Kevin Garnett

The seven-for-one blockbuster brings a future Hall of Famer to TD Garden, where championship dreams feel impossible after 24 wins and the franchise's second-worst season in history. Kevin Garnett steps onto parquet floors wearing number five, joining Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to complete Boston's new Big Three. What unfolds from this debut becomes the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history: a 42-game improvement that shatters every expectation. Garnett dominated Washington with 22 points and 20 rebounds, his first basket as a Celtic setting the tone for an intensity and defensive prowess that immediately transformed Celtic identity. The former MVP discovered championship purpose in Boston, anchoring the league's best defense while leading teammates to their first Finals appearance since 1987. By season's end, Banner 17 hangs in the rafters as testament to the magical partnership between player and franchise that began with this debut: the moment a 31-year-old superstar found his destiny and a struggling organization reclaimed its championship legacy.

Championship Year