History of Boston Celtics in Timeline

The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, competing in the NBA's Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946 as one of the NBA's original teams, they play home games at TD Garden. The Celtics hold the record for most NBA championships won with 18 and the most recorded wins of any NBA franchise, making them one of the most successful teams in NBA history.

June 6, 1946: Formation of the Boston Celtics

On June 6, 1946, the Boston Celtics were formed by Walter A. Brown as a team in the Basketball Association of America.

1946: Celtics Founded

In 1946, the Boston Celtics were founded as one of the league's original eight teams. They are an American professional basketball team based in Boston and compete in the NBA.

1946: Death of Red Auerbach

In 2006-07, Red Auerbach died at 89. Auerbach was one of the few remaining people who had been a part of the NBA since its inception in 1946.

1948: First Playoff Appearance

In 1948, the Boston Celtics made their first playoff appearance, losing to the Chicago Stags 4–1.

August 3, 1949: Joining the National Basketball Association

On August 3, 1949, the Boston Celtics became part of the National Basketball Association following the merger of the BAA and rival National Basketball League.

1949: First losing record

The Celtics had their first losing record since the 1949–50 season.

1950: Signing Chuck Cooper

In 1950, the Boston Celtics signed Chuck Cooper, becoming the first NBA franchise to draft a black player.

1953: Johnny Most became radio announcer

In 1953, Johnny Most became the Boston Celtics' radio announcer.

1955: Trade involving Ed Macauley

After the 1955–56 season, Auerbach made a trade, sending Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks along with the draft rights to Cliff Hagan.

1956: Acquisition of Bill Russell

In 1956, coach Red Auerbach acquired Bill Russell, who became the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty.

1957: First NBA Title

In 1957, With Bill Russell, the Celtics advanced to the 1957 NBA Finals and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, earning their first NBA title.

1958: Acquisition of K.C. Jones

Following the acquisition of K.C. Jones in 1958, the Celtics began a dynasty that would last for more than a decade.

1958: NBA Finals Loss

In 1958, the Celtics again advanced to the NBA Finals, this time losing to the Hawks in 6 games.

1959: First NBA Finals Meeting with the Lakers

In 1959, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers began their rivalry, meeting for the first time in the NBA Finals.

1959: Start of Eight Consecutive NBA Championships

In 1959, the Boston Celtics began a period of dominance, winning the first of eight consecutive NBA championships.

1959: NBA Championship

In 1959, the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship after sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers.

December 26, 1964: First All African-American Starting Lineup

On December 26, 1964, the Boston Celtics became the first NBA team to have an all African-American starting lineup when Willie Naulls replaced an injured Tom Heinsohn.

1965: Auerbach Retires as Coach

After the 1965–66 season, Auerbach retired as coach.

1966: Eighth Consecutive NBA Championship

In 1966, the Boston Celtics concluded a period of dominance, winning their eighth consecutive NBA championship.

1967: 76ers win NBA Finals

In 1967, The Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA Finals, and were the only team to prevent the Celtics from winning every NBA Finals series in the 1960s.

1967: Loss in Eastern Conference Finals

In 1967, the Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals, ending their string of NBA titles.

1968: NBA Championship

In 1968, the Celtics won another NBA championship.

1969: Russell Retires and Championship

In 1969, the Boston Celtics won another NBA championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. After the 1969 season, Russell retired, effectively ending a Celtics dynasty.

1969: Back-to-Back Titles and Russell's Retirement

In 1969, the Boston Celtics won another championship. Following this win, Russell retired, marking the end of the Celtics dynasty.

1969: First Losing Record Since 1950

The 1969–70 season was a rebuilding year, as the Celtics had their first losing record since the 1949–50 season.

1972: Loss in Eastern Conference Finals

In 1972, the Boston Celtics lost in the Eastern Conference Finals.

1973: Excellent Regular Season Record

In 1973, the Boston Celtics posted an excellent 68–14 regular season record.

1974: NBA Championship

In 1974, led by head coach Tom Heinsohn and players Dave Cowens, John Havlicek, and Jo Jo White, the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship.

1976: NBA Championship

In 1976, the Boston Celtics won another NBA championship, led by head coach Tom Heinsohn and players Dave Cowens, John Havlicek, and Jo Jo White.

1977: Bill Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA championship

In 1977, Bill Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA championship, where he was an All-Star and league MVP.

1977: Drafting Cedric Maxwell and Havlicek's Retirement

In 1977, the Boston Celtics drafted Cedric Maxwell. After the 1977 season, John Havlicek retired after 16 seasons.

