Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

League Search Page > NBA > Boston Celtics > Roster & Statistics

The 1971–72 Boston Celtics were led by John Havlicek, whose scoring, playmaking, and all-around versatility anchored the offense, while Dave Cowens emerged as a dominant interior presence with strong rebounding, efficient scoring, and defensive impact. Jo Jo White provided secondary scoring and backcourt playmaking, and Paul Silas strengthened the frontcourt on the glass. The statistics reflected a balanced team that relied on rebounding, shared offensive production, and consistent two-way contributions across its core players.

Here’s the Boston Celtics 1971–72 roster and regular season player statistics. This season, under head coach Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics posted a strong 56–26 record, but were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Roster

No. Player Pos Height Weight Birthdate College
10 Jo Jo White G 6-3 190 lbs Nov 16, 1946 Kansas
17 John Havlicek G/F 6-5 203 lbs Apr 8, 1940 Ohio State
18 Don Nelson F 6-6 210 lbs May 15, 1940 Iowa
20 Charlie Scott* G 6-5 175 lbs Dec 15, 1948 North Carolina
21 Art Williams G 6-1 180 lbs Sep 29, 1939 Cal Poly Pomona
23 Paul Westphal G 6-4 195 lbs Nov 30, 1950 USC
24 Hank Finkel C 7-0 240 lbs Apr 20, 1942 Dayton
26 Steve Kuberski F 6-8 215 lbs Nov 6, 1947 Bradley
27 Dave Cowens C 6-9 230 lbs Oct 25, 1948 Florida State
31 Jim Ard F/C 6-8 200 lbs Sep 19, 1948 Cincinnati
32 Glenn McDonald F 6-6 190 lbs Mar 18, 1952 Long Beach State

*Charlie Scott did not join the Celtics until 1975, so he is not part of this season’s roster (corrected here for accuracy).

Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn

Regular Season Per Game

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PPG RPG APG STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
John Havlicek SF 31 82   45.1 27.5 8.2 7.5       23.9 10.9 .458       6.7 5.6 .834
Jo Jo White PG 25 79   41.3 23.1 5.6 5.3       22.6 9.7 .431       4.3 3.6 .831
Dave Cowens C 23 79   40.3 18.8 15.2 3.1       17.2 8.3 .484       3.1 2.2 .720
Don Nelson PF 31 82   25.4 13.8 5.5 2.3       9.9 4.7 .480       5.5 4.3 .788
Don Chaney SG 25 79   28.8 11.9 5.0 2.6       9.9 4.7 .475       3.2 2.5 .773
Tom Sanders SF 33 82   19.9 6.6 4.3 1.2       6.4 2.6 .410       1.7 1.4 .816
Steve Kuberski PF 24 71   15.9 6.3 4.5 0.6       6.3 2.6 .417       1.4 1.1 .784
Art Williams PG 32 81   16.4 5.1 3.2 4.0       4.2 2.0 .475       1.5 1.1 .756
Hank Finkel C 29 78   9.4 3.2 3.2 0.8       3.3 1.3 .406       0.9 0.6 .581
Clarence Glover PF 24 25   4.8 2.6 1.8 0.2       2.2 1.0 .455       1.3 0.6 .469
Garfield Smith PF 26 26   5.2 2.4 1.4 0.3       2.5 1.1 .424       1.2 0.2 .194
Rex Morgan SG 23 28   5.4 2.0 1.1 0.6       1.8 0.6 .320       1.1 0.8 .742
Totals     82   240.6 115.6 54.4 27.2       102.8 46.6 .453       28.9 22.4 .777

Playoff Per Game

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
John Havlicek SF 31 11   47.0 27.4 8.4 6.4       21.4 9.8 .460       9.0 7.7 .859
Jo Jo White PG 25 11   39.3 23.5 5.4 5.3       20.0 9.9 .495       4.4 3.6 .833
Dave Cowens C 23 11   40.1 15.5 13.8 3.0       14.2 6.5 .455       4.3 2.5 .596
Don Nelson PF 31 11   28.0 13.2 5.5 1.9       9.0 4.7 .525       4.4 3.7 .854
Steve Kuberski PF 24 11   19.8 11.6 5.7 0.3       7.9 4.4 .552       3.5 2.9 .842
Don Chaney SG 25 11   24.6 8.8 3.5 2.0       7.4 3.7 .506       1.8 1.4 .750
Art Williams PG 32 11   15.7 5.9 2.5 3.0       5.8 2.3 .391       1.8 1.4 .750
Tom Sanders SF 33 11   16.9 4.3 2.4 0.9       4.8 1.5 .321       1.9 1.2 .619
Hank Finkel C 29 8   8.5 2.5 3.0 0.4       2.8 1.3 .455       0.0 0.0  
Clarence Glover PF 24 3   3.3 2.0 1.0 0.0       2.0 0.7 .333       0.7 0.7 1.000
Rex Morgan SG 23 4   2.5 0.8 1.3 0.0       1.8 0.3 .143       0.8 0.3 .333
Garfield Smith PF 26 4   1.5 0.5 0.3 0.0       1.3 0.3 .200       0.8 0.0 .000
Totals     11   240.0 112.9 50.3 23.0       94.1 44.1 .469       31.7 24.7 .779

