Boston Celtics facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Boston Celtics
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1946
History	Boston Celtics 1946–present
Arena	TD Garden
Location	Boston, Massachusetts
Team colors	Green, white, black, gold, brown
Main sponsor	Amica Mutual Insurance
CEO	Wyc Grousbeck
President	Rich Gotham
General manager	Brad Stevens
Head coach	Joe Mazzulla
Ownership	Boston Basketball Partners
Affiliation(s)	Maine Celtics
Championships	18 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024)
Conference titles	11 (1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 2008, 2010, 2022, 2024)
Division titles	34 (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Retired numbers	23 (00, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, LOSCY)
Association Icon Statement City Classic

The Boston Celtics (/ˈsɛltɪks/ SEL-tiks ) are a professional basketball team from Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Eastern Conference. The Celtics started in 1946 and are one of the NBA's first teams. They play their home games at TD Garden, which they share with the NHL's Boston Bruins. The Celtics are known as one of the most successful teams in NBA history. They hold the record for winning the most NBA championships, with 18 titles. They also have the most wins of any NBA team.

The Celtics became a top team in the late 1950s. This was after coach Red Auerbach brought in Bill Russell in 1956. Russell became the key player for the Celtics' amazing run of wins. With Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957. Russell and other future Hall of Famers like Heinsohn, Don Nelson, K. C. Jones, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, Satch Sanders, and Bill Sharman led the Celtics to their best period. They won eight NBA championships in a row from 1959 to 1966. After Russell became the team's player-coach, they won two more titles in 1968 and 1969. Russell was also the first African American head coach in any major U.S. sport. The Celtics then went through a rebuilding period after Russell retired in 1969.

In the mid-1970s, the Celtics became champions again. They won titles in 1974 and 1976. This was under coach Tom Heinsohn, with stars like Dave Cowens, Havlicek, and Jo Jo White. The Celtics returned to greatness in the 1980s. With their "Big Three" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, they had a big rivalry with the "Showtime" Lakers. They won championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986. The last two wins were against the Lakers with coach K. C. Jones. After Bird and McHale retired and Parish left, the Celtics had a tough time in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Celtics rebuilt their team again. They formed a new "Big Three" around captain Paul Pierce by adding Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in 2007. Coach Doc Rivers led them to their 17th championship in 2008, beating the Lakers. They also played the Lakers in the 2010 Finals but lost. Allen, Garnett, and Pierce left the team by 2013. Garnett and Pierce were traded to the Brooklyn Nets for future draft picks. With these picks, the Celtics drafted Jaylen Brown in 2016 and Jayson Tatum in 2017. Led by these two, known as "The Jays", the team reached the NBA Finals in 2022, losing to the Golden State Warriors. They then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 to win their 18th championship.

The Celtics' name and mascot, "Lucky the Leprechaun," honor Boston's large Irish population. They also pay tribute to the Original Celtics, an early basketball team. The Celtics have a famous rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are second in NBA history with 17 championships. This rivalry was strongest in the 1960s and 1980s. The Celtics and Lakers have played each other in the NBA Finals a record 12 times, with Boston winning nine of those matchups. Many Basketball Hall of Fame members have played for the Celtics. Four Celtics players (Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, and Larry Bird) have won the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Celtics players have won an NBA-record 10 MVP awards in total.

Team History

Early Years (1946–1958)

The Boston Celtics team was created on June 6, 1946. This was by Boston Garden-Arena Corporation president Walter A. Brown. They were part of the Basketball Association of America. In 1948, the team made the playoffs for the first time. They lost to the Chicago Stags. In 1949, the team became part of the National Basketball Association (NBA). This happened when the NBA merged with another league. In 1950, the Celtics signed Chuck Cooper. He was the first black player to be drafted by an NBA team.

The Celtics had a tough start until Red Auerbach became their coach. Auerbach did everything himself, from coaching to scouting players. One of the first great players to join was Bob Cousy. Auerbach didn't want to draft Cousy at first because he thought he was "too flashy." But Cousy ended up with the Celtics after another team went out of business.

After the 1955–56 season, Auerbach made a big trade. He sent star player Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks. In return, he got the second pick in the draft. Auerbach used this pick to choose Bill Russell. He also got Tom Heinsohn. Both Russell and Heinsohn played very well with Cousy. They helped Auerbach build the Celtics into a championship team. With Bill Russell, the Celtics reached the 1957 NBA Finals and won their first NBA title. They beat the St. Louis Hawks in seven games. In 1958, the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals again, but lost to the Hawks.

A Decade of Dominance (1958–1969)

After adding K.C. Jones in 1958, the Celtics began an amazing run of wins. In 1959, they won the NBA championship by sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers. This was the first of their record eight championships in a row. During this time, the Celtics played the Lakers in the Finals five times. This started a strong rivalry between the two teams. In 1964, the Celtics became the first NBA team to have an all-African American starting lineup. This team is seen as one of the most dominant in basketball history.

Auerbach stopped coaching after the 1965–66 season. Russell then became the player-coach. This was a way to keep Russell involved with the team. Russell became the first African-American coach in any U.S. professional sport. The Celtics' streak of NBA titles ended in 1967 when they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. But the team, even as players got older, won two more championships in 1968 and 1969. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers both times. Russell retired after the 1969 season. This ended the Celtics' incredible run of 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons. Their streak of 8 consecutive championships is the longest in U.S. professional sports. Russell's 11 titles are the most won by an NBA player.

Rebuilding and More Success (1969–1978)

The 1969–70 season was a rebuilding year. The Celtics had their first losing record since 1949–50. But with new players like Paul Silas and future Hall of Famers Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White, the Celtics quickly became strong again. After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1972, the Celtics had a great 1973 season. They won 68 games and lost only 14. However, they were upset by the New York Knicks in the Conference Finals.

The Celtics returned to the playoffs the next year. They defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1974 NBA Finals to win their 12th NBA championship. Boston led the series 3–2 and could have won at home. But the Bucks won Game Six in Boston. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made a shot with 3 seconds left in double overtime. The series went back to Milwaukee. Cowens was the hero in Game 7, scoring 28 points. The Celtics brought the title back to Boston.

In 1976, the team won another championship. They beat the Phoenix Suns in six games. The Finals had one of the greatest games in NBA history. With the series tied 2–2, the Suns came back from behind to force overtime. The Celtics won in triple overtime. After the 1976 championship, Boston went into another rebuilding phase. In the 1977 NBA draft, the Celtics drafted Cedric Maxwell. He showed promise. John Havlicek, the Celtics' all-time leading scorer, retired after 16 seasons in 1978.

The Celtics had two high draft picks in the 1978 NBA draft. Auerbach took a chance by picking Larry Bird from Indiana State. Bird would stay in college for another year. But Auerbach believed he was worth waiting for. The team kept Bird's rights and signed him after he led Indiana State to the NCAA championship game. In 1978, Celtics owner Irv Levin traded teams with Buffalo Braves owner John Y. Brown Jr.. This trade caused some upset among Boston fans.

The Larry Bird Era (1979–1992)

The relationship between Brown and Auerbach got worse. Brown made trades without asking Auerbach. Auerbach almost left Boston to work for the New York Knicks. With fans supporting Auerbach, Brown sold the team to Harry Mangurian in 1979. The Celtics had a tough season, winning only 29 games.

Larry Bird joined the Celtics in the 1979–80 season. With a new owner, Auerbach made moves to make the team great again. He traded a former scoring champion for two first-round draft picks. He also got point guard Gerald Henderson. With Bird winning NBA Rookie of the Year, the team improved greatly. They won 61 games, 32 more than the year before. The Celtics played well in the playoffs but lost to the Philadelphia 76ers.

After the season, Auerbach made one of the best trades ever. He sent the team's two first-round picks to the Golden State Warriors. In return, he got center Robert Parish and the Warriors' first-round pick. He used that pick to select power forward Kevin McHale. The "Big Three" of Bird, McHale, and Parish played together until 1992. They won three NBA championships together. They are often called the best frontcourt in NBA history.

Even without Dave Cowens, the Celtics won 62 games in 1980–81 under coach Bill Fitch. They faced the 76ers again in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics came back from being down 3–1 to win Game Seven. The Celtics then won the 1981 NBA championship against the Houston Rockets. Maxwell was named NBA Finals MVP.

In 1983, the Celtics were swept in the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks. This was the first time the team had been swept. Fitch resigned, and the team was sold to new owners.

In 1983–84, the Celtics, with new coach K. C. Jones, won 62 games. They returned to the NBA Finals. Boston came back from a 2–1 deficit to beat the Lakers for their 15th championship. Bird's college rivalry with Lakers star Magic Johnson continued in this series. After the season, Auerbach retired as general manager but stayed as team president.

In 1985, the Lakers and Celtics met in the Finals again. This time, the Lakers won. This was the first time the Lakers beat the Celtics in the Finals. The Celtics then got Bill Walton from the Los Angeles Clippers. Walton was a great player but had many injuries. He stayed healthy and helped the Celtics win in 1986.

The Celtics picked Len Bias in the 1986 NBA draft. He was a highly praised player. Sadly, Bias passed away shortly after being drafted. Despite this, the Celtics played well in 1986–87. They won 59 games and the Eastern Conference Championship. They lost to the Lakers in the Finals.

