Boston Celtics · Franchise era 6 of 7
The modern Big Three: the Boston Celtics story
Franchise era
2007–08—2012–13
The modern Big Three
Boston Celtics
The story in one sentence
Garnett and Allen joined Pierce, transforming Boston overnight into a defensive champion and a two-Finals team.
Ubuntu and the 2008 championship
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for tatum and brown.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2007–08
What came before
After tragedy and decline, Pierce became the franchise constant and eventually gave Boston a star worth building a new contender around.
July 31, 2007
The deal that completed Boston's Big Three
The Celtics condensed nearly every rebuilding asset into a title-ready core; Minnesota committed to a full reset around Al Jefferson.
05Contender completedJuly 31, 2007BOS⇄MINGarnett to BostonBoston added Kevin Garnett to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Minnesota received five players, cash and two pieces of first-round control.9 assets · 2 outcomes＋
The original receipt
Boston Celtics received
- • Kevin Garnett
Minnesota Timberwolves received
- • Al Jefferson
- • Gerald Green
- • Ryan Gomes
- • Sebastian Telfair
- • Theo Ratliff
- • Boston's 2009 first
- • Return of Minnesota's conditional first
- • Cash considerations
Boston won the championship in its first season together and helped define the modern superteam era.
Open full trade tree →2008
NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers
2012
Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat
After 2012–13
What came next
Draft capital from the Brooklyn trade became a durable homegrown core that made repeated deep runs and won the 2024 championship.
The core