History of the Boston Celtics facts for kids
The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, USA. They started in 1946 as one of the first teams in the Basketball Association of America (BAA). Later, in 1949, they joined the National Basketball Association (NBA) when the BAA merged with another league. The Celtics play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. They are tied with the Lakers for the most NBA championships, with 17 titles!
A big part of their success came between 1957 and 1969, when they won 11 championships. This amazing period was led by star player Bill Russell and coach/general manager Red Auerbach. The Celtics won two more titles in the 1970s and three more in the 1980s, with Larry Bird as their leader. After a long wait, they won their most recent title in 2008.
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Early Years: Building a Strong Team (1946–1956)
The Celtics began in 1946. They became part of the NBA in 1949. In 1950, the Celtics made history by being the first team to draft an African American player, Chuck Cooper.
The team struggled at first. But everything changed when Red Auerbach became their coach. One of the first big players to join was Bob Cousy. Auerbach didn't want to draft Cousy at first, but he ended up on the Celtics. Cousy became a huge part of the team's success. Under Auerbach, the Celtics got much better. They were a strong team in the Eastern Division for six seasons, but they couldn't win a championship yet.
After the 1955–56 season, Auerbach made a big trade. He traded star player Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks. In return, he got the Hawks' first draft pick. Auerbach used this pick to choose Bill Russell, a talented center from the University of San Francisco. He also got Tommy Heinsohn, who was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. Russell and Heinsohn worked very well with Cousy. These players became the core of the Celtics for over ten years. Russell joined the team in the middle of the 1957 season after playing in the Olympics. He made an immediate impact.
The Golden Age: A Dynasty Begins (1957–1969)
Russell joined the Celtics in December 1956. He helped them reach the NBA Finals. They beat the St. Louis Hawks in seven games. This was the Celtics' first of their record 17 NBA Championships. In 1958, they reached the Finals again but lost to the Hawks.
With the addition of K.C. Jones that year, the Celtics started an amazing winning streak. In 1959, with Cousy, Russell, and Heinsohn, the Celtics won the NBA Championship. They swept the Minneapolis Lakers. Still coached by Auerbach, the Celtics won seven more championships in a row. This made their streak eight consecutive titles! During this time, they often played the Lakers in the Finals. This started a big rivalry. In 1964, Auerbach made the Celtics the first team to have an all-African American starting lineup.
After the 1966 championship, Auerbach retired as coach. Russell then became the player-coach. This made Russell the first African American coach in any major sport. Auerbach stayed on as the general manager. In 1967, the Celtics' championship streak ended when they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the aging team still won two more championships in 1968 and 1969. They beat the Lakers both times in the NBA Finals.
Russell retired after the 1969 season. This ended a truly dominant era for the Celtics. They had won 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons! Their streak of 8 consecutive championships is the longest in U.S. professional sports history. Other important players from this time included Sam Jones, John Havlicek, and John Havlicek.
Rebuilding for Success (1970–1978)
The 1970 season was a rebuilding year. The Celtics had their first losing record since 1950. But with new players like Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, and Jo Jo White, the Celtics quickly became strong again. In 1973, they had an excellent 68–14 record. But they lost in the Conference Finals.
The Celtics returned to the playoffs the next year. They defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals in 1974. This was their 12th NBA Championship. Cowens was the hero in Game 7, scoring 28 points. In 1976, the team won another championship. They beat the Phoenix Suns in 6 games. Tommy Heinsohn coached the team for these two championships. After 1976, Boston entered another rebuilding phase.
In 1977, the Celtics drafted Cedric Maxwell. He showed promise for the future. The team struggled in 1977–78, going 32–50. John Havlicek, the Celtics' all-time leading scorer, retired after 16 seasons.
The Larry Bird Era (1979–1992)
Thanks to a trade and their poor record, the Celtics had two high draft picks in 1978. Coach Auerbach took a risk. He picked Larry Bird from Indiana State, knowing Bird would stay in college for another year. Auerbach believed Bird's talent was worth the wait. Bird signed with the Celtics after leading his college team to the NCAA Championship game.
Before the 1978–79 season, the Celtics got a new owner. This led to some player changes. The team struggled without Bird, going 29–53.