In 1988, the Celtics lost to the Detroit Pistons. Coach K.C. Jones retired and was replaced by Jimmy Rodgers. Bird had foot surgery in 1988–89, and the Celtics struggled. Bird returned in 1989–90 and led the team to 52 wins. But they lost in the playoffs to the New York Knicks. Rodgers was fired and replaced by former player Chris Ford.

Under Ford, the Celtics improved in 1990–91. They won the Atlantic Division title even though Bird missed games due to injuries. The Celtics lost to the Pistons again in the playoffs. In 1992, the Celtics won 51 games and another Atlantic Division title. They swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round. But they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the next round. Bird's back injuries limited him. After 13 NBA seasons and an Olympic gold medal with the Dream Team, Bird retired in 1992 due to back problems.

Tough Times (1993–2007)

With Bird gone and other stars getting older, coach Chris Ford had to rebuild the team. Hopes were on 26-year-old Reggie Lewis. Lewis had health issues and sadly passed away. The Celtics honored him by retiring his number 35. With McHale retired and Robert Parish leaving, the "Big 3" era ended. The team struggled, missing the playoffs.

In 1994, the Celtics hired former player M. L. Carr. He worked with general manager Jan Volk. They drafted Eric Montross, but he didn't develop as hoped. The 1994–95 was the Celtics' last season in the Boston Garden. They signed Dominique Wilkins, who led the team in scoring. The Celtics made the playoffs but lost to the Orlando Magic. In 1995, the Celtics moved to the Fleet Center (now TD Garden). Carr became the coach. The team struggled again.

Things got worse in 1996–97. The Celtics lost a record 67 games. Carr resigned, and Rick Pitino was hired as president, director of basketball operations, and head coach. Pitino's hiring was controversial because Red Auerbach was still president. The team did not improve much under Pitino.

The Celtics got two high draft picks in the 1997 NBA draft. They picked Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. The team improved from 15 wins to 36 wins. But Billups and Mercer were later traded. In the 1998 NBA draft, the Celtics drafted Paul Pierce. Pierce had an immediate impact. But the Celtics continued to struggle under Pitino. He resigned in January 2001.

After Pitino left, the Celtics improved under coach Jim O'Brien. Paul Pierce became a star, helped by Antoine Walker. The Celtics had three picks in the 2001 NBA draft. They picked Joe Johnson, who later became an All-Star.

The Celtics had low expectations for the 2001–02 season. But they surprised everyone by doing well. They won a tough playoff series against the 76ers. Pierce scored 46 points in the final game. They then beat the Detroit Pistons. In their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1988, the Celtics led the New Jersey Nets 2–1. But they lost the next three games.

New Owners and Doc Rivers (2003–2007)

In 2003, new owners took over the Celtics. The team made the playoffs but were swept by the Nets. The team hired former player Danny Ainge as general manager. Ainge traded Antoine Walker to the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics made the playoffs again but were swept by the Indiana Pacers.

The Celtics were a young team under new coach Doc Rivers in the 2004–05 season. They drafted young players like Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Tony Allen. The Celtics won 45 games and their first Atlantic Division title since 1991–92. Antoine Walker returned and helped the team. But the Pacers beat them again in the first round. After the season, Walker was traded again. Despite Pierce's great season, the Celtics missed the playoffs in 2006.

The Celtics continued to rebuild in the 2006 NBA draft. They picked point guard Rajon Rondo, who became a key player. The 2006–07 season was sad for the team. Red Auerbach passed away at 89. The Celtics had a very bad record, including a franchise-record 18-game losing streak. They finished with the second-worst record in the NBA. They hoped for a high draft pick but fell to fifth in the Draft Lottery.

The New "Big Three" Era (2007–2012)

In the summer of 2007, general manager Danny Ainge made big moves. He traded for All-Star Ray Allen and then for superstar Kevin Garnett. These moves created a new "Big Three" with Pierce, Allen, and Garnett.

In the 2007–08 season, the Celtics had the biggest improvement in NBA history. They won 66 games, 42 more than the year before. They struggled in the early playoff rounds, needing seven games to beat the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics then beat the Detroit Pistons in six games to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

For the 11th time, the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals. The Celtics won Game One at home. They won Game Two despite almost losing a big lead. In Game 4, the Celtics made the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, winning after being down by 24 points. In Game 6, the Celtics beat the Lakers 131–92 to win their 17th NBA title. Paul Pierce was named Finals MVP.

The 2008–09 Celtics started with a great record. They had a franchise-record 19-game winning streak. But Kevin Garnett got injured and missed the rest of the season and playoffs. The Celtics still won 62 games. But they lost to the Magic in the second round of the playoffs.

