Banner Ceremony

The most decorated franchise in NBA history.

The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. Founded in 1946 as a charter member of the Basketball Association of America, the Celtics then moved into the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949, as said league was formed by the merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League. Currently playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, the Celtics have the most NBA titles with 18 championships.

Quick Facts

First banner raised: 1957 (NBA championship)

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.