Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns players: who played for both
Who played for both the Celtics and Suns?
55 players played for both the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns between 1968–69 and 2025–26, including Shaquille O'Neal, Joe Johnson, Dennis Johnson and Paul Westphal. 23 of them played for the Celtics first and 26 for the Suns first; 6 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Mel Counts is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Celtics first, then the Suns from 1970–71.
- Torrey Craig is the most recent: Suns first, then the Celtics from 2024–25.
- Danny Ainge played the most seasons across the two: 8 for the Celtics and 3 for the Suns.
- 7 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Leandro Barbosa.
- Most common positions on this list: PG (12), PF (12), SF (12), SG (11).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Celtics and the Suns. The surname is enough. 0 / 55
All 55 players, most seasons with the two first
| Player | Pos | Celtics | Suns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Ainge | SG/PG | 1981–1989 (8 s) | 1992–1995 (3 s) |
| Dennis Johnson | PG/SG | 1983–1990 (7 s) | 1980–1983 (3 s) |
| Leandro Barbosa | SG/PG | 2012–13 (1 s) | 2003–2010, 2013–14, 2016–17 (9 s) |
| Joe Kleine | C | 1988–1993 (5 s) | 1993–1997, 1998–99 (5 s) |
| Paul Westphal | SG/PG | 1972–1975 (3 s) | 1975–1980, 1983–84 (6 s) |
| Walter McCarty | PF/SF | 1997–2005 (8 s) | 2004–05 (1 s) |
| Ed Pinckney | SF/PF | 1988–1994 (6 s) | 1985–1987 (2 s) |
| Rick Robey | C | 1978–1983 (5 s) | 1983–1986 (3 s) |
| Charles Scott | PG/SG | 1975–1978 (3 s) | 1971–1975 (4 s) |
| Paul Silas | PF | 1972–1976 (4 s) | 1969–1972 (3 s) |
| Tom Gugliotta | PF/SF | 2004–05 (1 s) | 1998–2004 (6 s) |
| Joe Johnson | SG/SF | 2001–02, 2021–22 (2 s) | 2001–2005 (4 s) |
| Jae Crowder | PF/SF | 2014–2017 (3 s) | 2020–2023 (3 s) |
| Isaiah Thomas | PG | 2014–2017 (3 s) | 2014–15, 2023–24 (2 s) |
| Marcus Banks | PG | 2003–2006 (3 s) | 2006–2008 (2 s) |
| Gerald Green | SG/SF | 2005–2007, 2016–17 (3 s) | 2013–2015 (2 s) |
| Marcus Morris Sr. | PF | 2017–2019 (2 s) | 2012–2015 (3 s) |
| Jay Humphries | SG | 1994–95 (1 s) | 1984–1988 (4 s) |
| Dennis Awtrey | C | 1978–79 (1 s) | 1974–1978 (4 s) |
| Stephon Marbury | PG | 2008–09 (1 s) | 2001–2004 (3 s) |
| Xavier McDaniel | SF/PF | 1992–1995 (3 s) | 1990–91 (1 s) |
| Torrey Craig | SF | 2024–25 (1 s) | 2020–2023 (3 s) |
| Rodney Rogers | SF/PF | 2001–02 (1 s) | 1999–2002 (3 s) |
| Todd Day | SG | 1995–1998 (3 s) | 1999–00 (1 s) |
| Eddie House | PG/SG | 2007–2010 (3 s) | 2005–06 (1 s) |
| Randy Brown | PG | 2000–2002 (2 s) | 2001–2003 (2 s) |
| Tony Delk | PG/SG | 2001–2003 (2 s) | 2000–2002 (2 s) |
| Mel Counts | C/PF | 1964–1966 (2 s) | 1970–1972 (2 s) |
| Shavlik Randolph | PF | 2012–13, 2014–15 (2 s) | 2013–2015 (2 s) |
| Kenny Battle | SF | 1991–1993 (2 s) | 1989–1991 (2 s) |
| Fred Saunders | SF | 1976–1978 (2 s) | 1974–1976 (2 s) |
| Shaquille O'Neal | C | 2010–11 (1 s) | 2007–2009 (2 s) |
| Jermaine O'Neal | C/PF | 2010–2012 (2 s) | 2012–13 (1 s) |
| Michael Finley | SF/SG | 2009–10 (1 s) | 1995–1997 (2 s) |
| Sebastian Telfair | PG | 2006–07 (1 s) | 2011–2013 (2 s) |
| Greg Monroe | PF/C | 2017–2019 (2 s) | 2017–18 (1 s) |
| Aron Baynes | C/PF | 2017–2019 (2 s) | 2019–20 (1 s) |
| Justin Jackson | SF/PF | 2021–2023 (2 s) | 2021–22 (1 s) |
| Abdel Nader | SF | 2017–18 (1 s) | 2020–2022 (2 s) |
| Phil Pressey | PG | 2013–2015 (2 s) | 2015–16 (1 s) |
| Mark Bryant | PF/C | 2002–03 (1 s) | 1996–1998 (2 s) |
| Milt Palacio | PG/SG | 2000–2002 (2 s) | 2001–02 (1 s) |
| David Thirdkill | SF/SG | 1985–1987 (2 s) | 1982–83 (1 s) |
| Kris Humphries | PF | 2013–14 (1 s) | 2015–16 (1 s) |
| Sam Cassell | PG | 2007–08 (1 s) | 1996–97 (1 s) |
| Mickaël Piétrus | SF/SG | 2011–12 (1 s) | 2010–11 (1 s) |
| Chris Carr | SG | 2000–01 (1 s) | 1995–96 (1 s) |
| E'Twaun Moore | SG | 2011–12 (1 s) | 2020–21 (1 s) |
| Brandan Wright | PF/C | 2014–15 (1 s) | 2014–15 (1 s) |
| Marcus Thornton | SG | 2014–15 (1 s) | 2014–15 (1 s) |
| Jumaine Jones | PF/SF | 2003–04 (1 s) | 2006–07 (1 s) |
| Jarell Eddie | SF/PF | 2017–18 (1 s) | 2016–17 (1 s) |
| Dwayne Jones | PF | 2005–06 (1 s) | 2009–10 (1 s) |
| Earl Williams | C | 1978–79 (1 s) | 1974–75 (1 s) |
| Jimmy Oliver | SG/SF | 1993–94 (1 s) | 1998–99 (1 s) |
From English Wikipedia's player infoboxes (CC BY-SA 4.0), BAA/NBA seasons 1946–47 to 2025–26. A season counts when the player's infobox lists it for the franchise; ABA seasons do not count.
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Questions
How many players have played for both the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns?
55, from 1968–69 to 2025–26, including Shaquille O'Neal, Joe Johnson, Dennis Johnson and Paul Westphal. A player counts when his Wikipedia infobox lists at least one NBA season with each franchise.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both?
Mel Counts: Boston Celtics first, then the Phoenix Suns from 1970–71.
Who has played for both recently?
Torrey Craig, with a season for one of the two in 2024–25 or 2025–26.
Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?
Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise: every old name and city is linked to the club that carries its history today. Neither of these teams has moved or changed its name.
Careers from English Wikipedia's player infoboxes (CC BY-SA 4.0); player ids from Wikidata (CC0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams; AllStar Grid is not affiliated with the NBA or any team. Logos via TheSportsDB. Credits