A three-sport star in high school, he was named to All-America teams in football, basketball, and baseball. At Brigham Young University, he was named national basketball college player of the year and won the John R. Wooden Award for the most outstanding male college basketball player. While in college, Ainge also played parts of three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB), mostly as a second baseman. He was then drafted into the NBA by the Celtics. Ainge played in the NBA for 14 seasons, playing for the Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns, primarily as a shooting guard. He went on to coach the Suns for three seasons before joining management of the Celtics, with whom Ainge has three NBA championships to his credit (two as a player, one as a team executive). During his playing career he appeared in the 1988 All-Star Game, and was the NBA Executive of the Year in 2008. Ainge served as the Celtics' president of basketball operations from 2008 until his retirement in 2021
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1½ hours
1986–2008
In this simulated showdown, we're pitting the 2008 Boston Celtics against the 1986 Boston Celtics,...
2008 vs 1986 Boston Celtics • Full Game Simulation / In this simulated showdown, we're pitting the 2008 Boston Celtics against the 1986 Boston Celtics, two of the most successful teams in franchise history. The 2008 Celtics, led by the ""Big Three"" - Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen - were a powerhouse, finishing the regular season with 66 wins and going on to clinch the NBA Championship after a 22-year drought. They were known for their rugged defense and unselfish play, a stark contrast to the more offensively oriented teams of the era.
On the other side of the court, we have the 1986 Celtics, arguably one of the greatest teams ever assembled in NBA history. Guided by the legendary Larry Bird, alongside Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the '86 Celtics dominated the league, ending the season with 67 wins and securing the NBA Championship. Their mix of exceptional shooting, rebounding, and defense made them a formidable force, and they are often remembered for their high basketball IQ and versatility.
This matchup will be a fascinating study in different styles of play and generations of basketball, with both teams boasting a unique blend of talent, strategy, and on-court chemistry.