |
| 26 | Rich Johnson | C | 6-7 | 210 | December 18, 1946 | Grambling State University |
| 27 | Rich Niemann | C | 7-0 | 245 | July 2, 1946 | Saint Louis |
| 28 | Jim Barnes | C | 6-8 | 210 | April 13, 1941 | Texas-El Paso |
| 29 | Hank Finkel | C | 7-0 | 240 | April 20, 1942 | Dayton |
Regular Season Per Game
| PLR | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Havlicek | SG | 29 | 81 | 41.6 | 24.2 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 19.6 | 9.1 | .464 | 7.1 | 6.0 | .844 | |||||||
| Don Nelson | PF | 29 | 82 | 27.1 | 15.4 | 7.3 | 1.8 | 11.2 | 5.6 | .501 | 5.3 | 4.1 | .775 | |||||||
| Larry Siegfried | PG | 30 | 78 | 26.7 | 12.6 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 11.6 | 4.9 | .424 | 3.3 | 2.8 | .856 | |||||||
| Bailey Howell | PF | 33 | 82 | 25.3 | 12.6 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 11.4 | 4.9 | .429 | 3.8 | 2.9 | .763 | |||||||
| Jo Jo White | PG | 23 | 60 | 22.1 | 12.2 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 11.4 | 5.2 | .452 | 2.3 | 1.9 | .822 | |||||||
| Tom Sanders | SF | 31 | 57 | 28.4 | 11.5 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 9.7 | 4.3 | .443 | 3.2 | 2.8 | .880 | |||||||
| Hank Finkel | C | 27 | 80 | 23.3 | 9.7 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 8.5 | 3.9 | .454 | 2.9 | 2.0 | .670 | |||||||
| Em Bryant | PG | 31 | 71 | 22.8 | 7.8 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 7.3 | 3.0 | .404 | 2.5 | 1.9 | .746 | |||||||
| Steve Kuberski | PF | 22 | 51 | 15.6 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 0.6 | 6.6 | 2.5 | .388 | 1.8 | 1.3 | .696 | |||||||
| Jim Barnes | C | 28 | 77 | 13.6 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 5.6 | 2.3 | .410 | 1.7 | 1.2 | .742 | |||||||
| Rich Johnson | C | 23 | 65 | 13.8 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 5.6 | 2.6 | .463 | 1.1 | 0.7 | .657 | |||||||
| Don Chaney | SG | 23 | 63 | 13.3 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 5.1 | 1.8 | .359 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .752 | |||||||
| Rich Niemann | C | 23 | 6 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | .400 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.000 | |||||||
| Totals | 82 | 241.2 | 114.9 | 52.9 | 22.9 | 100.4 | 44.5 | .443 | 33.1 | 26.0 | .786 |
Regular Season Per 36 Minutes
| PLR | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Havlicek | SG | 29 | 81 | 41.6 | 20.9 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 16.9 | 7.9 | .464 | 6.2 | 5.2 | .844 | |||||||
| Don Nelson | PF | 29 | 82 | 27.1 | 20.4 | 9.7 | 2.4 | 14.9 | 7.5 | .501 | 7.0 | 5.5 | .775 | |||||||
| Jo Jo White | PG | 23 | 60 | 22.1 | 19.8 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 18.5 | 8.4 | .452 | 3.7 | 3.0 | .822 | |||||||
| Bailey Howell | PF | 33 | 82 | 25.3 | 17.9 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 16.1 | 6.9 | .429 | 5.3 | 4.1 | .763 | |||||||
| Larry Siegfried | PG | 30 | 78 | 26.7 | 17.0 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 15.6 | 6.6 | .424 | 4.4 | 3.8 | .856 | |||||||
| Tom Sanders | SF | 31 | 57 | 28.4 | 14.5 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 12.4 | 5.5 | .443 | 4.1 | 3.6 | .880 | |||||||
| Steve Kuberski | PF | 22 | 51 | 15.6 | 14.6 | 11.6 | 1.3 | 15.1 | 5.9 | .388 | 4.2 | 2.9 | .696 | |||||||
| Hank Finkel | C | 27 | 80 | 23.3 | 15.0 | 11.8 | 2.0 | 13.2 | 6.0 | .454 | 4.5 | 3.0 | .670 | |||||||
| Jim Barnes | C | 28 | 77 | 13.6 | 15.5 | 12.0 | 1.8 | 14.9 | 6.1 | .410 | 4.4 | 3.3 | .742 | |||||||
| Rich Johnson | C | 23 | 65 | 13.8 | 15.2 | 8.3 | 1.3 | 14.5 | 6.7 | .463 | 2.8 | 1.8 | .657 | |||||||
| Don Chaney | SG | 23 | 63 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 6.5 | 3.1 | 13.7 | 4.9 | .359 | 4.7 | 3.5 | .752 | |||||||
| Em Bryant | PG | 31 | 71 | 22.8 | 12.4 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 11.6 | 4.7 | .404 | 4.0 | 3.0 | .746 | |||||||
| Rich Niemann | C | 23 | 6 | 3.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 4.0 | .400 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.000 | |||||||
| Totals | 82 | 241.2 | 20.9 | 52.9 | 22.9 | 100.4 | 44.5 | .443 | 33.1 | 26.0 | .786 |
Regular Season Totals
| PLR | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Havlicek | SG | 29 | 81 | 41.6 | 24.2 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 16.9 | 7.9 | .464 | 6.2 | 5.2 | .844 | |||||||
| Don Nelson | PF | 29 | 82 | 27.1 | 20.4 | 9.7 | 2.4 | 11.2 | 5.6 | .501 | 5.3 | 4.1 | .775 | |||||||
| Bailey Howell | PF | 33 | 82 | 25.3 | 17.9 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 11.4 | 4.9 | .429 | 3.8 | 2.9 | .763 | |||||||
| Hank Finkel | C | 27 | 80 | 23.3 | 15.0 | 11.8 | 2.0 | 8.5 | 6.2 | .454 | 2.9 | 2.0 | .670 | |||||||
