The Boston Celtics, founded in 1946, are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the NBA's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division and share their home arena, TD Garden, with the NHL's Boston Bruins. The Celtics are widely considered the most successful team in NBA history, holding the record for most NBA championships with 18 and the most wins of any NBA franchise.
June 6, 1946: Team Formation
The Boston Celtics were officially formed on June 6, 1946.
1946: Boston Celtics Founded
The Boston Celtics were founded in 1946 as one of the eight original teams in the Basketball Association of America (BAA).
1948: First Playoff Appearance
The Celtics made their first playoff appearance in 1948, losing to the Chicago Stags.
August 3, 1949: Joining the NBA
The Celtics became part of the NBA on August 3, 1949, after the BAA-NBL merger.
1949: First Losing Record
The Celtics had their first losing record since the 1949-50 season in the 1969-70 season.
1950: Chuck Cooper Signing
The Celtics signed Chuck Cooper in 1950, making him the first African American player drafted by an NBA team.
1955: Ed Macauley Trade
The Celtics traded Ed Macauley for the second overall pick in the 1956 draft, which they used to select Bill Russell.
1956: Bill Russell Acquired
In 1956, the Celtics acquired Bill Russell, who became the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty.
1957: First NBA Championship
The Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957, led by Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn.
1957: First NBA Title
The Celtics won their first NBA title in 1957 against the St. Louis Hawks.
1958: K.C. Jones Acquisition
The Celtics acquired K.C. Jones in 1958, a key player in their upcoming dynasty.
1958: Finals Loss to Hawks
The Celtics lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the 1958 NBA Finals.
1959: First of Eight Consecutive Championships
The Celtics won the first of their eight consecutive championships in 1959 by sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers.
1959: Start of Eight Consecutive Championships
The Celtics began their streak of eight consecutive NBA championships in 1959.
December 26, 1964: First All-Black Starting Lineup
On December 26, 1964, the Celtics fielded the first all-Black starting lineup in NBA history.
1965: Red Auerbach Retirement as Coach
Red Auerbach retired as coach in 1965, and Bill Russell took over as player-coach.
1966: End of Eight Consecutive Championships
The Celtics' streak of eight consecutive NBA championships ended in 1966.
1967: Loss to 76ers
The Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1967 Eastern Conference Finals, ending their championship streak.
1968: Championship Win against Lakers
The Celtics won the NBA Championship in 1968 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
1968: Back-to-Back Championships
The Celtics, led by player-coach Bill Russell, won back-to-back championships in 1968 and 1969.
1969: Bill Russell Retirement and End of Dynasty
Bill Russell retired in 1969, marking the end of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 seasons.
1969: Rebuilding Year
The 1969-70 season was a rebuilding year for the Celtics after Russell's retirement.
1969: Championship Win and Russell's Retirement
The Celtics won the NBA Championship in 1969 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Bill Russell retired after this season.
1972: Loss in Eastern Conference Finals
The Celtics lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1972.
1973: Disappointing End to Strong Season
Despite a 68-14 regular season record, the Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in the 1973 Eastern Conference Finals.
1974: Championship Win
The Celtics won a championship in 1974 under the leadership of coach Tom Heinsohn.
1974: 12th NBA Championship
The Celtics won their 12th NBA championship in 1974 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
1976: Championship Win
The Celtics won another championship in 1976.
1976: Celtics Win 1976 NBA Championship
In 1976, the Boston Celtics won their 13th NBA championship, defeating the Phoenix Suns in a thrilling six-game series. The Finals featured an iconic Game Five, considered one of the greatest games in NBA history, which went into triple overtime before the Celtics finally secured the win.
1977: Celtics Begin Rebuilding Phase, Draft Cedric Maxwell
After a playoff appearance in 1977, the Celtics entered a rebuilding phase. During the 1977 NBA draft, they selected Cedric Maxwell, a young forward who showed potential despite limited contributions in his rookie year. The team's all-time leading scorer, John Havlicek, retired after 16 seasons, marking a significant turning point for the Celtics.
1977: Bill Walton Leads Trail Blazers to Championship
Bill Walton, while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, demonstrated his skills as an All-Star and league MVP, leading the team to the 1977 NBA championship. This highlighted Walton's peak performance before injuries hampered his career.
1978: Celtics Draft Larry Bird and Execute Controversial Trade
In 1978, the Celtics made a significant move by drafting Larry Bird, knowing he would stay in college for his senior year. The Celtics' owner, Irv Levin, traded franchises with Buffalo Braves' owner, John Y. Brown Jr., which led to a controversial six-player trade between the teams. The trade generated backlash from Boston fans, particularly because key players were traded without Auerbach's consultation.