Bird finally joined the Celtics for the 1979–80 season. With a new owner, Auerbach made more smart moves. He traded Bob McAdoo for M.L. Carr and two first-round draft picks. He also got Gerald Henderson. Carr, Archibald, Henderson, and Ford formed a strong group of guards. They blended perfectly with the talented frontcourt of Cowens, Maxwell, and Bird. Bird won NBA Rookie of the Year honors. The Celtics improved by 32 wins, going 61–21. They lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
After the season, Auerbach made one of the best trades ever. He sent two draft picks to the Golden State Warriors. In return, he got Robert Parish and another first-round pick. With that pick, Auerbach selected Kevin McHale. These additions, along with Bird, gave the Celtics three future Hall of Famers. They became known as the "Big Three." They led the Celtics to three NBA championships in the 1980s.
The Celtics went 62–20 in 1980–81. They faced the 76ers again in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics came back from being down 3-1 to win a thrilling Game 7. They then won the 1981 NBA Championship over the Houston Rockets. Maxwell was named NBA Finals MVP.
The Celtics reached the Eastern Conference finals in 1982 but lost. The next season, they lost badly in the playoffs. Coach Bill Fitch was fired, and K.C. Jones became the new head coach. The Celtics also traded for Dennis Johnson, a former Finals MVP. With Johnson, the Celtics had strong guards to go with their talented frontcourt.
In 1983–84, the Celtics went 62–20. They returned to the NBA Finals. They defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, winning their 15th championship. Bird renewed his college rivalry with Lakers star Magic Johnson during this series.
In 1985, the Lakers and Celtics met again, but the Lakers won the championship. The Celtics then got Bill Walton from the Los Angeles Clippers. Walton was a star but had many injuries. He was a Celtics fan and was happy to come off the bench. Walton was a big part of the Celtics' success in 1986.
In 1985–86, the Celtics had one of the best teams ever. They won 67 games, including 40–1 at their home, the Boston Garden. Bird won his third straight MVP award. Walton won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. They won their 16th championship, easily beating the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals.
A Tragic Loss and Continued Challenges
After their championship, the Celtics had the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft. They drafted Len Bias, a promising star from the University of Maryland. Fans hoped he would be a perfect partner for the aging Celtics stars. However, Bias died tragically just two days after he was drafted.
Despite this loss, the Celtics remained competitive in 1986–87. They went 59–23 and won the Eastern Conference Championship. But in the Finals, the tired and injured Celtics faced a strong Los Angeles Lakers team. Many players were hurt, and the Celtics lost the series.
The Celtics started the 1987–88 season with more injuries. They drafted Reggie Lewis, a promising young player. Coach K.C. Jones relied heavily on his veteran players. The team won another division title, finishing 57–25. However, the veterans seemed tired in the playoffs. The Celtics struggled to beat the Atlanta Hawks in a tough seven-game series. They then lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.
After the 1987–88 season, Coach K.C. Jones retired. He had led the Celtics to two championships. Assistant coach Jimmy Rodgers took over. In 1988–89, Bird had surgery and missed most of the season. The Celtics struggled, finishing 42–40 and losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Bird returned in 1989–90. The Celtics had a 52–30 record. But in the playoffs, they lost to the New York Knicks. Rodgers was fired and replaced by former Celtic player Chris Ford.
Under Ford, the Celtics improved to 56–26 in 1990–91. They won the Atlantic Division title. Bird missed many games due to injuries, especially back problems. Reggie Lewis became a star during this time. In the playoffs, the Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers in a tough Game 5. Bird got a concussion but returned to help the team win. They then lost to the Detroit Pistons.
In 1992, the Celtics finished 51–31 and won their division again. They swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round. But they lost a long 7-game series to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Larry Bird played in only 45 regular season games due to his back. After winning a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics with the "Dream Team," Bird retired in 1992 because of his back injuries.
Challenges and Rebuilding (1993–2001)
After Bird retired, Reggie Lewis was seen as the next star for the Celtics. He had led the team in scoring and made the All-Star team. However, Lewis fainted during a playoff game in 1993. It was found he had heart problems. Sadly, he died of a heart attack during the offseason. The Celtics retired his number 35 to honor him.
The team faced more challenges. Kevin McHale retired after 13 seasons. The "Big Three" era was truly over. Robert Parish also left as a free agent. The Celtics missed the playoffs for the first time since 1979.
