1999–2000 Boston Celtics season

Season of National Basketball Association team the Boston Celtics August 2023 March 2026 Boston Celtics 2000 35 47 atlantic 5 10 Rick Pitino Rick Pitino Paul Gaston Fleet Center Fox Sports Net New England WEEI Did not qualify BOS The 1999–2000 Boston Celtics season was the 54th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. Boston Celtics Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the team acquired Danny Fortson, and former Celtics forward Eric Williams from the Denver Nuggets, Associated Press Celtics Trade Mercer in Six-Player Deal Los Angeles Times August 4, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-04-sp-62584-story.html September 15, 2022 Greenberg Alan Celts Cash Out on Mercer Hartford Courant August 4, 1999 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1999-08-04-9908040321-story.html December 15, 2022 Associated Press NBA Teams Get Busy Trading and Signing Deseret News August 4, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/1999/8/4/19458947/nba-teams-get-busy-trading-and-signing July 3, 2023 and signed free agents Calbert Cheaney, Associated Press Plus: Pro Basketball -- Boston: Cheaney Headed to the Celtics The New York Times August 6, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/06/sports/plus-pro-basketball-boston-cheaney-headed-to-the-celtics.html September 16, 2022 Associated Press Magic's Gone, So Hardaway Traded Los Angeles Times August 6, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-06-sp-63195-story.html July 4, 2023 Wyche Steve Wizards Lose Cheaney to the Celtics The Washington Post August 6, 1999 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/08/06/wizards-lose-cheaney-to-the-celtics/b484a9ec-4270-40c2-a269-86ec76b3cd64/ October 3, 2022 and undrafted rookie shooting guard Adrian Griffin. Goldberg Jeff Dues Paid, Griffin Joins Club at Last Hartford Courant October 6, 1999 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1999-10-06-9910060234-story.html October 12, 2022 Berman Marc The Hall's Griffin Finds Home in Boston After CBA Journey New York Post November 13, 1999 https://nypost.com/1999/11/13/the-halls-griffin-finds-home-in-boston-after-cba-journey/ July 4, 2023 For the season, the Celtics slightly updated their home and road uniforms; the white home uniforms featured a white version of the team's alternate logo of a cloverleaf on their waistband, while the green road uniforms featured a green cloverleaf. Boston Celtics Home Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/g51wevs8gz7zedeaqofoh2ppa/Boston_Celtics/2000/Home_Uniform January 22, 2022 Boston Celtics Road Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/r5l6gplxgbqzo7bg3l1hfdavv/Boston_Celtics/2000/Road_Uniform January 22, 2022 The slightly updated uniforms would remain in use until 2006. Regular season In their third season under head coach Rick Pitino, and with the addition of Williams and Griffin, the Celtics got off to a 10–8 start to the regular season, but then posted a six-game losing streak in December afterwards. The team continued to play below .500 in winning percentage, holding a 21–28 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 10, 2000 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=10&year=2000 July 22, 2022 At mid-season, the team traded Fortson to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Alvin Williams, but the trade was voided due to Williams failing his physical exam; Fortson only played 55 games this season due to a stress fracture in his right foot. Associated Press Fortson Back with Celtics CBS News February 11, 2000 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fortson-back-with-celtics/ March 28, 2023 Gardner Kris Fortson Dealt to Toronto The Houston Roundball Review February 11, 2000 https://www.thehrr.com/nba/trade_archive/'99-'00season/'99-'00in-season/0209Fortson-Williams.html July 4, 2023 Associated Press N.B.A. Roundup -- Boston: Trade Rescinded After Williams Flunks Physical The New York Times February 12, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/12/sports/nba-roundup-boston-trade-rescinded-after-williams-flunks-physical.html October 17, 2022 The Celtics struggled posting a ten-game losing streak between March and April, but managed to win five of their final six games of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 35–47 record, and missing the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. 1999–2000 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2000_games.html July 15, 2021 Antoine Walker averaged 20.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while second-year star Paul Pierce had a stellar season, averaging 19.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, and Kenny Anderson provided the team with 14.0 points, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In addition, Vitaly Potapenko provided with 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while Griffin contributed 6.