February 1979: Bob McAdoo Trade and Ownership Change
In February 1979, the Celtics acquired Bob McAdoo in exchange for three first-round draft picks, another trade executed without consulting Auerbach. This further strained the relationship between Brown and Auerbach, nearly leading to Auerbach's departure for the New York Knicks. Amidst the controversy, Brown sold the Celtics to Harry Mangurian in 1979. The Celtics struggled throughout the season, finishing with a disappointing 29-53 record.
1979: Larry Bird's Debut and Team Rebuilding
Larry Bird made his debut with the Celtics during the 1979–80 season. Auerbach made key trades, acquiring M. L. Carr and Gerald Henderson, and assembled a strong backcourt and frontcourt. With Bird winning Rookie of the Year, the team significantly improved, going 61-21.
1980: Dave Cowens Retires
Dave Cowens, a key player for the Celtics, announced his retirement late in the training camp in 1980. Despite this setback, the team performed well under coach Bill Fitch.
1980: Celtics Acquire Robert Parish and Kevin McHale
In 1980, Auerbach orchestrated a landmark trade, sending two first-round draft picks to the Golden State Warriors for Robert Parish and their first-round pick, which was then used to draft Kevin McHale. This trade resulted in the formation of the legendary "Big Three" - Bird, McHale, and Parish - setting the stage for Celtics dominance in the 1980s.
1981: Celtics Lose to 76ers in Playoffs
Following the 1981-82 season, the Celtics met the 76ers in the playoffs, losing the series in seven games. This marked another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between these two Eastern Conference powerhouses.
1981: Celtics Win 1981 NBA Championship
In 1981, the Celtics, led by coach Bill Fitch, went 62-20 and won their 14th NBA championship, defeating the Houston Rockets in the finals. Cedric Maxwell earned the NBA Finals MVP award.
1981: Championship with the "Big Three"
The Celtics, with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, won a championship in 1981.
1983: Celtics Swept by Bucks, Fitch Resigns, Team Sold
In 1983, the Celtics experienced a first-time playoff sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks, leading to the resignation of coach Bill Fitch. Following this upset, the team was sold to new owners led by Don Gaston, marking a significant shift in the franchise's leadership.
1983: Celtics Return to Finals and Win Championship Under K.C. Jones
In the 1983-84 season, under new coach K.C. Jones, the Celtics achieved a 62-20 record and returned to the NBA Finals after a three-year gap. They overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers, securing their 15th NBA championship. This victory also reignited the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Auerbach retired as general manager and was succeeded by Jan Volk.
1984: Championship against the Lakers
The Celtics won a championship against the Lakers in 1984.
1985: Lakers Defeat Celtics in Finals for the First Time
In 1985, the Celtics faced the Lakers in the NBA Finals once again. The Lakers won the series, marking the first time they defeated the Celtics in the Finals and the only time they clinched a championship at Boston Garden.
1986: Celtics Acquire Bill Walton
During the offseason following the 1985 Finals, the Celtics acquired Bill Walton from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Cedric Maxwell. Walton, known for his passing abilities as a center, contributed significantly to the Celtics' success in 1986.
1986: Len Bias Drafted and Dies
In 1986, the Celtics drafted Len Bias, a highly promising prospect from the University of Maryland. Tragically, Bias died from a cocaine overdose shortly after being drafted, profoundly impacting the Celtics organization and the NBA community. Despite the tragedy, the Celtics remained competitive and reached the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Lakers.
1986: Championship against the Lakers
The Celtics won another championship against the Lakers in 1986.
1988: Celtics Lose to Pistons, K.C. Jones Retires
In 1988, the Celtics lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, after which head coach K.C. Jones retired and was replaced by assistant coach Jimmy Rodgers.
1989: Bird's Injury and Playoff Defeat
In 1989, Larry Bird underwent surgery for bone spurs in his feet, significantly impacting the Celtics' season. They won only 42 games and were defeated by the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. Bird's return in the 1989-90 season led to a 52-30 record but another early playoff exit, prompting the firing of coach Rodgers and his replacement with Chris Ford.
1992: End of the "Big Three" Era
In 1992, the era of the "Big Three" (Bird, McHale, and Parish) came to an end after playing together for the Celtics since 1980, winning three NBA championships, and establishing their legacy as one of the greatest frontcourts in NBA history.
2007: New "Big Three" Assembled
The Celtics formed a new "Big Three" with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett in 2007.
2008: 17th Championship
The Celtics won their 17th championship in 2008, defeating the Lakers.
2010: Finals Loss to Lakers
The Celtics lost to the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals.
2013: Garnett and Pierce Traded
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.
2016: Jaylen Brown Drafted
Jaylen Brown was drafted by the Celtics in 2016.
2017: Jayson Tatum Drafted
Jayson Tatum was drafted by the Celtics in 2017.
2022: Finals Loss to Warriors
The Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals.