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1994–95 Boston Celtics season

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1994–95 Boston Celtics season
Head coachChris Ford
General managerM.L. Carr
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record35–47 (.427)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast First Round
(lost to Magic 1–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWSBK-TV
SportsChannel New England
RadioWBNW
< 1993–94 1995–96 >

The 1994–95 Boston Celtics season was the 49th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] This was the Celtics' first season since the 1979–80 season without long-time center Robert Parish, who left as a free agent to the Charlotte Hornets. It was also the team's final season playing at the Boston Garden, as well as playing occasional home games at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.[2][3][4]

After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Celtics received the ninth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected center Eric Montross from the University of North Carolina.[5][6][7] Prior to the season, the Celtics signed free agent All-Star forward Dominique Wilkins (a controversial move late in Wilkins' career),[8][9][10] signed free agents Pervis Ellison,[11][12] second-year guard David Wesley and rookie guard Greg Minor,[13][14] and acquired Blue Edwards and Derek Strong from the Milwaukee Bucks.[15][16]

The Celtics got off to a 7–6 start in November, but played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the regular season, holding a 19–27 record at the All-Star break.[17] At mid-season, Edwards was traded back to his former team, the Utah Jazz in exchange for Jay Humphries.[18][19][20] The Celtics won eight of their final twelve games of the season, finishing in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 35–47 record.[21] Despite finishing six games under .500, the team qualified for the NBA playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Wilkins averaged 17.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game along with 112 three-point field goals, while second-year star Dino Radja averaged 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Dee Brown provided the team with 15.6 points and 1.4 steals per game, and also led them with 126 three-point field goals. In addition, Sherman Douglas contributed 14.7 points and 6.9 assists per game, while Montross averaged 10.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Off the bench, Rick Fox contributed 8.8 points per game, but only played 53 games due to ankle and foot injuries,[22] while Xavier McDaniel provided with 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Wesley contributed 7.4 points, 5.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game in only 51 games, starting in 36 of them due to a knee injury,[23] while Ellison averaged 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Strong provided with 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.[24]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, Montross was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the White team.[25][26] Wilkins was not selected for the NBA All-Star Game for the first time since the 1984–85 season; he had ninth consecutive All-Star appearances while playing for his former team, the Atlanta Hawks.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1995 NBA playoffs, the Celtics faced off against the top–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion Orlando Magic, who were led by the All-Star trio of Shaquille O'Neal, second-year star Penny Hardaway, and Horace Grant. The Celtics suffered a 47-point margin loss in Game 1 to the Magic, 124–77 at the Orlando Arena,[27][28][29] but managed to defeat them in Game 2 on the road, 99–92, seizing the "theoretical home court advantage" for the series.[30][31][32] However, the Celtics lost the next two games to the Magic at home, including a Game 4 loss at the Boston Garden, 95–92, thus losing the series in four games; Game 4 was the last basketball game ever played at the Boston Garden.[33][34][35] The Magic would reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but would lose to the 6th-seeded, and defending NBA champion Houston Rockets in a four-game sweep in the 1995 NBA Finals.[36][37][38]

The Celtics finished 20th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 606,070 at the Boston Garden during the regular season.[24][39] Following the season, Wilkins and McDaniel both left to play overseas in Greece,[40][41][42] while Strong signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,[43] Humphries was released to free agency, and head coach Chris Ford was fired; General Manager M.L. Carr explained the firing as having to do with "diminishing returns".[44][45][46]

Draft picks

[edit]
Main article: 1994 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 9 Eric Montross C  United States North Carolina
2 36 Andrei Fetisov SF  Russia Fórum Valladolid

Roster

[edit]
1994–95 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 8 James Blackwell 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–02–25 Dartmouth
G 7 Dee Brown 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1968–11–29 Jacksonville
F 45 Tony Dawson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–08–25 Florida State
G 20 Sherman Douglas 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–09–15 Syracuse
F 55 Acie Earl 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–06–23 Iowa
F 29 Pervis Ellison 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1967–04–03 Louisville
F 44 Rick Fox 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
G 5 Jay Humphries 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1962–10–17 Colorado
F 34 Xavier McDaniel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1963–06–04 Wichita State
F 9 Greg Minor 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–09–18 Louisville
C 0 Eric Montross 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1971–09–23 North Carolina
F/C 40 Dino Radja 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–04–24 Croatia
F 31 Derek Strong 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968–02–09 Xavier
G 4 David Wesley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–11–14 Baylor
F 12 Dominique Wilkins 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1960–01–12 Georgia
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
c-Orlando Magic 57 25 .695 — 39–2 18–23 18–10
x-New York Knicks 55 27 .671 2 29–12 26–15 23–5
x-Boston Celtics 35 47 .427 22 20–21 15–26 14–14
Miami Heat 32 50 .390 25 22–19 10–31 9–19
New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 27 20–21 10–31 13–15
Philadelphia 76ers 24 58 .293 33 14–27 10–31 12–16
Washington Bullets 21 61 .256 36 13–28 8–33 9–19
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Orlando Magic 57 25 .695 –
2 y-Indiana Pacers 52 30 .634 5
3 x-New York Knicks 55 27 .671 2
4 x-Charlotte Hornets 50 32 .610 7
5 x-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 10
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 14
7 x-Atlanta Hawks 42 40 .512 15
8 x-Boston Celtics 35 47 .427 22
9 Milwaukee Bucks 34 48 .415 23
10 Miami Heat 32 50 .390 25
11 New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 27
12 Detroit Pistons 28 54 .341 29
13 Philadelphia 76ers 24 58 .293 33
14 Washington Bullets 21 61 .256 36