In 2009, Garnett returned. With new players like Rasheed Wallace, the Celtics started strong. But coach Doc Rivers rested his older stars to keep them fresh. The Celtics finished the season with 50 wins. Despite being the fourth seed, the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals. Rajon Rondo became a star during the playoffs. For the 12th time, the Celtics faced the Lakers in the Finals. The Celtics led 3–2. But starting center Kendrick Perkins got injured in Game Six. The Celtics lost the series in seven games.

In 2010, the Celtics signed two former All-Star centers, Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal. Perkins was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in February. The Celtics finished with 56 wins. Paul Pierce became the third Celtic to score 20,000 points. Ray Allen broke the NBA record for most career three-pointers. The 2011 NBA playoffs started with the Celtics sweeping the New York Knicks. But they lost to the Miami Heat in the second round. Shaquille O'Neal retired after the season.

The Celtics started the shortened 2011–12 season slowly. But they played very well after the All-Star break. They won their fifth division title in a row. In the playoffs, the Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers. They faced the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing in seven games.

The 2012 off-season saw Ray Allen leave for the Miami Heat. This ended the five-year "Big Three" era. The Celtics finished the season with 41 wins. They lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs.

Rebuilding Years (2013–2016)

During the off-season, head coach Doc Rivers left to coach the Los Angeles Clippers. The Celtics got a future draft pick as a trade. A few days later, Pierce, Garnett, and Jason Terry were traded to the Brooklyn Nets. This trade brought in several players and three future first-round draft picks. This deal marked the start of rebuilding the team with younger players.

On July 3, 2013, the Celtics announced that Brad Stevens, a college coach, would replace Doc Rivers. Rajon Rondo returned from injury and was named team captain. The team continued to focus on young players. The 2013–14 season was the first time the Celtics missed the playoffs since the "Big Three" era.

The next off-season, the Celtics drafted Marcus Smart and James Young. They also signed Evan Turner. The 2014–15 season had many player changes. Rajon Rondo was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Many players came and went. Despite injuries, the team finished with 40 wins. This was enough to make the playoffs. But the Celtics were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

In the 2015 NBA draft, Boston selected several players. They signed Amir Johnson. The Celtics finished the 2015–16 NBA season with 48 wins. They earned the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They played the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. The Celtics lost the series 4–2.

The Brown–Tatum Era ("The Jays") (2016–Present)

In the 2016 NBA draft, the Celtics selected Jaylen Brown with the third pick. In July 2016, the team signed four-time All-Star Al Horford. The Celtics finished the 2016–17 season with 53 wins and were the top team in the Eastern Conference. After an injury to Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics lost to the Cavaliers in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals. For the 2017 NBA draft, the Celtics won the draft lottery, getting the first pick. They traded this pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the third pick and future picks. The Celtics used the third pick to select Jayson Tatum. During the off-season, the team signed Gordon Hayward. On August 22, 2017, the Celtics traded Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie Irving's Time (2017-2019)

By the end of the off-season, only four Celtics players remained from the 2016–17 team. On opening night, Hayward suffered a serious leg injury. This kept him out for the rest of the season. Despite this loss, the Celtics went on a 16-game winning streak. This was the fourth-longest winning streak in team history. The Celtics finished the year with 55 wins, second in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, they beat the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. But they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Finals.

The Celtics finished the 2018–19 season with 49 wins. The team had a slow start but then won eight games in a row. During this streak, they beat the Chicago Bulls by 56 points. This set a record for the largest win margin in franchise history. The Celtics finished fourth in the Eastern Conference. In the 2019 playoffs, the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers. But they then lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Celtics had four picks in the 2019 NBA draft. They picked Romeo Langford and other players. During the 2019 off-season, Irving and Horford left the team. On June 30, 2019, the Celtics signed point guard Kemba Walker. On July 6, 2019, the Celtics officially got Walker in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. They also signed center Enes Kanter.

The Rise of Tatum and Brown (2019-2021)

After the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Celtics played in the NBA Bubble. In the 2020 playoffs, the Celtics swept the Philadelphia 76ers. They then beat the Toronto Raptors in seven games. But they lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston had many injuries in the 2020–21 season. Walker, Tatum, and Brown all missed games. Boston had to play in a special tournament to make the playoffs. They won that game. But they lost to the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs.

First Finals Appearance for "The Jays" (2021-22)

On June 2, 2021, the Celtics named head coach Brad Stevens as president of basketball operations. He replaced Danny Ainge, who retired. On June 18, Stevens made his first trade. He traded Kemba Walker and a draft pick for former Celtic Horford and Moses Brown. On June 23, 2021, Stevens hired Ime Udoka as the new head coach. Tatum made his third All-Star appearance.

