Green Jersey Tradition

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Celtics' rise to dominance began in the late 1950s, after the team, led by coach Red Auerbach, acquired Bill Russell in 1956, later becoming the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty. Led by Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957. Russell, along with a talented supporting cast of future Hall of Famers including Heinsohn, Don Nelson, K. C. Jones, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, Satch Sanders, and Bill Sharman, would usher the Celtics into the greatest period in franchise history, winning eight consecutive NBA championships from 1959 to 1966. After Russell became the team's player-coach, as well as the first African American head coach in a major U.S. professional sports league, they won back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969. The Celtics entered a period of rebuilding after Russell retired in 1969.

In Their Own Story

Under the arena lights, the emerald number on a player's chest feels heavier than usual—a physical manifestation of every championship banner hanging from the rafters. Taking a deep breath amidst the roar of the crowd chanting for 'Celtics,' a veteran realizes he isn't just playing for himself; he is wearing the history of Boston. In that moment, the fabric connects him to generations of greats who stood on this exact spot, passing down a legacy from Russell's blocks to Bird's dunks and Tatum's drives.

Reader's Guide

In the mid-1970s, the Celtics became contenders once again, winning championships in 1974 and 1976 under the leadership of head coach Tom Heinsohn with Dave Cowens, Havlicek, and Jo Jo White. In the 1980s, the Celtics returned to dominance. Anchored by the 'Big Three' of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, the team experienced a renewed rivalry with the 'Showtime' Lakers and won championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986, the latter two with head coach K. C. Jones. After the retirements of Bird and McHale, the departure of Parish, and the untimely deaths of 1986 draft pick Len Bias and star player Reggie Lewis, the Celtics struggled through the 1990s and much of the early 2000s. After another period of rebuilding, the Celtics assembled a new 'Big Three' around team captain Paul Pierce by acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the 2007 off-season. Under the leadership of head coach Doc Rivers, the team defeated the Lakers to win their 17th championship in 2008, while also losing to the Lakers in the 2010 Finals. Allen, Garnett, and Pierce were no longer with the team by the start of the 2013–14 season, with Garnett and Pierce being traded to the Brooklyn Nets for four total future first round picks. With two of these first round picks, the team drafted Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Led by 'The Jays', the team returned to the NBA Finals in 2022, losing to the Golden State Warriors, and defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 to secure their 18th championship.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics have a notable rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers, who are second in NBA history with 17 championships.
• The teams' rivalry was especially pronounced in the 1960s and 1980s.
• The Celtics have played the Lakers a record 12 times in the NBA Finals and have defeated them nine times.
• At least 44 members of Basketball Hall of Fame have played for the Celtics at least once in their careers.
• Four Celtics players (Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird) have won the NBA Most Valuable Player award; overall, Celtics players have won an NBA-record 10 MVP awards.