Honorable mention I – Isaiah Thomas – 2015-17
While Thomas never won a championship with the Celtics, few have had such an outsized impact in such a short time as the 5-foot-9 floor general did.
He would be dealt to Boston by the Phoenix Suns almost for nothing, and clawed his way first into the starting lineup, and then into a pair of All-Star appearances while with the team.
He’d also be elected to the All-NBA Second Team in 2017, he same season he severely damaged his hip trying to play through injury for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. IT averaged 24.7 points, 2.7 boards and 6 assists over that stretch.