In April 2022, the Celtics made the 2022 NBA playoffs as the second seed. They had a 51–31 record. They swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. They then faced the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat. They beat both teams in seven-game series. This earned the Celtics their first Finals appearance since 2010. The Celtics led the series 2–1 against the Golden State Warriors. But they lost the next three games and the series.

Conference Finals Loss (2022-23)

In September 2022, the Celtics suspended Udoka for the entire 2022–23 season. Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla became the interim head coach. On February 16, 2023, Mazzulla was named the permanent head coach. He had led the Celtics to the best record in the league at the All-Star break. The Celtics overcame a 3–2 deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals again. They fell behind 3–0 to the Miami Heat. They fought back to Game 7, thanks to a Derrick White shot at the buzzer in Game 6. But the Heat won Game 7, stopping the Celtics from making a historic comeback.

18th Championship for Boston (2023-24)

During the 2023 off-season, the Celtics got Kristaps Porziņģis from the Wizards. In that trade, they sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies. They also traded Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks. On October 1, 2023, the Celtics got Jrue Holiday in another trade. On February 7, 2024, the Celtics acquired Xavier Tillman.

The Celtics finished the 2023–24 regular season with the best record in the NBA, 64 wins and 18 losses. They entered the 2024 NBA playoffs. They defeated the Miami Heat in the first round. Then they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics won the Eastern Conference Finals on May 27, 2024. Jaylen Brown was named the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals. He received the Larry Bird trophy. The Celtics then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games to win the NBA Finals. This was their record-setting 18th championship. It broke the tie with the Lakers, who have 17 titles.

Rivalries

Los Angeles Lakers

The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers is one of the most famous in NBA history. These two teams have met a record twelve times in the NBA Finals. Their first Finals meeting was in 1959. They were the top teams in the 1960s and 1980s. They played each other six times in the Finals in the 1960s and three times in the 1980s. They also met in 2008 and 2010.

The Celtics won the first eight Finals matchups. The Lakers have won three of the last four. The rivalry became less intense after Magic Johnson and Larry Bird retired. But it was renewed in 2008 when the Celtics and Lakers met in the Finals again. The Celtics won that series. They faced off again in the 2010 NBA Finals, which the Lakers won. The Celtics and Lakers have the most championships in the NBA. The Celtics have 18 titles, and the Lakers have 17. Together, their 35 championships make up almost half of all NBA championships.

Other Notable Rivalries

The Celtics have also had rivalries with other teams:

• Atlanta Hawks: This rivalry has lasted over five decades. The teams have met many times in the playoffs, including four times in the NBA Finals. The Celtics have won most of these series.
• Brooklyn Nets: This rivalry was strong in the early 2000s. Both teams had rising stars. The Nets beat the Celtics in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals. The rivalry cooled down after a big trade in 2013 that sent Celtics stars to the Nets.
• Detroit Pistons: The rivalry between the Celtics and the Detroit Pistons was strongest in the 1980s. It featured players like Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas. They met in the playoffs five times in seven seasons. The Celtics won in 1985 and 1987. The Pistons won in 1988, 1989, and 1990. The Celtics beat the Pistons in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.
• New York Knicks: This rivalry comes from both teams being in the same division. It's one of many rivalries between Boston and New York sports teams. Both are original NBA teams that have stayed in their cities.
• Philadelphia 76ers: The Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers have played each other in the most playoff series in NBA history (22 times). The Celtics have won 15 of these series. This rivalry was at its peak when Bill Russell of the Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain of the 76ers played against each other in the 1960s.
• Washington Wizards: A more recent rivalry developed with the Washington Wizards. It became intense during the 2015–16 season with on-court arguments. The teams met in the 2017 Playoffs, with some physical play. The Celtics won that series.
• Miami Heat: The Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat developed a strong rivalry in the 2010s. Both teams had "Big Three" star groups. They met in the playoffs many times, including several Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics finally beat the Heat in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

Season-by-Season Records

Here are the results for the Celtics' last five seasons. For their full history, see List of Boston Celtics seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Season	GP	W	L	W–L%	Finish	Playoffs
2019–20	72	48	24	.667	2nd, Atlantic	Lost in Conference Finals, 2–4 (Heat)
2020–21	72	36	36	.500	4th, Atlantic	Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Nets)
2021–22	82	51	31	.622	1st, Atlantic	Lost in NBA Finals, 2–4 (Warriors)
2022–23	82	57	25	.695	1st, Atlantic	Lost in Conference Finals, 3–4 (Heat)
2023–24	82	64	18	.780	1st, Atlantic	NBA champions, 4–1 (Mavericks)

Team Achievements

The Celtics have won an NBA-record 18 championships. Many people connected to the Celtics are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The team has retired 23 jersey numbers, which is more than any other American sports team. The Celtics have won more regular season games than any other NBA team.

Hall of Fame Members

Many players, coaches, and contributors from the Boston Celtics have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Boston Celtics Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted	No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
22	Ed Macauley	F/C	1950–1956	1960	17	Andy Phillip	G	1956–1958	1961
14	Bob Cousy	G	1950–1963	1971	6	Bill Russell 3	C	1956–1969	1975
21	Bill Sharman	G	1951–1961	1976	23	Frank Ramsey	G/F	1954–1964	1982
24	Sam Jones	G/F	1957–1969	1984	17	John Havlicek	G/F	1962–1978	1984
15 20	Tom Heinsohn 1	F	1956–1965	1986	20	Bob Houbregs	C/F	1954	1987
44	Pete Maravich	G	1980	1987	4 34	Clyde Lovellette	C	1962–1964	1988
25 27	K. C. Jones	G	1958–1967	1989	44	Dave Bing	G	1977–1978	1990
18	Dave Cowens	F/C	1970–1980	1991	7	Nate Archibald	G	1978–1983	1991
5	Bill Walton	C	1985–1988	1993	18	Bailey Howell	F	1966–1970	1997
19	Arnie Risen	C	1955–1958	1998	33	Larry Bird 2	F	1979–1992	1998
32	Kevin McHale	F	1980–1993	1999	11	Bob McAdoo	C/F	1979	2000
00	Robert Parish	C	1980–1994	2003	12	Dominique Wilkins	F	1994–1995	2006
3	Dennis Johnson	G	1983–1990	2010	53	Artis Gilmore	C	1988	2011
20	Gary Payton	G	2004–2005	2013	10	Jo Jo White	G	1969–1979	2015
36	Shaquille O'Neal	C	2010–2011	2016	11	Charlie Scott	1975–1977	2018
40	Dino Rađa	F/C	1994–1997	2018	20	Ray Allen	G	2007–2012	2018
11	Chuck Cooper	F	1950–1954	2019	4	Carl Braun	G	1961–1962	2019
44	Paul Westphal	G	1972–1975	2019	5	Kevin Garnett	F	2007–2013	2020
34	Paul Pierce	F	1998–2013	2021	4	Chauncey Billups	G	1997–1998	2024
Coaches
Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted	Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted
Doggie Julian		Head coach	1948–1950	1968	2	Red Auerbach	Head coach	1950–1966	1969
Rick Pitino		Head coach	1997–2001	2013	Tom Heinsohn 1		Head coach	1969–1978	2015
Bill Fitch		Head coach	1979–1983	2019	Bill Russell 3		Head coach	1966–1969	2021
Contributors
Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted	Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted
1	Walter A. Brown	Owner	1945–1964	1965	Bill Mokray		Executive	1946–1969	1965
28	Wayne Embry	C	1966–1968	1999	Dave Gavitt		Executive	1990–1994	2006
16	Satch Sanders 4	F	1960–1973	2011	17	Don Barksdale	F	1953–1955	2012

Johnny Most and Mike Gorman also won awards for their great work as broadcasters. Most was the Celtics radio announcer for 37 years. Gorman was the television announcer for 40 years.

Notes:

• ¹ Heinsohn was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: as a player and as a coach.
• ² Bird was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: as a player and as a member of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ³ Russell was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: as a player and as a coach.
• ⁴ Sanders also coached the team in 1978.

FIBA Hall of Fame Members

FIBA, which manages international basketball, has also honored two Celtics players.

Boston Celtics FIBA Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
6	Bill Russell	C	1956–1969	2007
36	Shaquille O'Neal	C	2010–2011	2017

Home Arenas

Arena	Location	Duration
Boston Arena	Boston, Massachusetts	1946–1955
Boston Garden		1946–1995
TD Garden		1995–present

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Draft Rights Held

The Celtics hold the rights to players drafted who are playing outside the NBA. The team keeps these rights until one year after the player's contract with a non-NBA team ends.