In 1994, former player M.L. Carr became the team's new General Manager. The Celtics drafted Eric Montross. 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 a new arena, the Fleet Center (now the TD Banknorth Garden). Carr became the coach. The Celtics struggled, winning only 33 games. Things got worse in 1996–97, as they lost a record 67 games, winning only 15 times. However, Antoine Walker emerged as a new star.
The Pitino Years
The Celtics hired Rick Pitino as their president, general manager, and head coach. Pitino was a very successful college coach. Many hoped he would save the team. The Celtics had a good chance to get the first pick in the 1997 NBA draft, but the San Antonio Spurs won it and drafted Tim Duncan.
The Celtics got the third and sixth picks. They drafted Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. They hoped these players would team up with Antoine Walker. But Billups was traded quickly, and Mercer was traded later. The team still had a promising start, beating the defending champions Chicago Bulls on opening night. They improved from 15 to 36 wins.
The next year, the Celtics drafted Paul Pierce. He was expected to be drafted higher. Pierce made an immediate impact in the 1998–99 NBA season. But the team continued to struggle. Pitino's promises of improvement didn't happen. He resigned in January 2001. Assistant coach Jim O'Brien took over. Chris Wallace became the general manager.
Trying to Rebuild (2001–2006)
Back to Being Competitive – The O'Brien Years
After Rick Pitino left, the Celtics got much better under coach Jim O'Brien. Paul Pierce became an NBA star. Antoine Walker and other players helped him. The team finished the season strong. O'Brien was given the head coach job permanently. The Celtics had three picks in the 2001 NBA draft. They picked Joe Johnson, Joe Forte, and Kedrick Brown.
The Celtics had low expectations for the 2001–02. But they surprised everyone by doing very well. They won 49 games, their most since 1992. The Celtics made the playoffs for the first time since 1995.
The Celtics won a tough series against the 76ers. Pierce scored 46 points in the final game. In the next round, they beat the Detroit Pistons. In their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1988, the Celtics took a 2–1 lead over the New Jersey Nets. But they lost the next three games and the series.
After this, the Celtics changed their roster again. In 2003, the Celtics were sold to new owners. The team made it back to the playoffs but were swept by the Nets.
Before their elimination, Danny Ainge was hired to run the front office. Ainge believed the team needed big changes. He traded Antoine Walker to the Dallas Mavericks. In return, the Celtics got Raef LaFrentz and a draft pick.
Rebuilding Again – The Ainge Years
Ainge continued to change the team. He traded Eric Williams and others to Cleveland. In return, they got Ricky Davis. Coach O'Brien stepped down and was replaced by John Carroll.
Davis was an exciting player, but the team struggled. Still, with Pierce playing well and Davis scoring, the Celtics aimed for the playoffs. They made the playoffs but were swept by the Indiana Pacers.
Ainge received criticism for changing the team so much. But he tried to improve it through the draft. He added young players like Al Jefferson, Delonte West, and Tony Allen. He also acquired veterans Gary Payton and Rick Fox. Fox retired, and Payton eventually played for the team.
The Celtics were a young team under new coach Doc Rivers. They had a core of good young players, led by Al Jefferson, and some veterans. Before the 2005 trade deadline, the Celtics got Antoine Walker back. With Walker, the Celtics improved greatly. They went 45–37 and won their first Atlantic Division title since 1992. But the Pacers defeated them in the first round again.
After the 2004–05 season, Walker left again. Ainge brought in more young players like Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes. He also signed veteran Brian Scalabrine.
During the 2005–06 season, Ainge traded Davis and others for Wally Szczerbiak. Many doubted this decision. But Ainge said he was committed to rebuilding around team captain Paul Pierce. Despite Pierce's great play, the Celtics missed the 2006 playoffs with a 33–49 record.
The 2006 Off-Season
The Celtics continued to rebuild in the 2006 NBA draft. Danny Ainge traded the rights to the seventh pick for Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff. He also traded a first-round pick for the rights to Rajon Rondo. In the second round, the Celtics added Leon Powe.
The 2006–07 Season
The 2006–07 season was tough. It began with the death of Red Auerbach at age 89. The Celtics struggled after Paul Pierce got injured. They had a record of 24–58, the second-worst in the NBA. This included a franchise record 18-game losing streak. Gerald Green won the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend.
