Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1946 as one of the NBA's original eight teams, they compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The Celtics are widely regarded as the most successful franchise in NBA history, holding the record for the most championships (18) and the most regular-season wins of any team. Their name and mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun, pay homage to Boston's large Irish population and the Original Celtics, a barnstorming team from the early 1900s.

The Celtics play their home games at TD Garden, a venue they share with the NHL's Boston Bruins. Previously, they called Boston Garden home from 1946 to 1995, and also played at Matthews Arena and the XL Center. The team's head coach is Joe Mazzulla, who took over during the 2022-23 season. Notable past coaches include Red Auerbach, Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, and Doc Rivers.

The Celtics' most famous rivalry is with the Los Angeles Lakers, a matchup that has defined the NBA for decades. The two teams have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, with Boston winning nine of those series. Other rivalries include the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks. Fan traditions include the playing of "Dirty Water" by The Standells after home wins and the "Beat L.A." chant during games against the Lakers.[edit]

The Celtics' dynasty began after Red Auerbach acquired Bill Russell in 1956. With Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn, the team won its first championship in 1957. From 1959 to 1966, they won eight straight NBA titles, the longest streak in league history, with a supporting cast of future Hall of Famers including John Havlicek, Sam Jones, and Bill Sharman. Russell became the first African American head coach in major U.S. sports in 1966 and led the team to back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969.

After Russell retired in 1969, the Celtics rebuilt and won championships in 1974 and 1976 under Tom Heinsohn, with Dave Cowens, Havlicek, and Jo Jo White leading the way. In the 1980s, the Big Three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish sparked a renewed rivalry with the Showtime Lakers, winning titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986. Following the retirements of Bird and McHale, the tragic death of Len Bias, and the sudden passing of Reggie Lewis, the team struggled through the 1990s and early 2000s.

The franchise rebuilt again in 2007 by acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to join Paul Pierce, forming a new Big Three. Under Doc Rivers, they defeated the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals for their 17th championship and returned to the Finals in 2010, losing to the Lakers. After the Big Three era ended, the Celtics traded Garnett and Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets for four future first-round picks. Those picks helped draft Jaylen Brown in 2016 and Jayson Tatum in 2017. Led by the Jays, the team reached the Finals in 2022, losing to the Golden State Warriors, then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 to win their 18th championship.[edit]