Draft	Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Nationality	Current team	Note(s)	Ref
2021	2	45	Begarin, JuhannJuhann Begarin	G	France	AS Monaco (Monaco)
2020	2	47	Madar, YamYam Madar	G	Israel	Bayern Munich (Germany)

Team Captains

All-time team captains
Captain	Tenure
Bob Cousy	1950–1963
Frank Ramsey & Bill Russell	1963–1964
Bill Russell	1964–1966
John Havlicek	January 16, 1967–1978
Jo Jo White & Dave Cowens	October 17, 1978–November 14, 1978
Jo Jo White	November 14, 1978 – January 30, 1979
Dave Cowens & Chris Ford	January 31, 1979–1979
Dave Cowens	1979 – October 1, 1980
Larry Bird	1983–1992
Reggie Lewis	1992–1993
Robert Parish	1993–1994
Dominique Wilkins & Dee Brown	1994–1995
Dee Brown	1995–1996
Rick Fox	1996–1997
Dee Brown & Antoine Walker	October 8, 1997–December 2, 1997
Dee Brown, Antoine Walker, & Pervis Ellison	December 2, 1997-February 18, 1998
Antoine Walker and Pervis Ellison	February 18, 1998 – 1998
Antoine Walker	1998–1999
Antoine Walker & Dana Barros	1999–2000
Antoine Walker & Paul Pierce	2000–2003
Paul Pierce	2003–2013
Rajon Rondo	January 17, 2014 – December 19, 2014

Franchise Leaders

Bold means the player is still active with the team.

Italic means the player is still active but not with the team.

Points Scored (Regular Season) (as of the end of the 2023–24 season)

Other Statistics (Regular Season) (as of the end of the 2023–24 season)

Coaches

Head Coaches

The Celtics have had 18 head coaches. Red Auerbach is the most successful coach, winning 9 NBA championships. Celtics legend Bill Russell coached the team to 2 NBA championships while also playing. Tom Heinsohn and K. C. Jones each won 2 NBA titles as coaches. Bill Fitch and Doc Rivers each led the Celtics to 1 NBA championship. Joe Mazzulla is the team's current head coach.

Logos and Uniforms

Logos

The Boston Celtics logo features a leprechaun named Lucky spinning a basketball. It was designed by Zang Auerbach, brother of coach Red Auerbach. For many years, the logo was green, white, and black. For the team's 50th anniversary in 1996–97, more colors were added, like tan for Lucky's skin and gold for his clothes.

The Celtics also have other logos. A popular one is a white shamrock with "Celtics" written above it, inside a green circle. This has been used since 1998–99. A new secondary logo was shown in 2014. It is a silhouette of the leprechaun logo.

Uniforms

Primary Uniforms

For most of their history, the Celtics wore green uniforms for away games and white for home games. The basic design of their uniforms was set early on. They made small changes to the letters and stripes over time.

Some changes included switching to simpler block letters in 1968. Player names were added in 1972. The three-leaf shamrock logo was added in 1998. The white uniforms stayed mostly the same. The green uniforms sometimes had the city name ("Boston") and sometimes the team name ("Celtics").

When Nike became the NBA's uniform maker in 2017, they changed how uniforms were named. White uniforms became "Association" uniforms, and green ones became "Icon" uniforms. Both can now be worn at home or away.

In 2017, the Celtics partnered with General Electric. The GE logo was placed on the left shoulder of the jerseys. This was the first time a company logo appeared on game uniforms. The Nike logo is on the right shoulder. In 2020, Vistaprint became the main jersey sponsor. In 2024, Amica Mutual Insurance took over as the jersey sponsor.

Alternate Uniforms

From 2005 to 2017, the Celtics wore alternate green uniforms. These had black letters and trim with "Boston" on the front. They also had black panels with a green shamrock, like early Celtics uniforms.

A gray uniform set was used from 2014 to 2017. These "Parquet Pride" uniforms had sleeves. They featured white letters with green trim and a parquet-like pattern on the sides.

Since 2017, the Celtics wear black "Statement" uniforms. These have "Celtics" in green letters with white trim. Starting in 2020, these uniforms also feature the Air Jordan brand logo.

Special Uniforms

Between 2006 and 2017, the Celtics wore special St. Patrick's Day uniforms. These were green with gold and white trim.

During the 2007 NBA Europe Live Tour, the Celtics wore special versions of their uniforms. In Rome, they had the colors of the Italian flag on their logos. In London, they had a Union Jack patch.

For the 2008–09 season opener, the Celtics wore gold-accented home uniforms to celebrate their championship.

The Celtics have also worn special Christmas Day uniforms since 2008–09. These often had snowflake designs or special colors.

Starting in 2017–18, the Celtics wore "City" uniforms designed by Nike. Their first "City" uniforms were gray with a parquet floor pattern. They also included Red Auerbach's signature. For 2018–19, they wore white "City" uniforms with green and gold. They also had "Earned" uniforms, which were green with gold. Both were inspired by old team warmup jackets.

The "City" uniform for 2019–20 was green with gold and black letters. It had a Celtic knot shamrock on the shorts.

The 2020–21 "City" uniform was inspired by the 17 championship banners in TD Garden. It was white with green stripes and Red Auerbach's quote. They also had a dark green "Earned" uniform.

