Boston Celtics 1997-98 Roster and Statistics

Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

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The Boston Celtics 1997-98 were built around Antoine Walker, whose scoring, rebounding, and playmaking established him as the team’s primary offensive focal point. Ron Mercer provided dependable secondary scoring from the wing, while Kenny Anderson directed the offense with steady playmaking and Dana Barros added perimeter shooting. The statistics reflect a team that relied on balanced wing production, complementary ball movement, and versatile contributions rather than dominant interior play.

Roster

NO.	PLAYER NAME	POS	HT	WT	DATE OF BIRTH	COLLEGE
0	Walter McCarty	SF	6-10	230	February 1, 1974	Kentucky
4	Chauncey Billups	PG	6-3	202	September 25, 1976	Colorado
5	Ron Mercer	SG	6-7	210	May 18, 1976	Kentucky
7	Kenny Anderson	PG	6-1	168	October 9, 1970	Georgia Tech
7	Dee Brown	SG	6-2	205	November 29, 1968	Jacksonville University
8	Antoine Walker	PF	6-9	224	August 12, 1976	Kentucky
9	Greg Minor	SG	6-6	210	September 18, 1971	Louisville
11	Dana Barros	PG	5-11	163	April 13, 1967	Boston College
12	Bruce Bowen	SF	6-7	185	June 14, 1971	Cal State Fullerton
13	Dontae’ Jones	SF	6-8	220	June 2, 1975	Northeast Mississippi Community College, Mississippi State
20	Tyus Edney	PG	5-10	152	February 14, 1973	UCLA
29	Pervis Ellison	PF	6-9	210	April 3, 1967	Louisville
34	Reggie Hanson	SF	6-8	195	October 6, 1968	Kentucky
40	Travis Knight	C	7-0	235	September 13, 1974	UConn
45	Andrew DeClercq	C	6-10	230	February 1, 1973	Florida
55	Žan Tabak	C	7-0	245	June 15, 1970
55	John Thomas	PF	6-9	265	September 8, 1975	Minnesota
99	Roy Rogers	PF	6-10	235	August 19, 1973	Alabama

Regular Season Per Game

Player	Pos	Age	GP	GS	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Antoine Walker	PF	21	82	82	39.9	22.4	10.2	3.3	1.7	0.7	3.6	20.8	8.8	.423	3.6	1.1	.312	5.8	3.7	.645
Ron Mercer	SG	21	80	62	33.3	15.3	3.5	2.2	1.6	0.2	1.7	14.3	6.4	.450	0.4	0.0	.107	2.8	2.4	.839
Walter McCarty	SF	23	82	64	28.5	9.6	4.4	2.2	1.3	0.5	1.7	8.9	3.6	.404	2.1	0.7	.309	2.4	1.8	.742
Dana Barros	PG	30	80	15	21.1	9.8	1.9	3.6	1.0	0.1	1.3	7.6	3.5	.461	3.1	1.3	.407	1.8	1.5	.847
Chauncey Billups	PG	21	51	44	25.4	11.1	2.2	4.3	1.5	0.0	2.3	8.9	3.5	.390	3.7	1.3	.339	3.5	2.9	.817
Travis Knight	C	23	74	21	20.3	6.5	4.9	1.4	0.7	1.1	1.2	5.9	2.6	.441	0.7	0.2	.273	1.4	1.1	.786
Andrew DeClercq	C	24	81	49	18.8	5.4	4.8	0.7	1.0	0.6	1.0	4.2	2.1	.497	0.0	0.0	.000	2.1	1.2	.601
Greg Minor	SG	26	69	16	16.3	5.0	2.2	1.3	0.8	0.2	0.6	4.7	2.0	.436	0.4	0.1	.194	1.2	0.9	.686
Bruce Bowen	SF	26	61	9	21.4	5.6	2.9	1.3	1.4	0.5	0.9	4.9	2.0	.409	1.0	0.3	.339	2.0	1.2	.623
Dee Brown	SG	29	41	10	19.8	6.8	1.5	1.3	1.1	0.1	0.8	6.2	2.7	.427	2.8	1.0	.381	0.7	0.5	.679
Tyus Edney	PG	24	52	7	12.0	5.3	1.1	2.7	1.0	0.0	1.3	4.2	1.8	.431	0.2	0.1	.300	2.1	1.7	.793
Kenny Anderson	PG	27	16	16	24.1	11.2	2.4	6.3	1.6	0.0	1.8	9.2	4.0	.435	1.7	0.6	.370	3.1	2.6	.837
John Thomas	PF	22	33	2	11.2	3.3	2.1	0.4	0.6	0.3	1.0	2.4	1.2	.513	0.0	0.0	—	1.0	0.8	.788
Pervis Ellison	PF	30	33	8	13.5	3.0	3.3	0.9	0.6	0.9	0.8	2.1	1.2	.571	0.0	0.0	—	1.0	0.6	.588
Žan Tabak	C	27	18	5	12.9	3.3	3.2	0.7	0.3	0.6	0.9	3.1	1.4	.473	0.0	0.0	—	0.7	0.4	.538
Dontae’ Jones	SF	22	15	0	6.1	2.9	0.6	0.3	0.1	0.2	0.7	3.8	1.3	.333	1.5	0.4	.261	0.0	0.0	—
Roy Rogers	PF	24	9	0	4.1	0.8	0.6	0.1	0.2	0.4	0.1	0.9	0.3	.375	0.0	0.0	—	0.2	0.1	.500
Reggie Hanson	SF	29	8	0	3.3	0.8	0.8	0.1	0.3	0.1	0.4	0.8	0.4	.500	0.0	0.0	—	0.0	0.0	—
Team Totals			82	82	240.6	95.9	39.5	22.1	12.0	4.5	16.2	84.6	36.7	.434	15.2	5.1	.332	24.0	17.4	.726

