The 1969-70 Boston Celtics season marked a period of transition for the storied franchise. Coming off an era dominated by Bill Russell, who retired after the 1968-69 season, the Celtics faced the challenge of rebuilding without the cornerstone of their dynasty. Under the guidance of head coach Tom Heinsohn, the team aimed to maintain its competitive edge in the NBA.
Despite the absence of Russell, the Celtics managed to finish the regular season with a respectable record of 34-48. This performance, however, was not enough to secure a playoff spot, marking the first time Boston missed the postseason since the 1950-51 season. The team was led by John Havlicek, who emerged as a key figure in the post-Russell era, averaging 24.2 points per game. Additionally, Jo Jo White, a rookie guard drafted from the University of Kansas, began to show promise and would eventually become a central component of the team’s future success.
The Celtics’ struggles during the 1969-70 season highlighted the challenges of transitioning from a dynasty built around a generational talent like Russell. Despite missing the playoffs, this season laid the groundwork for future success by allowing younger players to develop and gain experience. The lessons learned during this transitional period were crucial as the Celtics aimed to rebuild and return to championship contention in the years to follow.
- Regular Season Record: 34-48
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1969-70 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| John Havlicek | 81 | 24.2 | 7.6 | 6.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Don Nelson | 82 | 15.4 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Larry Siegfried | 78 | 12.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bailey Howell | 82 | 12.6 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jo Jo White | 59 | 12.4 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tom Sanders | 57 | 11.5 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Hank Finkel | 80 | 9.7 | 7.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Em Bryant | 71 | 7.8 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Steve Kuberski | 51 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rich Johnson | 64 | 5.9 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jim Barnes | 77 | 5.9 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Don Chaney | 63 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rich Niemann | 6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Boston Celtics 1969-70 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1969-70 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 110-108 | |
| Oct 18, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 124-117 | |
| Oct 21, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-97 | |
| Oct 24, 1969 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 122-110 | |
| Oct 28, 1969 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 120-107 | |
| Oct 31, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 118-113 | |
| Nov 01, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 131-123 | |
| Nov 05, 1969 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 128-121 | |
| Nov 07, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 111-110 | |
| Nov 08, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-87 | |
| Nov 11, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 129-118 | |
| Nov 12, 1969 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 116-107 | |
| Nov 14, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 109-108 | |
| Nov 15, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-98 | |
| Nov 18, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 120-119 | |
| Nov 19, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 122-106 | |
| Nov 21, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 118-115 | |
| Nov 22, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 125-116 | |
| Nov 23, 1969 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-116 | |
| Nov 26, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 135-114 | |
| Nov 28, 1969 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 130-105 | |
| Nov 29, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 121-106 | |
| Dec 03, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 113-105 | |
| Dec 05, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-104 | |
| Dec 06, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-114 | |
| Dec 10, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-99 | |
| Dec 12, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 107-104 | |
| Dec 16, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-98 | |
| Dec 17, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-106 | |
| Dec 19, 1969 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-111 | |
| Dec 20, 1969 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 122-106 | |
| Dec 23, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 117-112 | |
| Dec 25, 1969 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 127-116 | |
| Dec 26, 1969 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-112 | |
| Dec 27, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 111-110 | |
| Dec 28, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-99 | |
| Dec 31, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 124-121 | |
| Jan 02, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 110-92 | |
| Jan 03, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | W 111-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 130-120 | |
| Jan 07, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 112-106 | |
| Jan 09, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 142-130 | |
| Jan 10, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-109 | |
| Jan 13, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-102 | |
| Jan 14, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-118 | |
| Jan 16, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-103 | |
| Jan 18, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 109-102 | |
| Jan 22, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 111-104 | |
| Jan 23, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 109-105 | |
| Jan 25, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | L 102-96 | |
| Jan 27, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 133-100 | |
| Jan 28, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-100 | |
| Jan 30, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 31, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 120-117 | |
| Feb 01, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 123-105 | |
| Feb 03, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 93-85 | |
| Feb 06, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 127-117 | |
| Feb 08, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 130-117 | |
| Feb 10, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 122-117 | |
| Feb 11, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | W 125-118 | |
| Feb 14, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-117 | |
| Feb 15, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 146-125 | |
| Feb 16, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 117-114 | |
| Feb 18, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 116-113 | |
| Feb 20, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 127-125 | |
| Feb 21, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 116-111 | |
| Feb 22, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-96 | |
| Feb 25, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 147-124 | |
| Feb 27, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 134-125 | |
| Mar 01, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-114 | |
| Mar 04, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 115-110 | |
| Mar 06, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 150-134 | |
| Mar 08, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 138-134 | |
| Mar 10, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-112 | |
| Mar 11, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 144-127 | |
| Mar 13, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 134-113 | |
| Mar 15, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 130-127 | |
| Mar 17, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 125-117 | |
| Mar 18, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 137-122 | |
| Mar 19, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 127-123 | |
| Mar 20, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-119 | |
| Mar 22, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-112 |