Game log

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
1994–95 game log
Total: 35–47 (home: 20–21; road: 15–26)
November: 7–6 (home: 3–4; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 November 11, 1994
7:30 p.m. EST 		Houston L 82–102 Radja (31) Radja (11) Fox (6) Boston Garden
14,890 		0–3
December: 4–11 (home: 2–4; road: 2–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
23 December 17, 1994
8:30 p.m. EST 		@ Houston W 112–109 Wilkins (43) Montross (12) Wesley (11) The Summit
15,757 		10–13
January: 5–9 (home: 5–5; road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
February: 6–6 (home: 3–2; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
March: 6–11 (home: 2–5; road: 4–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
April: 7–4 (home: 5–1; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1994–95 schedule

Playoffs

[edit]
1995 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 28 @ Orlando L 77–124 Dee Brown (20) Dominique Wilkins (9) Sherman Douglas (6) Orlando Arena
16,010 		0–1
2 April 30 @ Orlando W 99–92 Dominique Wilkins (24) Brown, Radja (8) Sherman Douglas (15) Orlando Arena
16,010 		1–1
3 May 3 Orlando L 77–82 Brown, Wilkins (16) Pervis Ellison (10) Sherman Douglas (7) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–2
4 May 5 Orlando L 92–95 Dominique Wilkins (22) Dominique Wilkins (18) Douglas, Brown (5) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–3
1995 schedule

Player statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

[edit]
Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
James Blackwell† 9 0 6.8 .600 .667 .9 .7 .3 .0 1.6
Dee Brown 79 69 35.3 .447 .385 .852 3.2 3.8 1.4 .6 15.6
Tony Dawson 2 0 6.5 .375 .333 1.000 1.5 .5 .0 .0 4.0
Sherman Douglas 65 43 31.5 .475 .244 .689 2.6 6.9 1.2 .0 14.7
Acie Earl 30 3 6.9 .382 .483 1.5 .1 .2 .3 2.2
Blue Edwards† 31 7 16.4 .426 .256 .896 2.1 1.5 .6 .3 7.1
Pervis Ellison 55 11 19.7 .507 .000 .717 5.6 .6 .4 1.0 6.8
Rick Fox 53 7 19.6 .481 .413 .772 2.9 2.6 1.0 .4 8.8
Tony Harris 3 0 6.0 .375 .000 .889 .0 .0 .0 .0 4.7
Jay Humphries† 6 0 8.7 .444 .000 .500 .5 1.7 .3 .0 1.7
Xavier McDaniel 68 15 21.0 .451 .286 .712 4.4 1.6 .4 .3 8.6
Greg Minor 63 8 15.0 .515 .167 .833 2.2 1.0 .5 .3 6.0
Eric Montross 78 75 29.7 .534 .000 .635 7.3 .5 .4 .8 10.0
Dino Rađa 66 48 32.5 .490 .000 .759 8.7 1.7 .9 1.3 17.2
Derek Strong 70 24 19.2 .453 .286 .820 5.4 .6 .3 .2 6.3
David Wesley 51 36 27.1 .409 .429 .755 2.3 5.2 1.6 .2 7.4
Dominique Wilkins 77 64 31.5 .424 .388 .782 5.2 2.2 .8 .2 17.8

Playoffs

[edit]
Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dee Brown 4 4 43.0 .419 .346 .875 5.0 4.8 1.3 .3 18.8
Sherman Douglas 4 4 42.0 .353 .333 .727 5.0 8.3 1.0 .3 15.0
Acie Earl 1 0 10.0 .333 .000 2.0 .0 .0 1.0 2.0
Pervis Ellison 4 0 17.0 .579 1.000 4.3 .5 .5 1.3 6.0
Xavier McDaniel 4 0 14.8 .294 .000 .750 1.5 1.3 .0 .0 3.3
Greg Minor 4 0 9.3 .385 1.000 .3 .5 .3 .3 2.8
Eric Montross 4 4 15.5 .455 .500 2.3 .0 .0 .0 3.3
Dino Rađa 4 3 38.3 .400 .714 7.0 2.3 1.0 1.3 15.0
Derek Strong 4 1 20.3 .333 .500 6.0 .8 .8 .3 2.8
Dominique Wilkins 4 4 37.5 .426 .471 .889 10.8 2.0 .5 .8 19.0
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.