The 2021–22 "City" uniform mixed different old designs. It honored the team's 75th anniversary. It also included the original "jumping leprechaun" logo.

The 2022–23 "City" uniform honored Bill Russell, who passed away. It was dark green with gold and black. It had 11 gold diamonds for his 11 championships.

The "City" uniform in the 2023–24 season honored the origins of basketball. It was white with dark green letters and brown trim. It also had wood grain accents. The Celtics also had a special court for the 2023 NBA in-season tournament.

For the 2024–25 "City" uniform, the Celtics used a black base with "Action green" (neon green) letters and futuristic numbers.

Memorial Patches

The Celtics have worn special patches to remember important people. In 2006–07, they wore a black shamrock with "Red" for Red Auerbach. They have also worn black bands for other team members who passed away. In 2019–20, they wore black bands for former NBA commissioner David Stern and Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. They also wore a black band for the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. In 2022–23, the Celtics wore a black number 6 patch for Bill Russell.

Uniform Traditions

The team used to wear black sneakers for most of their history. This tradition started because Red Auerbach thought white sneakers got dirty easily. In the 1970s, they tried green sneakers but went back to black.

Before the 2003–04 season, the team started wearing white sneakers for home games. They still wore black for away games. Since 2009–10, NBA rules changed. Now, Celtics players can wear custom-made sneakers in different colors.

The Celtics were also the only team to wear warmup jackets with player names on the back. They kept this tradition for a long time before changing to a common jacket design in 2012.

Television and Radio

NBC Sports Boston is where you can watch Boston Celtics games on TV. They have shown games since 1981.

For the 2024–25 season, Drew Carter is the TV play-by-play announcer. Brian Scalabrine is the analyst.

All Celtics games are on the radio through Beasley Broadcast Group's WBZ-FM (98.5 FM). Sean Grande does the play-by-play, and Cedric Maxwell provides commentary. This has been the setup since 2013–14. The games are broadcast across New England.

Long-time announcers Johnny Most and Mike Gorman have won awards for their great broadcasting. Most was the radio announcer from 1953 to 1990. Gorman was the TV announcer from 1981 to 2024.

Team Management

Ownership History

Ownership history
Owner	Tenure
Boston Garden-Arena Corporation	June 6, 1946 – July 31, 1950
Walter A. Brown/Lou Pieri	July 31, 1950 – September 7, 1964
Lou Pieri and Marjorie Brown, wife of team founder	September 7, 1964 – June 24, 1965
Marvin Kratter/Knickerbocker Brewing Company	June 24, 1965 – 1968
Ballantine Brewery	1968–1969 1971–1972
Trans-National Communications	1969–1971
Irv Levin and Harold Lipton	April 1972 – May 1972* November 1975 – 1978
Robert Schmertz/Leisure Technology	May 1972 – January 1975
Robert Schmertz/Leisure Technology, Irv Levin, and Harold Lipton	January 1975 – November 1975
John Y. Brown, Jr. and Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.	1978–1979
Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.	1979–1983
Don Gaston, Alan N. Cohen, Paul Dupee	1983–1993
Paul Gaston	1993–2002
Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C.	December 2002 – present

*Sale not approved by NBA

Team Presidents

All-time Team presidents
President	Tenure
Walter A. Brown	1946–1963
Louis Pieri	1963–1965
Jack Waldron	1965–1967 1968–1970
Clarence H. Adams	1967–1968
Red Auerbach	1970–1997 2001–2006
Rick Pitino	1997–2001
Rich Gotham	2007–present

General Managers

GM history
GM	Tenure
Walter A. Brown	1946–1951
Red Auerbach	1951–1984
Jan Volk	1984–1997
Chris Wallace	1997–2007
Danny Ainge	2007–2021

Other Key Roles

Name	Position	Tenure
Dave Gavitt	CEO	1990–1994
Larry Bird	Special assistant to front office	1992–1997
M. L. Carr	Director of basketball operations	1994–1997
Danny Ainge	President of basketball operations	2003–2021
Brad Stevens	President of basketball operations	2021–present

Images for kids

• 

  Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers being defended by Celtics' center Bill Russell in 1966.

See also

In Spanish: Boston Celtics para niños

• The Auerbach Center, official Celtics practice facility (opened June 2018)
• The Sports Museum (at TD Garden)
• List of Boston Celtics head coaches
• Boston Celtics draft history
• Celtics–Lakers rivalry
• Celtics–Knicks rivalry
• Celtics–Pistons rivalry
• 76ers–Celtics rivalry
• Boston Celtics all-time roster
• Boston Garden
• TD Garden
• Boston Celtics Radio Network
• Sports in Boston
• Sports in Massachusetts
• List of NBA champions