Sam Jones

Sam Jones won 10 NBA championships — second only to Bill Russell among players — and his ability to hit clutch shots in the biggest moments earned him the nickname 'Mr. Clutch' long before the term was applied to Jerry West. His bank shot from the wing was the most reliable clutch weapon in 1960s basketball, and his ability to score in pressure situations made him the Celtics' go-to option when games hung in the balance.

Jones was a five-time All-Star whose scoring average increased significantly in the playoffs — a hallmark of truly great competitors. He averaged 18.9 points per game in the postseason compared to 17.7 in the regular season, consistently elevating his game when it mattered most. His 1969 Eastern Division Finals Game 7 buzzer-beater against the 76ers — a running bank shot at the horn — is one of the most famous shots in Celtics history.

Playing alongside Russell, Cousy, and Havlicek, Jones was never the most famous Celtic, but he was often the most important offensive player on dynasty teams that won championships with regularity that may never be matched. Ten rings in twelve seasons is a championship pedigree that transcends individual statistics.