1978: Drafting Larry Bird and Owner Trade

In 1978, the Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird. Celtics owner Irv Levin also traded franchises with Buffalo Braves owner John Y. Brown Jr.

February 1979: Acquisition of Bob McAdoo

In February 1979, Celtics owner John Y. Brown Jr. acquired Bob McAdoo without consulting Auerbach.

1979: Auerbach's Moves to Rebuild the Team

In 1979, with a new owner in place, Auerbach made moves to rebuild the team including trading McAdoo.

1980: Larry Bird's Debut and Playoff Run

During the 1979–80 season, Larry Bird debuted for the Celtics. The team went 61–21 and fell to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

1980: Celtics Season and Eastern Conference Finals

In 1980–81, the Celtics went 62–20. They faced the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

1981: Playoff Appearance

Following the 1981–82 season, the Celtics once again met the 76ers in the playoffs.

1981: Mike Gorman served as television announcer

In 1981, Mike Gorman began serving as the Boston Celtics' television announcer.

1981: NBC Sports Boston aired games

In 1981, NBC Sports Boston, then known as PRISM New England, began airing Boston Celtics games.

1981: NBA Championship

In 1981, anchored by the "Big Three" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship.

1983: Rebranded as SportsChannel New England

In 1983, PRISM New England rebranded as SportsChannel New England.

1983: Celtics Under New Coach

In 1983, the Boston Celtics, under the leadership of their new coach K. C. Jones, achieved a regular season record of 62 wins and 20 losses. This performance propelled them back to the NBA Finals after a three-year absence.

1983: Playoff Sweep and Team Sale

In 1983, the Celtics were swept in the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks. Following this, coach Fitch resigned and the team was sold.

1984: NBA Championship

In 1984, anchored by the "Big Three" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, and led by head coach K. C. Jones, the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship.

1985: Returned to black sneakers

In 1985, the Celtics returned to the customary black sneakers due to the difficulty of producing the right shade of Celtic green.

1985: Lakers defeat Celtics in Finals

In 1985, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics clashed in the NBA Finals, with the Lakers emerging victorious. This marked the first time the Lakers had defeated the Celtics in the Finals and the only time the team had won a championship at Boston Garden.

1986: Walton's Contribution to Celtics

In 1986, Bill Walton played a significant role in the Boston Celtics' success, contributing as a passing center.

1986: NBA Championship

In 1986, anchored by the "Big Three" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, and led by head coach K. C. Jones, the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship.

1986: Len Bias Draft and Death

In 1986, the Celtics drafted Len Bias, who tragically died 36 hours later from an accidental cocaine overdose. Despite this tragedy, the Celtics remained competitive and reached the NBA Finals, where they were defeated by the Lakers.

1987: Celtics and Lakers faced off in the NBA Finals

In 1987, the Celtics and the Lakers faced off in the NBA Finals for the first time in 11 years.

1988: Celtics Loss and Coaching Change

In 1988, the Celtics were defeated by the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. Following the season, head coach K.C. Jones retired and was succeeded by Jimmy Rodgers.

1988: First trip to Eastern Conference Finals

In their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1988, the Celtics jumped out to a 2–1 series lead over the Nets, but would lose the next three games to fall 4–2.

1989: Bird's Injury and Celtics' Struggle

In 1989, Larry Bird underwent a procedure to remove bone spurs in his feet early in the season, causing the Celtics to struggle, winning only 42 games.

1990: Johnny Most retired as radio announcer

In 1990, Johnny Most retired as the Boston Celtics' radio announcer.

1990: Celtics' Performance and Playoff Loss

In 1990, the Celtics, led by Larry Bird, achieved a 52-30 record. However, they faced a playoff defeat against the New York Knicks after losing three consecutive games.

1991: Celtics win Atlantic Division Title

The Celtics went 45-37 and won their first Atlantic Division title since 1991-92.

1992: Bird's Retirement

In 1992, after 13 NBA seasons, Larry Bird retired from the Boston Celtics due to continued back trouble.

1992: End of the "Big Three" Era

The "Big Three" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish played together for the Celtics until 1992.

1993: Reggie Lewis's death

In 1993, Reggie Lewis died of a heart attack during the off-season. His jersey number was retired in his honor.

1993: Lewis's Collapse and Heart Problems

In 1993, Reggie Lewis fainted during a playoff series, revealing heart problems.

1994: Carr Hired as VP, Montross Drafted

In 1994, the Celtics hired M. L. Carr as VP of basketball operations and drafted Eric Montross. It was also Robert Parish's last year with the team, leaving to the Charlotte Hornets.