On February 22, 2007, former Celtic Dennis Johnson died. He was honored by the team. A bright spot was when the Celtics beat the eventual champions San Antonio Spurs on St. Patrick's Day.
Back to Being Important (2007–Present)
The 2007–08 Season: Back to Glory
In May 2007, the Celtics got the 5th pick in the NBA draft lottery. On June 28, the Celtics traded this pick and other players for All-Star Ray Allen. In the second round, they drafted Gabe Pruitt and Glen "Big Baby" Davis. On July 31, the Celtics made a huge trade for 10-time All-Star Kevin Garnett. He came from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for several players and draft picks.
Adding Garnett to All-Stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen created a new "Big Three." This brought the Celtics back into the spotlight. The team also signed James Posey, who greatly improved their bench.
The Celtics started the season strong, winning their first eight games. They went into 2008 with a 26–3 record. They finished the regular season with a league-best 66–16 record. This was their most wins since their 1986 championship season. This record gave them home court advantage for the entire playoffs.
The 2008 NBA Playoffs were tougher than expected. In the first round, they faced the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics dominated at home but lost in Atlanta. The series went seven games, with the home team winning every game. The second round against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers also went to seven games, with the home team winning each time.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the Detroit Pistons. The Celtics lost Game 2 at home, making some worry they were too tired. But the Celtics bounced back. They won Game 3 on the road and eventually defeated the Pistons in six games, winning the deciding game away from home.
The 2008 NBA Finals were against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics dominated the first two games at home. In Game 1, Paul Pierce returned after an injury and led the Celtics to a win. In Game 2, Boston almost lost a big lead but won. The Lakers won Game 3. In Game 4, the Lakers took a 24-point lead.
However, the Celtics made an amazing comeback. Led by their bench players, they won Game 4 by 97–91. This was the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history. The Lakers won Game 5. But the series returned to Boston for Game 6. The Celtics finished it off with a dominating 131–92 victory. This was the largest winning margin for a clinching Finals game ever. The "Boston Three Party" (Garnett, Allen, and Finals MVP Paul Pierce) brought the 17th championship banner to Boston. It was their first win in 22 years. The Celtics played 26 playoff games, the most a team had ever played to win a championship.
After the Championship
The Celtics continued their strong play after the championship. They won their division with a 62–20 record. But Kevin Garnett missed the entire playoffs due to injury. In the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, they faced the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls surprised them with overtime wins. Ray Allen scored 51 points in Game 6, but the Bulls won in triple overtime. The Celtics eventually won Game 7.
In the second round, Boston faced the Orlando Magic. This series also went to seven games. The Magic defeated the Celtics in Boston, ending their chance for a second straight title.
Before the 2009–10 season, Boston signed Rasheed Wallace. They won their division again with a 50–32 record. They beat Miami and the Cavaliers in the playoffs. After beating the Magic, the Celtics faced the Lakers again in the Finals. But they lost 4–3.
In 2010, the Celtics signed veteran center Shaquille O'Neal. They won the division again with a 56–26 record. After sweeping the Knicks, they faced the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. The Celtics' older roster struggled, and Miami won the series. O'Neal, who was often injured, retired soon after.
The Celtics continued to make changes. They signed new players and traded others. Jeff Green returned to play after a heart issue. The Celtics started the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season slowly. But they played much better after the All-Star break. They won their fifth division title in a row and made the playoffs.
In the playoffs, the Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks. In the next round, they beat the Philadelphia 76ers in a tough seven-game series. The Celtics then faced the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. After losing the first two games, Boston fought back to tie the series. They won Game 5 in Miami, giving them a chance to win the series at home. But the Celtics could not close it out. They lost Game 6 at home and Game 7 in Miami. Miami went on to win the Finals.
The End of the "Big Three"
2012 was a big year for the Celtics. Both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett became free agents. Garnett re-signed, but Allen chose to sign with the Miami Heat. This ended the five-year "Big Three" era. The Celtics also drafted new players and signed others.
Later in the season, Rajon Rondo tore a ligament in his knee and missed the rest of the season. Jared Sullinger also missed the rest of the season due to back surgery. Despite these injuries, the Celtics had a seven-game winning streak.