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Off the bench, Fortson averaged 7.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Williams and Dana Barros both contributed 7.2 points per game each, Tony Battie provided with 6.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and Cheaney contributed 4.0 points per game. 1999–2000 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2000.html July 15, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California, Pierce and Griffin were both selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as Pierce was a member of the Sophomores team, while Griffin was a member of the Rookies team. Sports Scoreboard Times-Union February 12, 2000 3B https://books.google.com/books?id=7bI_AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA11&dq=2000+NBA+2+ball+steve+francis&article_id=6195,2369314&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwji0aWep_CPAxVo4skDHSp2FjcQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=2000%20NBA%202%20ball%20steve%20francis&f=false September 23, 2025 2000 NBA Rising Stars: Rookies 92, Sophomores 83 (OT) Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_2000_rookie.html September 23, 2025 Pierce scored 18 points, and made 5 out of 11 three-point field-goal attempts, despite the Sophomores losing to the Rookies in overtime, 92–83. The Celtics finished 15th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 683,608 at the FleetCenter during the regular season. 1999–2000 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2000.html January 23, 2026 Notable incidents This season also reached a breaking point for the Celtics, after a 96–94 home loss to the Raptors on March 1, 2000, in which All-Star guard Vince Carter hit a three-point shot at the buzzer, which even drew cheers from the Celtics fans at the FleetCenter. Pitino went on a legendary rant in his post-game interview, wherein he blamed fans and the media for being negative towards the Celtics, and demanded them to stop reliving past glories; best remembered by the phrase "walking through that door", as he referred to retired Celtics legends Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, who all won three NBA championships with the team in the 1980s. Associated Press Pitino Frustrated in Post-Game Comments ESPN March 1, 2000 https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2000/0301/392577.html July 5, 2023 Associated Press Carter Is Mr. Big Shot in Victory Over Celtics Los Angeles Times March 2, 2000 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-02-sp-4714-story.html July 4, 2023 Associated Press Celtics' Failures Have Pitino Feeling Some Heat; Boston Coach Blaming Media for City's Bad Attitude Toward Team Deseret News March 6, 2000 https://www.deseret.com/2000/3/6/19494536/celtics-failures-have-pitino-feeling-some-heat-br-boston-coach-blaming-media-for-city-s-bad-attitude July 4, 2023 This would not leave Celtics fans nor the Boston media any more satiated, and contributed to his eventual downfall. Aftermath Following the season, the Celtics were involved in a four-team trade, as Barros was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, while Fortson was dealt to the Golden State Warriors; Buckley Tim Jazz Make Deal for Marshall Deseret News August 14, 2000 https://www.deseret.com/2000/8/14/19523717/jazz-make-deal-for-marshall July 4, 2023 Staff and Wire Reports Marshall, Eisley Included in Four-Team NBA Trade Los Angeles Times August 15, 2000 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-15-sp-4653-story.html July 4, 2023 Associated Press Plus: Pro Basketball: 4 N.B.A. Teams Involved in Trade The New York Times August 17, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/17/sports/plus-pro-basketball-4-nba-teams-involved-in-trade.html October 12, 2022 however, Barros never played for the Mavericks, as he was traded to the Detroit Pistons two months later. Gardner Kris Dallas, Detroit Complete Three-Player Deal The Houston Roundball Review October 17, 2000 https://www.thehrr.com/nba/trade_archive/'00-'01/2000_off-season/101700Vaught_Barros_dealt.html July 4, 2023 CBC Sports Mavs Get Vaught from Pistons for Barros and Sesay CBC October 17, 2000 https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/mavs-get-vaught-from-pistons-for-barros-and-sesay-1.215926 July 4, 2023 Mavericks Acquire Loy Vaught from Pistons United Press International October 17, 2000 https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/10/17/Mavericks-acquire-Loy-Vaught-from-Pistons/4031971755200/ January 5, 2022 Meanwhile, Cheaney was traded to the Denver Nuggets, Reuters Plus: Pro Basketball: Pack Trade to Nuggets Official The New York Times October 17, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/17/sports/plus-pro-basketball-pack-trade-to-nuggets-official.html