The 1969–70 Boston Celtics season was the 24th season for the franchise of in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] This was the first time the Celtics had missed the playoffs since the 1949–50 season, ending a 19-year playoff streak. This was also the first season without Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who retired following the 1968–69 season after winning his 11th championship.
This was the first team and last until 1998–99 Chicago Bulls to miss the playoffs after winning a championship the previous year.
See main article: article and 1969 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Jo Jo White | Guard | Kansas | |
| 4 | 52 | Steve Kuberski | Forward / Center | Bradley | |
| 5 | 66 | George Thompson | Guard | Marquette | |
x = clinched playoff spot
| 1969–70 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | CHI | CIN | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| — | 2–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 4–2 | — | 5–2 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 | ||
| Boston | 0–6 | 2–5 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 1–6 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | |
| 2–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 4–3 | ||
| 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | ||
| 3–3 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–6 | 1–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | ||
| 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 5–2 | 6–0 | ||
| 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–1 | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | ||
| 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | — | 5–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | ||
| 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–6 | ||
| 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | — | 7–0 | 3–3 | 4–3 | ||
| 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–7 | — | 5–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 2–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–5 | — | 3–4 | ||
| 2–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–3 | — | ||
| 1969–70 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 17 | 110–108 | Larry Siegfried (22) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 18 | 117–124 | John Havlicek (24) | 0–2 | ||
| 3 | October 21 | 97–98 | Em Bryant (17) | 0–3 | ||
| 4 | October 24 | 122–110 | Don Nelson (22) | 0–4 | ||
| 5 | October 28 | 120–107 | John Havlicek (25) | 1–4 | ||
| 6 | October 31 | 113–118 | John Havlicek (33) | 2–4 | ||
| 7 | November 1 | 131–123 | Henry Finkel (22) | 3–4 | ||
| 8 | November 5 | @ Atlanta | 121–128 | Em Bryant (39) | 3–5 | |
| 9 | November 7 | 111–110 | John Havlicek (31) | 3–6 | ||
| 10 | November 8 | 87–103 | Em Bryant (18) | 3–7 | ||
| 11 | November 11 | Milwaukee | 129–118 | John Havlicek (24) | 3–8 | |
| 12 | November 12 | @ Cincinnati | 107–116 | Don Nelson (23) | 3–9 | |
| 13 | November 14 | Baltimore | 109–108 | John Havlicek (31) | 3–10 | |
| 14 | November 15 | 98–113 | Henry Finkel (20) | 3–11 | ||
| 15 | November 18 | 119–120 (OT) | John Havlicek (41) | 4–11 | ||
| 16 | November 19 | Chicago | 106–122 | John Havlicek (21) | 5–11 | |
| 17 | November 21 | @ San Francisco | 115–118 | John Havlicek (25) | 5–12 | |
| 18 | November 22 | @ San Diego | 116–125 | John Havlicek (29) | 5–13 | |
| 19 | November 23 | 125–116 | Larry Siegfried (26) | 6–13 | ||
| 20 | November 26 | Philadelphia | 135–114 | Don Nelson (20) | 6–14 | |
| 21 | November 28 | Atlanta | 130–105 | John Havlicek (22) | 6–15 | |
| 22 | November 29 | @ Baltimore | 121–106 | Henry Finkel (23) | 7–15 | |
| 23 | December 3 | Baltimore | 105–113 | Larry Siegfried (31) | 8–15 | |
| 24 | December 5 | Philadelphia | 105–104 | Henry Finkel (26) | 8–16 | |
| 25 | December 6 | @ Chicago | 114–116 (OT) | Larry Siegfried (33) | 8–17 | |
| 26 | December 10 | 99–111 | Em Bryant (25) | 9–17 | ||
| 27 | December 12 | San Diego | 104–107 | John Havlicek (33) | 10–17 | |