| Jo Jo White | PG | 23 | 60 | 22.1 | 12.2 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 11.4 | 5.2 | .452 | 3.7 | 3.0 | .822 | |||||||
| Tom Sanders | SF | 31 | 57 | 28.4 | 11.5 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 9.7 | 4.3 | .443 | 3.2 | 2.8 | .880 | |||||||
| Em Bryant | PG | 31 | 71 | 22.8 | 7.8 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 7.3 | 3.0 | .404 | 2.5 | 1.9 | .746 | |||||||
| Rich Johnson | C | 23 | 65 | 13.8 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 5.6 | 2.6 | .463 | 1.1 | 0.7 | .657 | |||||||
| Jim Barnes | C | 28 | 77 | 13.6 | 5.9 | 12.0 | 1.8 | 5.6 | 2.3 | .410 | 1.7 | 1.2 | .742 | |||||||
| Don Chaney | SG | 23 | 63 | 13.3 | 5.0 | 6.5 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 1.8 | .359 | 4.7 | 3.5 | .752 | |||||||
| Steve Kuberski | PF | 22 | 51 | 15.6 | 14.6 | 11.6 | 1.3 | 6.6 | 2.5 | .388 | 4.2 | 2.9 | .696 | |||||||
| Larry Siegfried | PG | 30 | 78 | 26.7 | 17.0 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 11.6 | 4.9 | .424 | 3.3 | 2.8 | .856 | |||||||
| Rich Niemann | C | 23 | 6 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | .400 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.000 | |||||||
| Totals | 82 | 241.2 | 114.9 | 52.9 | 22.9 | 100.4 | 44.5 | .443 | 33.1 | 26.0 | .786 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK | Impact Index* | Notes (with Sources) | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Havlicek | Primary Offensive Catalyst / Two‑Way Leader | 41.6 | High | 24.2 | 7.8 | 6.8 | — | 19.45 | Led the 1969–70 Celtics in scoring and assists while logging the most minutes on a roster transitioning from the Russell era; combined relentless two‑way scoring, playmaking, and defensive presence. | MVP‑10, All‑Star, All‑NBA, All‑Defensive |
| Don Nelson | Secondary Scoring Forward / Veteran Facilitator | 27.1 | Medium | 15.4 | 7.3 | 1.8 | — | 12.25 | Provided efficient offense, good size on boards for a forward, and veteran savvy; one of the Celtics’ more consistent secondary scorers with good efficiency (FG% above team average). | — |
| Tom Sanders | Defensive Role Wing / Rotation Contributor | 28.4 | Medium | 11.5 | 5.5 | 1.6 | — | 9.80 | Served as an experienced defensive contributor and stabilizing veteran in the frontcourt; known historically as a premier role defender (multiple championship teams) even if offensive role was modest. | — |
| Larry Siegfried | Facilitation Wing / Spot Scorer | 26.7 | Medium | 12.6 | 2.7 | 3.8 | — | 9.55 | Balanced wing with solid scoring and secondary playmaking duties; provided perimeter ball movement and floor spacing in rotation. | — |
| Bailey Howell | Frontcourt Scorer / Complementary Big | 25.3 | Medium | 12.6 | 6.7 | 1.5 | — | 10.70 | Reliable frontcourt scorer and rebounder; his scoring punch and experience bolstered Boston’s depth alongside stars. | — |
| Hank Finkel | Interior Rotation Big / Paint Touch | 23.3 | Low‑Medium | 9.7 | 7.7 | 1.3 | — | 9.35 | Played a rotational center role, providing size and efficient interior scoring/rebounding in bench and situational minutes. | — |
| Jo Jo White | Young Facilitator / Emerging Scorer | 22.1 | Medium | 12.2 | 2.8 | 2.4 | — | 8.70 | Early in his Celtics career; mixed his developing scoring with playmaking responsibilities as a young guard on a veteran‑led team. | — |
| Steve Kuberski | Frontcourt Depth / Role Rebounder | 15.6 | Low | 6.4 | 5.0 | 0.6 | — | 6.25 | Provided energy, rebounding, and spot scoring in limited minutes; depth forward in rotation. | — |
| Jim Barnes | Backup Center / Interior Role | 13.6 | Low | 5.9 | 4.5 | 0.7 | — | 5.55 | Saw primary run as a backup big, offering interior scoring and rebound support in short bursts. | — |
| Em Bryant | Rotation Guard / Secondary Facilitator | 22.8 | Low | 7.8 | 3.8 | 3.3 | — | 7.45 | Veteran guard providing secondary ball movement and scoring; complemented primary leaders with bench distribution. | — |
| Don Chaney | Defensive Wing / Spot Scorer | 13.3 | Low | 5.0 | 2.4 | 1.1 | — | 4.25 | Young wing on the roster adding defense and occasional scoring off the bench. | — |
| Rich Johnson | Reserve Big | 13.8 | Low | 5.8 | 3.2 | 0.5 | — | 4.75 | Limited minutes but contributed efficient scoring and rebounding in spot duty. | — |
| Rex Morgan | Deep Rotation Wing | 7.8 | Low | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.6 | — | 2.90 | Appeared in few games; served as depth option. | — |
| Garfield Smith | Deep Rotation Big | 7.6 | Low | 2.9 | 2.6 | 0.2 | — | 2.85 | Fringe bench big; minimal impact. | — |
| Rich Niemann | Brief Appearance / Minimal Role | 3.0 | Low | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | — | 1.15 | Very limited season cameo with negligible impact. | — |