Record 19–31 (.380) Start date 1998 Radio WEEI | Playoff finish DNQ Head coach Rick Pitino Arena TD Garden | |
Place Division: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 12th (Eastern) Televisions Comcast SportsNet New England, WBPX-TV People also search for 1999–2000 Boston Celtics season | ||
The 1998–99 Boston Celtics season was the 53rd season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics continued to build with youth as they selected Paul Pierce out of the University of Kansas with the tenth pick in the 1998 NBA draft, while acquiring Tony Battie from the Los Angeles Lakers. Pierce would get off to a fast start as he was named Rookie of The Month in February, after the season was delayed by a four month lockout. At midseason, the Celtics traded Andrew DeClercq to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Vitaly Potapenko, but still struggled finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 19–31 record, as fans began to get restless with Rick Pitino's slow growth. Pierce averaged 16.5 points per game and made the All-Rookie First Team. Following the season, Ron Mercer was traded to the Denver Nuggets, and Bruce Bowen signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers.