Let's Go Celtics

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 any United States sport, they won back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969. The Celtics entered a period of rebuilding after Russell retired in 1969. 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.

In Their Own Story

The franchise experienced a resurgence in the mid-1970s with championships in 1974 and 1976 led by Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White. The 1980s brought renewed dominance anchored by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, who won titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986 while engaging in a fierce rivalry with the 'Showtime' Lakers. Following the departures of these stars and tragic losses like Len Bias and Reggie Lewis, the team struggled through the 1990s and early 2000s. The path to glory reopened when the Celtics drafted Jaylen Brown in 2016 and Jayson Tatum in 2017. Led by 'The Jays', they returned to the NBA Finals in 2022, losing to the Golden State Warriors, before defeating the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 to secure their historic 18th title.

Reader's Guide

The 'Celtics' team name and the team's mascot 'Lucky the Leprechaun' are nods to Boston's historically large Irish population, and also to the Original Celtics, a barnstorming basketball team that played in the early 20th century. 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. 41 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.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950, becoming the first NBA franchise to draft a black player.
• Bill Russell became the first African American head coach in any United States sport when he became player-coach in 1966.
• The Celtics won eight consecutive NBA championships from 1959 to 1966, the longest championship streak in U.S. professional sports history.
• The Celtics have defeated the Los Angeles Lakers nine times in the NBA Finals out of 12 meetings.