How many times have the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals?
The Celtics and Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals. The Celtics won eight of those matchups and the Lakers won four.
Questions about Celtics–Lakers rivalry
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many NBA championships have the Celtics and Lakers won combined?
Together the Celtics and Lakers have won 35 NBA championships, accounting for 45 percent of all titles in NBA history. The Celtics have won 18 and the Lakers have won 17.
Why did Magic Johnson and Larry Bird reignite the Celtics-Lakers rivalry?
Johnson and Bird first met in the 1979 NCAA championship game, where Johnson's Michigan State defeated Bird's Indiana State 75-64 in the most-watched college basketball game ever played. Their personal competition transferred to the NBA when Johnson was drafted by the Lakers and Bird by the Celtics, renewing the franchise rivalry in the 1980s and helping attract a new generation of fans to the league.
When did the "Beat L.A." chant originate?
The "Beat L.A." chant originated during Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference Championships at Boston Garden, when Boston fans urged the victorious Philadelphia 76ers to defeat Los Angeles in the Finals that followed.
What happened in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals between the Celtics and Lakers?
The Celtics won 108-106 at the Los Angeles Forum, defying Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke's printed celebration plans. Jerry West was named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team, the first and only time the award has been given to a player from the losing side.
Who is the oldest Finals MVP in NBA history from a Celtics-Lakers series?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the 1985 NBA Finals MVP at 38 years, 1 month, and 24 days old, making him the oldest player ever to win the award. He led the Lakers to their first championship clinched in Boston Garden.