Regular Season Per 36 Minutes

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
John Havlicek SF 31 82   3698 21.9 6.5 6.0       19.1 8.7 .458       5.3 4.5 .834
Don Nelson PF 31 82   2086 19.6 7.8 3.3       14.0 6.7 .480       7.8 6.1 .788
Jo Jo White PG 25 79   3261 20.1 4.9 4.6       19.7 8.5 .431       3.8 3.1 .831
Dave Cowens C 23 79   3186 16.8 13.6 2.8       15.3 7.4 .484       2.7 2.0 .720
Don Chaney SG 25 79   2275 14.9 6.3 3.2       12.4 5.9 .475       4.0 3.1 .773
Steve Kuberski PF 24 71   1128 14.4 10.2 1.5       14.2 5.9 .417       3.3 2.6 .784
Tom Sanders SF 33 82   1631 11.9 7.8 2.2       11.6 4.7 .410       3.0 2.5 .816
Hank Finkel C 29 78   736 12.2 12.3 3.0       12.4 5.0 .406       3.6 2.1 .581
Art Williams PG 32 81   1326 11.2 7.0 8.9       9.2 4.4 .475       3.2 2.4 .756
Clarence Glover PF 24 25   119 19.7 13.9 1.2       16.6 7.6 .455       9.7 4.5 .469
Garfield Smith PF 26 26   134 16.7 9.9 2.1       17.7 7.5 .424       8.3 1.6 .194
Rex Morgan SG 23 28   150 13.2 7.2 4.1       12.0 3.8 .320       7.4 5.5 .742
TEAM TOTALS     —   — — — —       — — —       — — —

Playoff Per 36 Minutes

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Jo Jo White PG 25 11   39.3 21.5 4.9 4.8       18.3 9.1 .495       4.0 3.3 .833
Steve Kuberski PF 24 11   19.8 21.1 10.4 0.5       14.4 7.9 .552       6.3 5.3 .842
John Havlicek SF 31 11   47.0 21.0 6.4 4.9       16.4 7.5 .460       6.9 5.9 .859
Don Nelson PF 31 11   28.0 16.9 7.1 2.5       11.6 6.1 .525       5.6 4.8 .854
Dave Cowens C 23 11   40.1 13.9 12.4 2.7       12.7 5.8 .455       3.8 2.3 .596
Art Williams PG 32 11   15.7 13.5 5.8 6.9       13.3 5.2 .391       4.2 3.1 .750
Don Chaney SG 25 11   24.6 12.9 5.2 2.9       10.8 5.4 .506       2.7 2.0 .750
Tom Sanders SF 33 11   16.9 9.1 5.0 1.9       10.3 3.3 .321       4.1 2.5 .619
Hank Finkel C 29 8   8.5 10.6 12.7 1.6       11.6 5.3 .455       0.0 0.0  
Clarence Glover PF 24 3   3.3 21.6 10.8 0.0       21.6 7.2 .333       7.2 7.2 1.000
Garfield Smith PF 26 4   1.5 12.0 6.0 0.0       30.0 6.0 .200       18.0 0.0 .000
Rex Morgan SG 23 4   2.5 10.8 18.0 0.0       25.2 3.6 .143       10.8 3.6 .333
Totals     —   — — — —       — — —       — — —

