Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics were formed on the 6th of June 1946, by Walter A. Brown, president of the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation. They began play as one of the original eight teams in the Basketball Association of America. The franchise struggled during its first few seasons, missing the playoffs entirely in 1949 and finishing fifth in the Eastern Division that same year. Their first playoff appearance came in 1948, but they lost to the Chicago Stags four games to one. A pivotal moment arrived on the 3rd of August 1949, when the team joined the newly merged National Basketball Association following a merger with the rival National Basketball League. In 1950, the Celtics made history by signing Chuck Cooper, becoming the first NBA franchise to draft a black player. This early era also saw Chuck Connors, later famous for his role in The Rifleman, serve as an original member of the squad.
Red Auerbach took over coaching duties after years of struggle, running all practices and scouting alone without assistants. He initially refused to draft Bob Cousy from Holy Cross because he was too flashy, yet Cousy eventually found his way to Boston after the Chicago Stags went bankrupt. Auerbach executed a stunning trade after the 1955, 56 season, sending All-Star Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks along with Cliff Hagan's rights for the second overall pick. That pick secured University of San Francisco center Bill Russell, who would become the cornerstone of a dynasty. Russell worked alongside Cousy and rookie Tom Heinsohn to win their first NBA championship in 1957 against the Hawks in seven games. The team won eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966, including five Finals meetings against the Lakers during that decade. On the 26th of December 1964, Willie Naulls replaced an injured Tom Heinsohn to start the first all-African-American lineup in league history. When Auerbach retired as coach after the 1965, 66 season, Russell became the first African American head coach in any U.S. pro sport.
Larry Bird entered the league when the Celtics drafted him sixth overall in 1978, though they waited until he led Indiana State to the NCAA championship game before signing him. The relationship between owner Harry Mangurian and general manager Red Auerbach deteriorated over trades made without consultation, leading to Mangurian selling the team in 1979. Auerbach then orchestrated one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, sending two first-round picks to the Golden State Warriors for center Robert Parish and another pick used to select Kevin McHale. This trio of Bird, McHale, and Parish played together until 1992 and were later described as the best frontcourt of all time. They won three championships in the 1980s, defeating the Houston Rockets in 1981, the Lakers in 1984, and the Lakers again in 1986. Bill Walton joined the team in 1985 via trade for Cedric Maxwell and helped secure the 1986 title despite past injuries. The era ended with the retirements of Bird and McHale and the departure of Parish to Charlotte.
The loss of Larry Bird and aging veterans forced coach Chris Ford into rebuilding mode after 1992. Hopes rested on Reggie Lewis, a small forward from Northeastern University who fainted during the 1993 playoffs against the Charlotte Hornets due to heart problems. Lewis died of a heart attack while shooting baskets at Brandeis University during the off-season before he could return to play. The Celtics honored his memory by retiring his number 35 jersey. The original Big Three era officially ended in 1994 when Robert Parish signed with Charlotte. The franchise collapsed to a 32, 50 record that year and struggled through the mid-1990s. In 1996, 97, the team lost 67 games, setting an unwanted NBA record with only fifteen victories overall. Rick Pitino was hired as head coach and president of basketball operations on a ten-year contract worth $70 million, yet the team failed to improve significantly under his leadership. The Celtics moved from the Boston Garden to the Fleet Center in 1995, marking the end of their historic home venue.
General manager Danny Ainge returned the Celtics to prominence in the summer of 2007 by trading for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett alongside Paul Pierce. This new Big Three completed the largest single-season turnaround in NBA history, improving the record from 24 wins in 2006, 07 to 66 wins in 2007, 08. They defeated the Lakers in six games to win their 17th championship, with Paul Pierce named Finals MVP. The team set a record for most postseason games played with 26 total contests. Despite losing to the Lakers again in seven games during the 2010 Finals, they remained competitive for years. After the Big Three era dissolved following 2013, the franchise entered a rebuilding phase that eventually produced Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. These two players led the team back to the Finals in 2022 before defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games on the 12th of June 2024, to secure their 18th championship.
The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers involves the two most storied franchises in NBA history. They have met a record twelve times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first meeting in 1957. The Celtics won the first eight finals meetings while the Lakers claimed three of the last four matchups. Together, their combined 35 championships account for almost half of all 78 titles awarded in league history. Another intense competition existed against the Atlanta Hawks, who faced the Celtics eleven times in the playoffs including four Finals appearances. The Celtics won ten of twelve series against them, including three out of four NBA Finals. A fierce rivalry also developed with the Philadelphia 76ers, featuring legendary battles between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain from 1965 to 1968. The teams have played each other in 22 playoff series, the most in league history, with the Celtics winning 15 of those series.
In May 2025, the team was sold to private equity investor William Chisholm for $6.1 billion. This transaction made it the highest ever valued deal for a sports franchise in North America at that time. However, the Celtics' record was surpassed later in 2025 when the Los Angeles Lakers were valued at approximately $10 billion during a majority stake sale. This placed the Celtics' deal as the second-highest valued sports franchise transaction in U.S. history. The franchise holds records for most recorded wins of any NBA team alongside their championship count. Forty-one members of the Basketball Hall of Fame have played for the Celtics at least once in their careers. Four players, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, and Larry Bird, have won the NBA Most Valuable Player award, contributing to an overall total of ten MVP awards won by Celtics players.
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Common questions
When was the Boston Celtics formed and by whom?
The Boston Celtics were formed on the 6th of June 1946, by Walter A. Brown, president of the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation.
Who became the first African American head coach in any U.S. pro sport while playing for the Boston Celtics?
Bill Russell became the first African American head coach in any U.S. pro sport when he took over coaching duties after Red Auerbach retired following the 1965, 66 season.
What record did the Boston Celtics set during the 1996, 97 season?
The team lost 67 games in the 1996, 97 season, setting an unwanted NBA record with only fifteen victories overall.
How many championships have the Boston Celtics won as of the 2024 Finals?
The franchise secured their 18th championship by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games on the 12th of June 2024.
Which three players comprised the best frontcourt of all time for the Boston Celtics from 1980 to 1992?
Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish played together until 1992 and were later described as the best frontcourt of all time.