| 28 | December 16 | N Detroit | 98–117 | Larry Siegfried (27) | 11–17 | |
| 29 | December 17 | Milwaukee | 124–106 | Henry Finkel (23) | 11–18 | |
| 30 | December 19 | @ Milwaukee | 111–115 | Larry Siegfried (24) | 11–19 | |
| 31 | December 20 | @ Atlanta | 106–122 | John Havlicek (31) | 11–20 | |
| 32 | December 23 | Chicago | 112–117 | Havlicek, Howell (26) | 12–20 | |
| 33 | December 25 | @ Phoenix | 116–127 | Don Nelson (21) | 12–21 | |
| 34 | December 26 | @ Seattle | 122–112 | John Havlicek (42) | 13–21 | |
| 35 | December 27 | @ San Diego | 111–110 | Larry Siegfried (29) | 14–21 | |
| 36 | December 28 | @ Los Angeles | 99–109 | John Havlicek (30) | 14–22 | |
| 37 | December 31 | Detroit | 121–124 | John Havlicek (30) | 15–22 | |
| 38 | January 2 | @ Detroit | 110–92 | John Havlicek (23) | 16–22 | |
| 39 | January 3 | @ New York | 111–104 | John Havlicek (31) | 17–22 | |
| 40 | January 4 | @ Philadelphia | 120–130 | Don Nelson (31) | 17–23 | |
| 41 | January 7 | Atlanta | 112–106 | John Havlicek (28) | 17–24 | |
| 42 | January 9 | Baltimore | 142–130 | Larry Siegfried (25) | 17–25 | |
| 43 | January 10 | @ Milwaukee | 109–124 | Johnson, White (18) | 17–26 | |
| 44 | January 13 | N Seattle | 102–111 | Larry Siegfried (22) | 18–26 | |
| 45 | January 14 | Detroit | 118–123 | Henry Finkel (27) | 19–26 | |
| 46 | January 16 | Los Angeles | 108–103 | Larry Siegfried (24) | 19–27 | |
| 47 | January 18 | New York | 102–109 | John Havlicek (30) | 20–27 | |
| 48 | January 22 | @ Cincinnati | 104–111 | Jo Jo White (23) | 20–28 | |
| 49 | January 23 | Detroit | 109–105 (OT) | Don Nelson (24) | 20–29 | |
| 50 | January 25 | New York | 102–96 | John Havlicek (24) | 20–30 | |
| 51 | January 27 | @ New York | 100–133 | John Havlicek (19) | 20–31 | |
| 52 | January 28 | Philadelphia | 100–112 | Jo Jo White (28) | 21–31 | |
| 53 | January 30 | Cincinnati | 103–108 | Jo Jo White (22) | 22–31 | |
| 54 | January 31 | @ Baltimore | 117–120 | Havlicek, White (22) | 22–32 | |
| 55 | February 1 | San Francisco | 123–105 | John Havlicek (17) | 22–33 | |
| 56 | February 3 | N Chicago | 85–93 | Jo Jo White (23) | 23–33 | |
| 57 | February 6 | Seattle | 117–127 | John Havlicek (39) | 24–33 | |
| 58 | February 8 | Cincinnati | 117–130 | Jo Jo White (26) | 25–33 | |
| 59 | February 10 | Phoenix | 122–117 | Don Nelson (24) | 25–34 | |
| 60 | February 11 | @ New York | 125–118 (OT) | John Havlicek (30) | 26–34 | |
| 61 | February 14 | @ Milwaukee | 117–127 | John Havlicek (38) | 26–35 | |
| 62 | February 15 | @ Atlanta | 125–146 | John Havlicek (31) | 26–36 | |
| 63 | February 16 | N San Francisco | 114–117 | Don Nelson (25) | 27–36 | |
| 64 | February 18 | @ Phoenix | 116–113 | John Havlicek (30) | 28–36 | |
| 65 | February 20 | @ Seattle | 127–125 | Don Nelson (36) | 29–36 | |
| 66 | February 21 | @ San Francisco | 111–116 | John Havlicek (36) | 29–37 | |
| 67 | February 22 | @ Los Angeles | 96–108 | John Havlicek (26) | 29–38 | |
| 68 | February 25 | San Diego | 124–147 | Don Nelson (40) | 30–38 | |
| 69 | February 27 | Phoenix | 134–125 | Nelson, White (23) | 30–39 | |
| 70 | March 1 | Los Angeles | 120–114 | Don Nelson (30) | 30–40 | |
| 71 | March 4 | San Francisco | 110–115 | John Havlicek (31) | 31–40 | |
| 72 | March 6 | @ Philadelphia | 134–150 | Jo Jo White (26) | 31–41 | |
| 73 | March 8 | Milwaukee | 138–134 | John Havlicek (43) | 31–42 | |
| 74 | March 10 | @ Detroit | 112–115 | Don Chaney (25) | 31–43 | |
| 75 | March 11 | @ Cincinnati | 144–127 | Howell, Siegfried (23) | 32–43 | |
| 76 | March 13 | @ Chicago | 113–134 | Larry Siegfried (20) | 32–44 | |
| 77 | March 15 | Baltimore | 130–127 | John Havlicek (37) | 32–45 | |
| 78 | March 17 | @ San Diego | 117–125 | John Havlicek (30) | 32–46 | |
| 79 | March 18 | @ Los Angeles | 137–122 | Larry Siegfried (26) | 33–46 | |
| 80 | March 19 | @ Phoenix | 123–127 | John Havlicek (29) | 33–47 | |
| 81 | March 20 | Seattle | 123–119 | Jo Jo White (22) | 33–48 | |
| 82 | March 22 | New York | 112–115 | Havlicek, White (22) | 34–48 |