Regular Season Per 36 Mins

Player	Pos	Age	GP	GS	Min	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Antoine Walker	PF	21	82	82	3268	20.3	9.2	3.0	1.6	0.7	3.2	18.8	8.0	.423	3.2	1.0	.312	5.2	3.4	.645
Ron Mercer	SG	21	80	62	2662	16.5	3.8	2.4	1.7	0.2	1.8	15.5	7.0	.450	0.4	0.0	.107	3.0	2.5	.839
Walter McCarty	SF	23	82	64	2340	12.1	5.6	2.7	1.7	0.7	2.2	11.2	4.5	.404	2.7	0.8	.309	3.0	2.2	.742
Dana Barros	PG	30	80	15	1686	16.7	3.3	6.1	1.8	0.1	2.3	13.0	6.0	.461	5.3	2.1	.407	3.1	2.6	.847
Chauncey Billups	PG	21	51	44	1296	15.7	3.1	6.0	2.1	0.1	3.3	12.6	4.9	.390	5.2	1.8	.339	5.0	4.1	.817
Travis Knight	C	23	74	21	1503	11.5	8.7	2.5	1.3	2.0	2.1	10.5	4.6	.441	1.3	0.4	.273	2.5	1.9	.786
Greg Minor	SG	26	69	16	1126	11.0	4.8	2.8	1.7	0.4	1.4	10.3	4.5	.436	1.0	0.2	.194	2.7	1.9	.686
John Thomas	PF	22	33	2	368	10.6	6.8	1.3	1.9	0.9	3.2	7.8	4.0	.513	0.0	0.0	—	3.2	2.5	.788
Andrew DeClercq	C	24	81	49	1523	10.4	9.3	1.4	2.0	1.2	2.0	8.0	4.0	.497	0.0	0.0	.000	4.0	2.4	.601
Bruce Bowen	SF	26	61	9	1305	9.4	4.8	2.2	2.4	0.8	1.4	8.2	3.4	.409	1.6	0.6	.339	3.4	2.1	.623
Žan Tabak	C	27	18	5	232	9.2	9.0	1.9	0.8	1.7	2.6	8.5	4.0	.473	0.0	0.0	—	2.0	1.1	.538
Pervis Ellison	PF	30	33	8	447	8.1	8.8	2.5	1.6	2.5	2.3	5.6	3.2	.571	0.0	0.0	—	2.7	1.6	.588
Reggie Hanson	SF	29	8	0	26	8.3	8.3	1.4	2.8	1.4	4.2	8.3	4.2	.500	0.0	0.0	—	0.0	0.0	—
Roy Rogers	PF	24	9	0	37	6.8	4.9	1.0	1.9	3.9	1.0	7.8	2.9	.375	0.0	0.0	—	1.9	1.0	.500
Tyus Edney	PG	24	52	7	623	16.0	3.2	8.0	2.9	0.1	3.8	12.5	5.4	.431	0.6	0.2	.300	6.4	5.1	.793
Kenny Anderson	PG	27	16	16	386	16.7	3.6	9.3	2.4	0.0	2.7	13.7	6.0	.435	2.5	0.9	.370	4.6	3.8	.837
Dee Brown	SG	29	41	10	811	12.4	2.8	2.4	2.0	0.3	1.4	11.3	4.8	.427	5.0	1.9	.381	1.2	0.8	.679
Dontae’ Jones	SF	22	15	0	91	17.4	3.6	2.0	0.8	1.2	4.4	22.5	7.5	.333	9.1	2.4	.261	0.0	0.0	—