Player statistics citation:[24]

Awards

[edit]
Player Award
Eric Montross NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team

Transactions

[edit]

The Celtics were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season.

Trades

[edit]
June 29, 1994 To Boston Celtics
Blue Edwards
Derek Strong 		To Milwaukee Bucks
Ed Pinckney
Andrei Fetisov
February 3, 1995 To Boston Celtics
Jay Humphries
1995 second-round pick 		To Utah Jazz
Blue Edwards

Free agents

[edit]

Player Transactions Citation:[47]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1994-95 Boston Celtics
  2. ^ Cavanaugh, Jack (April 16, 1995). "BACKTALK; The Last Days of a Garden Where Memories Grew". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Araton, Harvey (April 22, 1995). "ON PRO BASKETBALL; A Not-So-Fond Farewell to a Shrine". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Boston Garden Fertile Ground for Memories". The Washington Post. April 22, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 30, 1994). "BASKETBALL; The Bucks Go with Robinson as No. 1 Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Baker, Chris (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Select Murray: Pro Basketball: Cal Forward Drafted Amid Rumors of Impending Mark Jackson Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  7. ^ "1994 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Dominique Wilkins a Celtic". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 23, 1994. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  9. ^ Baker, Chris (July 23, 1994). "Clippers Must Pay the Price of Losing Wilkins to Celtics: Basketball: All-Star Forward's Short Tenure in L.A. Ends with a Three-Year, $11-Million Deal from Boston". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Celtics Sign Dominique Wilkins". The Washington Post. July 23, 1994. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Justice, Richard (July 28, 1994). "Ex-Bullet Ellison Close to Signing with Celtics". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  12. ^ Arace, Michael (October 19, 1994). "Celtics Hope Ellison Dressed for Success". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "Picking Up the Pace". Hartford Courant. July 28, 1994. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  14. ^ "Minor Moves on Court". Hartford Courant. October 27, 1994. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "Bucks Trade Edwards to Celtics". United Press International. June 30, 1994. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  16. ^ "Eastern Conference". The Washington Post. November 4, 1994. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  17. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "Edwards, Humphries Swapped Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 4, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Evans, Richard (February 4, 1995). "Blue's Back: Jazz Deal Humphries, 2nd-Round Draft Pick to Celtics for High-Flying Edwards". Deseret News. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  20. ^ Arace, Michael (February 4, 1995). "Edwards Traded by Celtics". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  21. ^ "1994–95 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Arace, Michael (March 13, 1995). "Celtics Give Hawks Opening in Fourth". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  23. ^ Arace, Michael (April 28, 1995). "The Point Is Well-Taken". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  24. ^ a b c "1994–95 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Basketball". The Tuscaloosa News. February 11, 1995. p. 2C. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  26. ^ "1995 NBA Rising Stars: White 83, Green 79 (OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  27. ^ "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Magic Buries a Bad Memory and Celtics". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 29, 1995. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  28. ^ Winderman, Ira (April 29, 1995). "Celtics Are No Match; Magic Rolls to 47-Point Victory". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  29. ^ Landman, Brian (April 29, 1995). "Win 1 Is Magic Mauling". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  30. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics Bounce Back and Head Home Even". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1995. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  31. ^ "NBA PLAYOFFS: Celtics Dispel Magic, Now Come Ghosts". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1995. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  32. ^ "Celtics Mystify Magic". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 1, 1995. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  33. ^ "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Grant and Magic Wrap Up Garden's Parquet". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 6, 1995. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  34. ^ "Magic Finishes Off Celtics and the Garden: NBA Playoffs: Orlando Holds on for 95-92 Victory, Setting Up East Semifinal Against Chicago". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 6, 1995. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  35. ^ "1995 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Celtics vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  36. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Sweep to 2d Straight Championship". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  37. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 15, 1995). "NBA FINALS: Two-Ring Circus Hits Houston: Pro Basketball: Olajuwon (who else?) Is MVP Again After Leading Rockets to Sweep of Magic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  38. ^ "1995 NBA Finals: Rockets vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  39. ^ "1994–95 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  40. ^ "Wilkins Leaves Celtics to Sign for Greek Club". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1995. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  41. ^ "McDaniel to Leave NBA, Play in Greece". United Press International. September 7, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  42. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Celtics to Wilkins: Goodbye, Good Luck". The New York Times. September 8, 1995. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  43. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 3, 1995). "THE NBA: 1995-96: Greater Expectations: Lakers May Have Accomplished a Lot, But Now They're Really Thinking Big". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  44. ^ "Celtics Fire Chris Ford". United Press International. May 17, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  45. ^ "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Celtics Drop Ford as Coach". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  46. ^ Arace, Michael (May 18, 1995). "Ford Reaches Point of No Return with Celtics". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  47. ^ "1994–95 Boston Celtics Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
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