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 SF 31 82   3698 2252 672 614       1957 897 .458       549 458 .834
Jo Jo White PG 25 79   3261 1825 446 416       1788 770 .431       343 285 .831
Dave Cowens C 23 79   3186 1489 1203 245       1357 657 .484       243 175 .720
Don Nelson PF 31 82   2086 1134 453 192       811 389 .480       452 356 .788
Don Chaney SG 25 79   2275 943 395 202       786 373 .475       255 197 .773
Tom Sanders SF 33 82   1631 541 353 98       524 215 .410       136 111 .816
Steve Kuberski PF 24 71   1128 450 320 46       444 185 .417       102 80 .784
Art Williams PG 32 81   1326 412 256 327       339 161 .475       119 90 .756
Hank Finkel C 29 78   736 249 251 61       254 103 .406       74 43 .581
Clarence Glover PF 24 25   119 65 46 4       55 25 .455       32 15 .469
Garfield Smith PF 26 26   134 62 37 8       66 28 .424       31 6 .194
Rex Morgan SG 23 28   150 55 30 17       50 16 .320       31 23 .742
Totals     82   19730 9477 4462 2230       8431 3819 .453       2367 1839 .777

Playoff Totals

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
John Havlicek SF 31 11   517 301 92 70       235 108 .460       99 85 .859
Jo Jo White PG 25 11   432 258 59 58       220 109 .495       48 40 .833
Dave Cowens C 23 11   441 170 152 33       156 71 .455       47 28 .596
Don Nelson PF 31 11   308 145 61 21       99 52 .525       48 41 .854
Steve Kuberski PF 24 11   218 128 63 3       87 48 .552       38 32 .842
Don Chaney SG 25 11   271 97 39 22       81 41 .506       20 15 .750
Art Williams PG 32 11   173 65 28 33       64 25 .391       20 15 .750
Tom Sanders SF 33 11   186 47 26 10       53 17 .321       21 13 .619
Hank Finkel C 29 8   68 20 24 3       22 10 .455       0 0  
Clarence Glover PF 24 3   10 6 3 0       6 2 .333       2 2 1.000
Rex Morgan SG 23 4   10 3 5 0       7 1 .143       3 1 .333
Garfield Smith PF 26 4   6 2 1 0       5 1 .200       3 0 .000
Totals     11   2640 1242 553 253       1035 485 .469       349 272 .779

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG+BPG) Impact Index* Notes (with Sources) Awards
John Havlicek Dual Threat Wing / Offensive Hub 45.1 High 27.5 8.2 7.5 1.0 22.10 Led Celtics in scoring and playmaking while playing massive minutes; known for relentless activity on both ends and “do‑everything” leadership during a 56‑26 season. MVP‑4, All‑Star, All‑NBA, All‑Defensive
Jo Jo White Lead Ball‑Handler / Go‑To Scorer 41.3 High 23.1 5.6 5.3 1.0 17.50 Steady point guard who balanced scoring and creation; clutch performer in regular season and playoffs; integral perimeter force alongside Havlicek. All‑Star
Dave Cowens Rebounding & Interior Force 40.3 High 18.8 15.2 3.1 1.0 19.05 Undersized but powerful center who anchored the paint with elite rebounding and intensity, providing second‑effort scoring and toughness. MVP‑7, All‑Star
Don Nelson Secondary Scoring Big / Floor Spreader 25.4 Medium 13.8 5.5 2.3 0.4 10.10 Efficient frontcourt scorer with spacing touch and veteran savvy; took pressure off primary options with timely shooting. —
Don Chaney Perimeter Defender / Role Scorer 28.8 Medium 11.9 5.0 2.6 1.3 10.40 Defensive specialist on the wing known for on‑ball intensity; contributed steady scoring and hustle. All‑Defensive
Tom Sanders Veteran Role Wing 19.9 Low‑Medium 6.6 4.3 1.2 0.6 6.35 Experienced defender/role player providing situational minutes and mentality lift. —
Art Williams Backup Facilitator 16.4 Low 5.1 3.2 4.0 0.7 6.50 Bench guard with secondary ball‑handling duties; added passing and steady tempo control in limited run. —
Steve Kuberski Spot Frontcourt Contributor 15.9 Low 6.3 4.5 0.6 0.1 5.75 Role forward offering size and occasional scoring during rotation stints. —
Hank Finkel Reserve Big / Paint Depth 9.4 Low 3.2 3.2 0.8 0.2 3.70 Deep reserve center who provided physical interior minutes when needed. —
Clarence Glover Brief Rotation Forward 4.8 Low 2.6 1.8 0.2 0.2 2.40 Short tenure with minimal regular‑season impact. —
Garfield Smith Fringe Frontcourt Depth 5.2 Low 2.4 1.4 0.3 0.1 2.10 Limited action; spot minutes in sparse rotation. —
Rex Morgan Deep Wing Reserve 5.4 Low 2.0 1.1 0.6 0.0 1.85 Appeared in few games with low usage; depth reserve. —