Banner Ceremony

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Celtics were formed in 1946 as a team in the Basketball Association of America, and became part of the NBA after the merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League in the fall of 1949. In 1950, the Celtics became the first franchise to draft an African American player, signing Chuck Cooper. The hiring of Coach Red Auerbach changed their fortunes. Under Auerbach, the Celtics won 11 titles between 1957 and 1969, led by center Bill Russell. After a rebuilding period, they won two more titles in the 1970s under coach Tom Heinsohn, and three more in the 1980s—the first under coach Bill Fitch (1981) and the next two under coach K.C. Jones (1984, 1986). After a 22-year drought, the Celtics won a title in 2008, and then another in 2024.

In Their Own Story

The transition from the old arena to the new marked a significant moment in the visual history of the franchise. Upon moving to the FleetCenter (now TD Garden), the Celtics did not simply hang up old banners; they had new ones made specifically for the new building. This decision was necessitated by the move itself, as the original banners from the Boston Garden era were left behind or replaced. The new set of banners now hangs in the current arena, standing alongside the team's continued success. While the specific dates of every banner raising are not detailed in the source beyond the 1960s practice change and the post-1998 move, the continuity of the tradition is clear: the team maintains a visible record of their achievements regardless of the building they occupy. The old banners that hung in the Boston Garden represented decades of dominance, including the historic 40-1 home record during the 1985–86 season, before being superseded by the new set at TD Garden.

Reader's Guide

It does not mention the practice facility in Waltham, nor the fate of the original banners.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics have the most NBA titles with 18 championships.
• Eleven of those titles occurred between 1957 and 1969, a dynasty led by center Bill Russell and coach/general manager Red Auerbach.
• The Celtics won two titles in the 1970s under coach Tom Heinsohn, and three in the 1980s—the first under coach Bill Fitch (1981) and the next two under coach K.C. Jones (1984, 1986).
• After a 22-year drought, the Celtics won a title in 2008, and then another in 2024.