The Celtics finished the season with 41 wins. They played only 81 games because one game was canceled after the Boston Marathon bombing. The Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
On June 3, 2013, head coach Doc Rivers left to coach the Los Angeles Clippers. A few days later, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, along with Jason Terry, were traded to the Brooklyn Nets. This trade officially ended the "Big Three" era and started a new focus on young players for the team. One of these young players was 2013 draft pick Kelly Olynyk.
The Brad Stevens and Isaiah Thomas Years (2013–2017)
On July 3, 2013, Brad Stevens, a college coach, was hired to replace Doc Rivers. In January, the Celtics traded some players for draft picks. On January 19, Rajon Rondo returned from his knee injury. He was named the new Captain of the Boston Celtics. The 2013–14 season was the first time Boston missed the playoffs since 2007.
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The next offseason, the Celtics drafted Marcus Smart and James Young. They also signed Evan Turner. In December 2014, Rondo was traded to Dallas. The Celtics made several other trades, acquiring Isaiah Thomas, Luigi Datome, and Jonas Jerebko. The Celtics finished the season with a 40–42 record but still made the playoffs. They were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs.
In the 2015 NBA draft, Boston selected Terry Rozier and other players. In the 2015–16 season, Boston made the playoffs again under Stevens. They finished fifth and faced the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks beat them in six games. The following offseason, the Celtics signed free agent center Al Horford from the Hawks.
The Brown and Tatum Era (2017–Present)
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In the 2016 NBA draft, the Celtics selected Jaylen Brown with the third pick. In July 2016, they signed four-time All-Star Al Horford. The Celtics finished the 2016–17 season with a 53–29 record, earning the top spot in the Eastern Conference. After Isaiah Thomas got injured, 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 offseason, the team signed Gordon Hayward. On August 22, 2017, the Celtics traded Isaiah Thomas and others to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.
By the end of the offseason, only four Celtics players remained from the previous season. On opening night, Hayward suffered a serious leg injury and was out for the season. Despite this, the Celtics went on a 16-game winning streak, their fourth-longest ever. The Celtics finished the year with a 55–27 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. But they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the Conference Finals.
The Celtics finished the 2018–19 season with a 49–33 record. They had a strong winning streak in November, including a record 56-point victory over the Chicago Bulls. In the 2019 playoffs, the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers. But they then lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
The Celtics had four picks in the 2019 NBA draft. They drafted Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, and others. During the 2019 offseason, Irving and Horford left the team. On June 30, 2019, the Celtics signed point guard Kemba Walker. They also signed center Enes Kanter.
After the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Celtics played in the NBA Bubble. In the 2020 playoffs, they swept the Philadelphia 76ers. They beat the Toronto Raptors in seven games. But they lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston struggled with injuries in the 2020–21 season. They lost to the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs.
On June 2, 2021, head coach Brad Stevens became the president of basketball operations. On June 18, Stevens traded Kemba Walker and a draft pick for Al Horford and Moses Brown. On June 23, 2021, Stevens hired Ime Udoka as the new head coach. Jayson Tatum made his third All-Star appearance in 2022.
In April 2022, the Celtics made the 2022 NBA playoffs as the second seed. They swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. They then defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat in seven-game series. This earned the Celtics their first Finals appearance since 2010. The Celtics took a 2–1 series lead but lost to the Golden State Warriors 4–2.
In September 2022, the Celtics suspended Udoka for the entire 2022–23 season for violating team rules. Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla became the interim head coach. On February 16, 2023, Mazzulla was named the permanent head coach. After overcoming a 3–2 deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics fell behind 3–0 to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. They fought back to Game 7 but lost, preventing the first 3–0 comeback in NBA history.
During the 2023 offseason, the Celtics acquired Kristaps Porziņģis. They also traded Marcus Smart and Grant Williams. On October 1, 2023, the Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday. On February 7, 2024, they acquired Xavier Tillman.
The Celtics finished the 2023–24 regular season with the best record in the NBA, 64–18. In the 2024 NBA playoffs, they defeated the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics won the Eastern Conference Finals on May 27th, 2024. Jaylen Brown was named the NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP, receiving the Larry Bird trophy for the first time.