1994: End of an Era

In 1994, with the departure of Robert Parish, the era of Boston's original Big 3 came to an end. The team consequently struggled, missing the playoffs with a 32-50 record.

1995: Move to Fleet Center and Coaching Change

In 1995, the Celtics relocated from the Boston Garden to the Fleet Center and M.L. Carr became coach after firing Chris Ford. It was also the Celtics' final season in the Boston Garden.

1996: Franchise-Record Losses and Pitino Hiring

In 1996, the Celtics suffered a franchise-record 67 losses. Following the season, Rick Pitino was hired as the team's president, director of basketball operations, and head coach.

May 7, 1997: Volk Resigns

On May 7, 1997, Jan Volk resigned from his position with the Boston Celtics.

1997: Draft Picks and Team Overhaul

In 1997, the Celtics drafted Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer, dismantling the previous young team and letting go of key players.

1998: Rebranded as Fox Sports New England

In 1998, SportsChannel New England was rebranded as Fox Sports New England.

1998: Drafting of Paul Pierce

In 1998, the Celtics drafted Paul Pierce, a college star who had been expected to be drafted much earlier. Pierce had an immediate impact during the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, averaging 19.5 points and being named Rookie of The Month in February.

1999: Williams Returns to Celtics

In 1999, Eric Williams returned to the Celtics after being traded to the Denver Nuggets previously.

March 1, 2000: Pitino's "Walking Through That Door" Speech

On March 1, 2000, after a loss to the Toronto Raptors, Celtics coach Rick Pitino delivered his memorable "walking through that door" speech.

2000: Modest Improvement under O'Brien

Following the resignation of Rick Pitino in 2000, the Celtics showed modest improvement under coach Jim O'Brien. O'Brien's record to finish the 2000 season was 24–24.

2000: Team's Success

The team's success in the latter stages of 2000–01 was largely forgotten.

January 2001: Pitino Resigns

In January 2001, Rick Pitino resigned as coach of the Boston Celtics.

2001: Comcast purchased Cablevision's original network stake

Comcast purchased Cablevision's original network stake in 2001.

2001: O'Brien Given Permanent Head Coach Job and Draft Picks

Following the 2000-01 season, O'Brien was given the job of head coach on a permanent basis. As a result of numerous trades, the Celtics had three picks in the 2001 NBA draft, they selected Joe Johnson, Joe Forte, and Kedrick Brown.

2001: Unexpected Success

The Celtics entered the 2001-02 season with low expectations.

2002: Celtics and Nets rivalry heats up in Eastern Conference Finals

In 2002, the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the New Jersey Nets heated up during the Eastern Conference Finals, marked by trash-talking and on-court tensions that spilled into the stands. Celtics' fans directed derogatory chants towards Jason Kidd and his family.

2003: Celtics Sold and Ainge Hired

In 2003, the Celtics were sold to Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C. led by H. Irving Grousbeck, Wycliffe Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca. Danny Ainge was hired as general manager.

2003: Suggested wearing white sneakers

Prior to the 2003–04 season, Danny Ainge and Paul Pierce suggested wearing white sneakers, in part due to a growing number of teams wearing black sneakers.

2004: Brought back black sneakers for playoffs

During the 2004 NBA playoffs, the Celtics brought back black sneakers for all home games.

2004: Swept by Pacers

In 2004, the Celtics made the playoffs, only to be swept in the first round by the Indiana Pacers, losing all four games.

2004: Drafting Youngsters and Rivers as Coach

In 2004, the Celtics under new coach Doc Rivers drafted Al Jefferson, Delonte West, and Tony Allen.

2005: Brought back black sneakers for one home game

In 2005, the Celtics brought back black sneakers for one home game during the NBA playoffs.

December 2006: Losing Streak

From late December 2006, the Celtics went 2-22.

2006: Celtics' record

In 2006, the Celtics had a poor record leading to the largest single-season turnaround in NBA history in 2007.

February 2007: Losing Streak Extended

Through early February 2007, the Celtics continued their losing streak after losing Pierce to injury.

2007: Acquired remaining stake in FSN New England

In 2007, Comcast acquired the remaining stake in FSN New England and rebranded the network as Comcast SportsNet New England.

2007: Single-season turnaround

In 2007, the Celtics completed the largest single-season turnaround in NBA history, improving their record by 42 games compared to the previous season.

2007: Formation of a New "Big Three"

In the 2007 offseason, the Boston Celtics formed a new "Big Three" around Paul Pierce by acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

2008: 17th NBA Championship

In 2008, led by head coach Doc Rivers, the Boston Celtics defeated the Lakers to win their 17th NBA championship.