Regular Season Totals

Player	Pos	Age	GP	GS	Min	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Antoine Walker	PF	21	82	82	3268	1840	836	273	142	60	292	1705	722	.423	292	91	.312	473	305	.645
Ron Mercer	SG	21	80	62	2662	1221	280	176	125	17	132	1145	515	.450	28	3	.107	224	188	.839
Walter McCarty	SF	23	82	64	2340	788	364	177	110	44	141	730	295	.404	175	54	.309	194	144	.742
Dana Barros	PG	30	80	15	1686	784	153	286	83	6	107	609	281	.461	246	100	.407	144	122	.847
Chauncey Billups	PG	21	51	44	1296	565	113	217	77	2	118	454	177	.390	189	64	.339	180	147	.817
Travis Knight	C	23	74	21	1503	482	365	104	54	82	87	438	193	.441	55	15	.273	103	81	.786
Andrew DeClercq	C	24	81	49	1523	439	392	59	85	49	84	340	169	.497	1	0	.000	168	101	.601
Greg Minor	SG	26	69	16	1126	345	150	88	53	11	43	321	140	.436	31	6	.194	86	59	.686
Bruce Bowen	SF	26	61	9	1305	340	174	81	87	29	52	298	122	.409	59	20	.339	122	76	.623
Dee Brown	SG	29	41	10	811	280	62	53	44	6	32	255	109	.427	113	43	.381	28	19	.679
Tyus Edney	PG	24	52	7	623	277	55	139	51	1	66	216	93	.431	10	3	.300	111	88	.793
Kenny Anderson	PG	27	16	16	386	179	39	100	26	0	29	147	64	.435	27	10	.370	49	41	.837
John Thomas	PF	22	33	2	368	108	70	13	19	9	33	80	41	.513	0	0	—	33	26	.788
Pervis Ellison	PF	30	33	8	447	100	109	31	20	31	28	70	40	.571	0	0	—	34	20	.588
Žan Tabak	C	27	18	5	232	59	58	12	5	11	17	55	26	.473	0	0	—	13	7	.538
Dontae’ Jones	SF	22	15	0	91	44	9	5	2	3	11	57	19	.333	23	6	.261	0	0	—
Roy Rogers	PF	24	9	0	37	7	5	1	2	4	1	8	3	.375	0	0	—	2	1	.500
Reggie Hanson	SF	29	8	0	26	6	6	1	2	1	3	6	3	.500	0	0	—	0	0	—
Team Totals			82	82	19730	7864	3240	1816	987	366	1276	6934	3012	.434	1249	415	.332	1964	1425	.726