January 11, 2022 Associated Press Celtics, Nuggets Complete Four-Player Trade Los Angeles Times October 17, 2000 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-17-sp-37663-story.html October 19, 2022 Gardner Kris Pack Returns to Nuggets The Houston Roundball Review October 29, 2000 https://www.thehrr.com/nba/trade_archive/'00-'01/2000_off-season/101600Pack,Herren_in_4_Player_deal.html July 4, 2023 and Pervis Ellison signed as a free agent with the Seattle SuperSonics. Sun Sports The NBA: Fans Get First Look at Sonics in Scrimmage Kitsap Sun October 24, 2000 https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2000/10-24/0001_the_nba__fans_get_first_look_at_s.html July 4, 2023 Wise Mike Pro Basketball: West Side Story, the Sequel The New York Times October 30, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/30/sports/pro-basketball-west-side-story-the-sequel.html September 12, 2022 Draft picks 1999 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 2 55 Kris Clack SG/SF Texas Roster Boston Celtics 1999–2000 #00703C white #C5B358 #000000 7 Kenny Anderson basketball G 6 0 168 1970–10–09 Georgia Tech 11 Dana Barros G 5 11 163 1967–04–13 Boston College 4 Tony Battie C 6 11 230 1976–02–11 Texas Tech 40 Calbert Cheaney G/F 6 7 209 1971–07–17 Indiana 29 Pervis Ellison F/C 6 9 210 1967–04–03 Louisville 27 Danny Fortson F/C 6 7 260 1976–03–27 Cincinnati 44 Adrian Griffin G 6 5 217 1974–07–04 Seton Hall 0 Walter McCarty F/C 6 10 230 1974–02–01 Kentucky 9 Greg Minor G/F 6 6 210 1971–09–18 Louisville IN 20 Doug Overton G 6 3 190 1969–08–03 La Salle 34 Paul Pierce G/F 6 7 235 1977–10–13 Kansas 52 Vitaly Potapenko C 6 10 280 1975–03–21 Wright State 8 Antoine Walker F 6 8 224 1976–08–12 Kentucky 55 Eric Williams basketball, born 1972 F 6 8 220 1972–07–17 Providence Rick Pitino John Carroll Lester Conner Andy Enfield Jim O'Brien (IN) Inactive https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2000.html December 23, 1999 Roster Notes Guard/forward Greg Minor was on the injured reserve list due to a hip injury, and missed the entire regular season. Goldberg Jeff Celtics Hope Upgrade Holds Up for Y2k Hartford Courant October 5, 1999 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1999-10-05-9910050175-story.html October 12, 2022 Regular season Season standings BOS BOS Game log Player statistics Regular season Boston Celtics |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kenny Anderson basketball | 82 || 82 || 31.6 || .440 || .386 || .775 || 2.7 || 5.1 || 1.7 || .1 || 14.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dana Barros | 72 || 0 || 15.8 || .451 || .410 || .868 || 1.4 || 1.8 || .4 || .1 || 7.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Tony Battie | 82 || 4 || 18.4 || .477 || .125 || .675 || 5.0 || .8 || .6 || .9 || 6.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Calbert Cheaney | 67 || 19 || 19.5 || .440 || .333 || .429 || 2.1 || 1.2 || .7 || .2 || 4.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Pervis Ellison | 30 || 5 || 9.0 || .442 || || .714 || 2.2 || .4 || .3 || .3 || 1.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Danny Fortson | 55 || 5 || 15.6 || .528 || || .735 || 6.7 || .5 || .4 || .1 || 7.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Adrian Griffin | 72 || 47 || 26.8 || .424 || .281 || .753 || 5.2 || 2.5 || 1.6 || .2 || 6.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Walter McCarty | 61 || 5 || 14.4 || .339 || .309 || .722 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .4 || .4 || 3.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Doug Overton | 48 || 0 || 9.0 || .396 || .357 || .952 || .7 || 1.1 || .2 || .0 || 3.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Paul Pierce | 73 || 72 || 35.4 || .442 || .343 || .798 || 5.4 || 3.0 || 2.1 || .8 || 19.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Vitaly Potapenko | 79 || 72 || 22.7 || .499 || .000 || .681 || 6.3 || 1.0 || .5 || .4 || 9.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Jamel Thomas† | 3 || 0 || 6.3 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || .7 || .7 || .0 || .0 || 3.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Wayne Turner basketball | 3 || 0 || 13.7 || .167 || || .333 || 1.0 || 1.7 || .0 || .0 || 1.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Antoine Walker | 82 || 82 || 36.6 || .430 || .256 || .699 || 8.0 || 3.7 || 1.4 || .4 || 20.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Eric Williams basketball, born 1972 | 68 || 17 || 20.3 || .427 || .347 || .793 || 2.3 || 1.4 || .6 || .2 || 7.2 |} † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only. Player statistics citation: See also Reebok Pro Summer League, a summer league hosted by the Celtics References Category:Boston Celtics seasons Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Celtics Celtics