2008: Celtics win NBA Finals against Lakers

In 2008, the Celtics and Lakers met in the Finals for the first time since 1987, with the Celtics winning the series in six games.

2008: Best starting record in NBA history

In the 2008-09 season, the Celtics started off the season at 27-2, the then-best starting record in NBA history.

2008: Wore white sneakers with green and gold accents on the road

In the 2008–09 season, the Celtics wore white sneakers with green and gold accents while wearing their St. Patrick's Day jerseys on the road.

2008: Celtics defeat Pistons in 2008 Eastern Conference Finals

Led by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics defeated the Pistons in 6 games in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals, where they beat the Lakers.

2009: Garnett injury and playoff exit

In 2009, Kevin Garnett was injured and missed the end of the season and the playoffs, leading to an early playoff exit for the Celtics.

2009: Celtics make the NBA Finals

In 2009, despite a rocky regular season, the Celtics made the NBA Finals, with Rajon Rondo emerging as a star.

2009: Wore white or green sneakers with red and gold accents

When the Celtics played on Christmas Day in 2009, they wore white or green sneakers with red and gold accents.

2010: Lost in the NBA Finals

In 2010, the Boston Celtics lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

2010: Celtics Signed Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal

In 2010, the Celtics signed Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal.

2010: Lakers win NBA Finals against Celtics

In 2010, the Lakers won the NBA Finals against the Celtics in seven games.

February 2011: Perkins traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder

In February 2011, Kendrick Perkins was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder after the Celtics had success with Shaquille O'Neal in his absence.

2011: Discontinued warmup jackets with player names

After the 2011–12 season, the Celtics discontinued the practice of wearing warmup jackets with the player names on the back.

2012: Ray Allen signs with the Miami Heat

In 2012, Ray Allen signed with the Miami Heat for less money than the Celtics offered, bringing the "Big Three" era to an end.

2012: Altercation sparks renewed Celtics-Nets rivalry

In 2012, an on-court altercation on November 28 between the Celtics and Nets resulted in the ejection of Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Humphries, signaling a potential rekindling of the rivalry. Rondo was suspended, while Wallace and Kevin Garnett were fined.

June 2013: Blockbuster trade cools Celtics-Nets rivalry

In June 2013, a blockbuster trade involving Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce being dealt to the Nets in exchange for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and others, significantly cooled off the rivalry between the two teams. The move was characterized as a merger of the two Atlantic Division teams.

July 3, 2013: Brad Stevens Hired as Head Coach

On July 3, 2013, Brad Stevens was announced as the new head coach of the Celtics, replacing Doc Rivers.

2013: Allen, Garnett, and Pierce Departure

By the start of the 2013–14 season, Allen, Garnett, and Pierce were no longer with the Boston Celtics.

2013: Celtics fall to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs

In 2013, the Celtics trailed the New York Knicks 3-0 in the first round of the NBA playoffs before losing the series in six games.

2013: Radio deal with WBZ-FM

Since the 2013–14 season, all Celtics games are heard on radio through Beasley Broadcast Group's WBZ-FM (98.5, otherwise branded as "The Sports Hub"), with play-by-play from Sean Grande and color commentary from Cedric Maxwell.

2014: Marcus Smart being the longest-tenured Celtic from the 2014 NBA draft

By the end of the off-season, Marcus Smart was the longest-tenured Celtic from the 2014 NBA draft.

2014: Celtics draft Marcus Smart and James Young

In 2014, the Celtics drafted Marcus Smart and James Young and signed Evan Turner.

2014: Celtics receive a first-round draft pick

In 2014, the Celtics received a first-round draft pick as compensation for Doc Rivers departing to coach the Los Angeles Clippers.

2015: Celtics receive a first-round pick

In 2015, the Celtics received an unprotected first-round pick as compensation for Doc Rivers departing to coach the Los Angeles Clippers.

2015: Celtics selected Terry Rozier, R.J. Hunter, Jordan Mickey, and Marcus Thornton in NBA draft

In 2015, the Celtics selected Terry Rozier, R.J. Hunter, Jordan Mickey, and Marcus Thornton in the NBA draft.

July 8, 2016: Celtics sign Al Horford

On July 8, 2016, the Celtics signed Al Horford, a four-time All-Star.

2016: Only four Celtics' players remained from the 2016–17 team

By the end of the off-season, only four Celtics' players remained from the 2016–17 team.

2016: Celtics try to sign Al Horford

During the 2016 off-season, Jae Crowder emphasized that the Celtics beat the Wizards in all of their meetings that season and should sign with them rather than Washington while the Celtics were trying to sign Al Horford, escalating tensions between the teams.

