The Celtics’ Ray Allen shoots over the Lakers’ Lamar Odom en route to a Boston victory.

AP / Elise Amendola

BOSTON — When Boston’s Big Three — Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen — look back on their sensational careers after they retire, they’ll know they can be proud of their Hall of Fame-worthy performances.

But what they know right now is that in order to be elevated from great to legendary, they will have to win an NBA championship.

Pierce already owns 17 franchise records, and he has been named an NBA All Star six times, but he still thinks he needs to win an NBA title in order to be considered a legend.

“Well, when you look at — I was talking about it today, all the retired members up on the banner, all of them except one has a ring. So I think so, man, in order to be great, in order to be a legend, you have to win a championship,” Pierce said. “Those are the things I’m inspired to do from day one, since I was a little kid when I made that commitment. I always said I want to be great.

“I remember my brother always asking me, ‘Do you want to be good or do you want to be great?’ And those are the questions you ask yourself when you go out and work hard each and every day.”

Garnett has been selected as an NBA All Star on 11 occasions. He has been named to the NBA All-Defensive team seven times and the All-NBA first team four times. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year this year, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the league in 2004.

Even with all of those accolades, Garnett still feels as if an NBA title would validate his career.

“Any player who’s been above average, if not excellent in this league, it helps to have a championship on your résumé,” Garnett said.

Allen is an eight-time All Star and is considered to have one of the best jump shots of all time, but even Boston coach Doc Rivers believes that great players who have won championships are viewed differently than great players who never won a title.

“Yeah, clearly,” Rivers said. “Coaches are, players are, organizations are; there’s no doubt about that. And hopefully that’s what everybody wants. You know, obviously with our team, that’s clearly true. But I’m just saying overall league-wide, that’s what you play for.”

So along with trying to help Boston win its unprecedented 17th NBA championship, Boston’s Big Three are also trying to secure their places in history.

Los Angeles star Kobe Bryant said that in order to be considered a legend such as Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan, an NBA player must win an NBA title.

These Celtics may get another chance at winning an NBA championship after this year, but they are trying to seize the moment now. while they are here.

“I can’t even describe the feeling just being here,” Pierce said. “I don’t even know — I probably don’t even understand the magnitude of it right now. I’m just like a kid playing basketball, doing something I love and enjoying the moment.”

The Celtics believe that they will beat the Lakers and secure an unprecedented 17th NBA championship for Boston.

roblee@projo.com