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name	Role Tier	MPG	Usage Tier	PPG	RPG	APG	STK (SPG + BPG)	Impact Index	Notes	Awards
Antoine Walker	Primary Offensive Engine (1.1)	39.9	High (1.2)	22.4	10.2	3.3	2.4	101.11	Walker was given the offensive freedom to attack as Boston’s featured forward, and Rick Pitino’s arrival pushed that responsibility even further. His combination of face-up scoring, rebounding and aggressive playmaking made him the clear focal point of a young roster, with contemporary coverage describing his rise into a bona fide All-Star. Deseret News season coverage	All-Star (1998); MVP voting: 12th; Most Improved Player voting: T-8th
Ron Mercer	Primary Scoring Wing (1.05)	33.3	High (1.2)	15.3	3.5	2.2	1.8	57.46	Mercer operated as a major scoring option immediately, particularly attacking from the perimeter and mid-range rather than relying on the three-ball. Boston started him 62 times, and the rookie’s steady offensive role alongside Walker helped make the Celtics’ young core more functional despite the team’s constant lineup changes. Basketball-Reference player news archive	NBA All-Rookie First Team (1998); Rookie Game (1998)
Kenny Anderson	Veteran Floor General (1.05)	24.1	Medium (1.1)	11.2	2.4	6.3	1.6	49.67	Anderson arrived in February after refusing to report to Toronto, immediately giving Boston a more experienced organizer in the backcourt. His first Celtics game produced 19 points, while later reporting showed him controlling stretches with his passing and late-game decision-making; his 6.3 assists in Boston reflected a genuine half-court orchestration role rather than simple scoring. Los Angeles Times trade coverage	None
Chauncey Billups	Developing Lead Guard (1.05)	25.4	Medium (1.1)	11.1	2.2	4.3	1.5	44.12	Billups was entrusted with substantial point-guard responsibility as a 21-year-old rookie, but Boston’s unstable roster and Pitino’s constant personnel movement made his development uneven. He still showed enough ballhandling and creation to earn a Rookie Game selection before being moved at the deadline, a decision that later became one of the defining what-ifs of the Pitino era. Los Angeles Times NBA archives	Rookie Game (1998)
Walter McCarty	Two-Way Connector Forward (1.05)	28.5	Medium (1.1)	9.6	4.4	2.2	1.8	41.58	McCarty became one of Boston’s more versatile pieces, filling gaps as a mobile forward who could defend, move the ball and make opportunistic plays without needing the offense built around him. Retrospective reporting from his New York days notes how much more opportunity he received after arriving in Boston, while contemporaneous coverage placed him firmly within Pitino’s Kentucky-influenced young core. Posting and Toasting retrospective interview	None
Dana Barros	Movement Shooting Guard (1.05)	21.1	Medium (1.1)	9.8	1.9	3.6	1.1	37.88	Barros functioned as a compact secondary creator and perimeter release valve, using quick shooting and ball movement rather than dominating possessions. His season-high 29-point performance against Vancouver showed the scoring burst still available to him, while his 3.1 three-point attempts per game fit naturally beside Walker’s heavier interior workload. Los Angeles Times game coverage	None
Travis Knight	Starting Interior Presence (1.05)	20.3	Low (1.0)	6.5	4.9	1.4	1.8	30.66	Knight was asked to provide size and interior stability in a roster built around Pitino’s pressure-oriented system. Contemporary reporting emphasized his connection to Pitino and his role in Boston’s dramatic turnaround, but the center’s offensive limitations meant his value came more from occupying the paint, screening and supplying rebounding than from post scoring. Deseret News Celtics coverage	None
Andrew DeClercq	Physical Interior Reserve (1.05)	18.8	Low (1.0)	5.4	4.8	0.7	1.6	26.25	DeClercq gave Boston a fairly straightforward interior option: screen, rebound, defend the paint and finish when opportunities appeared. His 49 starts are significant for a player averaging under 19 minutes, suggesting Pitino valued him as a functional frontcourt stabilizer even though his offensive role remained deliberately narrow. ESPN historical Celtics coverage	None
Bruce Bowen	Defensive Utility Wing (1.0)	21.4	Low (1.0)	5.6	2.9	1.3	1.9	23.40	Bowen’s offensive responsibilities were modest, but his value was tied to defensive versatility and willingness to absorb difficult wing assignments. A January 1998 Washington Post game report specifically captured him and Greg Minor working against Shareef Abdur-Rahim, illustrating the kind of defensive utility that mattered more to Boston than his limited scoring output. Washington Post game report	None
Dee Brown	Veteran Backcourt Spark (1.0)	19.8	Low (1.0)	6.8	1.5	1.3	1.2	21.60	Brown’s role had shifted away from his earlier primary scoring responsibilities, but he remained capable of changing a game with pressure, quickness and bursts of perimeter offense. His eventual trade to Toronto reflected Boston’s willingness to reshape the backcourt, while contemporary reporting still identified him as part of the club’s small, quick guard rotation. SFGate NBA archives	None
Tyus Edney	Backup Point Guard (1.0)	12.0	Low (1.0)	5.3	1.1	2.7	1.0	20.20	Edney supplied a change-of-pace option at point guard, with his compact frame and quickness fitting the pressure-heavy philosophy Boston was trying to establish. His minutes were limited, but the 2.7 assists in only 12 minutes per game show that his primary function was organizing reserve possessions rather than hunting his own offense. Tyus Edney career retrospective	None
Greg Minor	Defensive Wing Reserve (1.0)	16.3	Low (1.0)	5.0	2.2	1.3	1.0	19.00	Minor was used as a defensive-minded wing who could supply energy without demanding touches. His earlier reputation as an explosive athlete remained part of his identity around Boston, but this season was more about filling difficult defensive assignments and providing competent minutes around the Walker-Mercer scoring core. Sports Illustrated Celtics history	None
Pervis Ellison	Veteran Interior Specialist (1.0)	13.5	Low (1.0)	3.0	3.3	0.9	1.5	17.40	Ellison’s veteran presence translated into short, physical frontcourt shifts rather than a featured role. His 0.9 blocks in just 13.5 minutes indicate that rim protection remained a useful part of his game, although Boston increasingly leaned toward younger, more mobile interior options as Pitino rebuilt the roster. SFGate Celtics retrospective	None
Žan Tabak	Backup Rim Protector (1.0)	12.9	Low (1.0)	3.3	3.2	0.7	0.9	16.20	Tabak joined Boston as part of the February trade and consequently had little time to establish himself within the rotation. His minutes were primarily tied to size, interior defense and rebounding, making him more of a situational center than an offensive contributor during the final stretch of the season. Los Angeles Times trade coverage	None
John Thomas	Frontcourt Depth Piece (1.0)	11.2	Low (1.0)	3.3	2.1	0.4	0.9	13.40	Thomas was a low-usage rookie frontcourt option whose job was largely physical: defend bigger bodies, rebound in traffic and finish simple opportunities. His two starts and 11.2 minutes per game reflect a depth role rather than a developmental mandate built around offensive touches. Los Angeles Times NBA archives	None
Dontae’ Jones	Deep Rotation Wing (1.0)	6.1	Low (1.0)	2.9	0.6	0.3	0.3	8.20	Jones was essentially a deep-rotation wing, receiving sporadic opportunities behind a crowded forward group. The limited minutes make the statistical line difficult to interpret, although his three-point attempts and occasional scoring bursts show Boston was willing to use him as an attacking perimeter option when the rotation opened up. NBA game-log archive coverage	None
Roy Rogers	Energy Frontcourt Reserve (1.0)	4.1	Low (1.0)	0.8	0.6	0.1	0.6	4.20	Rogers barely entered the regular rotation and was primarily emergency frontcourt depth. His brief appearances came in a season of constant roster churn, and the February trade that sent him to Toronto effectively ended his Boston stint before he had a chance to establish a meaningful role. SFGate February 1998 NBA coverage	None
Reggie Hanson	Veteran Emergency Forward (1.0)	3.3	Low (1.0)	0.8	0.8	0.1	0.4	4.20	Hanson was a late-season emergency addition rather than a conventional rotation piece, signing with Boston on 10-day contracts after injuries affected the forward group. His later recollections emphasize the leadership qualities that had defined him at Kentucky, which helps explain why Pitino was comfortable bringing a familiar veteran into a turbulent roster situation. Lexington Herald-Leader retrospective	None
Team Totals	Team Total	240.6	Mixed	95.9	39.5	22.1	16.5	536.53	Boston’s season was defined by Pitino’s pressure-oriented rebuild, a much more aggressive offensive role for Walker and constant experimentation around a young core. The Celtics improved dramatically from the previous season but remained outside the playoffs, with personnel changes continuing throughout the year.	No team championship