1987-1993: The Dominique Wilkins Rivalry Era
The most successful team in NBA history, with 18 championships.
The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946 as one of the league's original eight teams, the Celtics played their home games at the Boston Garden during the 1987-1993 era. They hold the records for most NBA championships won, with 18, and most recorded wins of any NBA franchise.
- era_name
- Post-Bird Transition & Eastern Conference Battles
- key_opponent
- Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta Hawks)
- final_championship_year
- 1986
- larry_bird_retirement
- 1992
- notable_matchups
- 1987-1993 Eastern Conference Playoffs
- team_status
- Declining from Dynasty to Rebuild
Lore & Background
After the retirements of Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, the departure of Robert 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.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Boston Garden was thick with anticipation as the Hawks' Dominique Wilkins soared toward the rim. It was 1989, and the Celtics' defense, led by a grizzled Kevin McHale, tried to contain him. The crowd roared as Bird passed to Parish for a post-up, but the game belonged to the highlight reel moments Wilkins created. Every dunk felt like a challenge to Boston's aging guard, a reminder that the NBA was changing. Yet, in the final seconds, it wasn't Wilkins who sealed the win; it was the grit of the Celtics' veterans who held on, proving that while the era was ending, their spirit remained unbroken.
Reader's Guide
The Celtics won championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986, the latter two with head coach K. C. Jones. The team's rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers was especially pronounced in the 1960s and 1980s.
Did You Know?
- The Celtics have played the Lakers a record 12 times in the NBA Finals and have defeated them nine times.
- 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.
- 41 members of the Basketball Hall of Fame have played for the Celtics at least once in their careers.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Boston Celtics universe
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