2016: Al Horford joins the Celtics

In 2016, Hawks All-Star Center Al Horford intensified the Celtics–Hawks rivalry by spurning the Hawks and joining the Celtics.

2016: Drafting Jaylen Brown

In 2016, the Boston Celtics drafted Jaylen Brown using one of the first-round picks acquired in a trade.

2016: Celtics receive a first-round draft pick

In 2016, the Celtics received a first-round draft pick as compensation for Doc Rivers departing to coach the Los Angeles Clippers.

August 22, 2017: Celtics trade for Kyrie Irving

On August 22, 2017, the Celtics traded Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić, and a 2018 first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.

2017: Renamed as NBC Sports Regional Networks

In 2017, all CSN networks (including CSN New England) were renamed as NBC Sports Regional Networks.

2017: Drafting Jayson Tatum

In 2017, the Boston Celtics drafted Jayson Tatum using one of the first-round picks acquired in a trade.

2017: Celtics receive right to swap first-round draft picks

In 2017, the Celtics received the right to swap first-round picks with Brooklyn as compensation for Doc Rivers departing to coach the Los Angeles Clippers.

2017: Celtics and Wizards rivalry escalates during Conference Semifinals

In the 2017 Conference Semifinals, the rivalry between the Celtics and Wizards escalated with multiple incidents, including Markieff Morris injuring Al Horford, Morris retaliating, and Kelly Oubre being ejected for pushing Kelly Olynyk. The Celtics won the series.

November 24, 2018: Analysts question team's performance

On November 24, 2018, analysts started questioning the Celtics' performance and chances for the championship when the team had a 10–10 record after the first 20 games.

2018: Celtics traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers

In 2018, a first-round draft pick was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2018: Celtics receive a first-round draft pick

In 2018, the Celtics received a first-round draft pick as compensation for Doc Rivers departing to coach the Los Angeles Clippers.

June 30, 2019: Kemba Walker agrees to contract with Celtics

On June 30, 2019, Kemba Walker agreed to a four-year maximum contract with the Celtics.

July 1, 2019: Celtics agree to contract with Enes Kanter

On July 1, 2019, the Celtics agreed to a two-year contract with center Enes Kanter.

July 6, 2019: Celtics acquire Kemba Walker

On July 6, 2019, the Celtics officially acquired Kemba Walker in a sign and trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

2019: Celtics invited to NBA Bubble

Following the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Celtics were one of the 22 teams invited to the NBA Bubble.

2019: Celtics swept by the Milwaukee Bucks

In the 2019 playoffs, the Celtics were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round.

2020: Celtics fall to Miami Heat in Conference Finals

In the 2020 playoffs, the Celtics fell to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games.

2020: Tremont Waters G-League Rookie of the year

Tremont Waters named the 2020 G-League Rookie of the year.

June 2, 2021: Brad Stevens named president of basketball operations

On June 2, 2021, the Celtics appointed head coach Brad Stevens as the president of basketball operations. He replaced Danny Ainge, who announced his retirement.

June 23, 2021: Ime Udoka hired as head coach

On June 23, 2021, Brad Stevens hired Ime Udoka as the new head coach of the Boston Celtics, filling the position previously held by Stevens himself.

April 2022: Celtics qualify for 2022 NBA playoffs

In April 2022, the Celtics secured a spot in the 2022 NBA playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51–31 record, and swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. They progressed through the Eastern Conference Semifinals and Finals, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat in seven-game series to earn their first Finals appearance since 2010.

2022: Return to the NBA Finals

In 2022, led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics returned to the NBA Finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors.

2022: Wearing no. 6 patch in memory of Bill Russell

In 2022, the Celtics, along with the rest of the NBA, wore the black no. 6 patch in memory of Bill Russell.

February 16, 2023: Joe Mazzulla named permanent head coach

On February 16, 2023, Joe Mazzulla was officially named the permanent head coach of the Boston Celtics. This appointment followed his role as interim head coach, where he led the team to a league-best 42–17 record during the NBA All-Star break.

October 1, 2023: Celtics acquire Jrue Holiday

On October 1, 2023, the Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and two draft picks.

February 7, 2024: Celtics acquire Xavier Tillman

On February 7, 2024, before the trade deadline, the Celtics acquired Xavier Tillman from the Grizzlies.

May 27, 2024: Celtics win Eastern Conference Finals and Jaylen Brown named MVP

On May 27, 2024, the Celtics won the Eastern Conference Finals, and Jaylen Brown was selected as the NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP, receiving the Larry Bird trophy for the first time.