Celtic Nation

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The dynasty began in the late 1950s after Red Auerbach acquired Bill Russell in 1956. Alongside Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn, Russell led the team to its first title in 1957. This core, joined by future Hall of Famers like K.C. Jones, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, Satch Sanders, Don Nelson, and Bill Sharman, secured eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. In a historic shift, Russell became the team's player-coach in 1966, making him the first African American head coach in any U.S. sport, guiding the team to back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969 before retiring in 1969 with an unrivaled 11 titles in 13 seasons.

In Their Own Story

After a rebuilding period following Russell's retirement, the Celtics returned to prominence in the mid-1970s. Under head coach Tom Heinsohn, with Dave Cowens, John Havlicek, and Jo Jo White, they won championships in 1974 and 1976. The 1976 Finals featured one of the greatest games ever, forcing a third overtime against the Phoenix Suns before Boston prevailed. In the 1980s, the 'Big Three' of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish reignited the rivalry with the 'Showtime' Lakers, capturing titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986 under coach K.C. Jones. Decades later, a new 'Big Three' formed around Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett in 2007. Led by Doc Rivers, they defeated the Lakers for their 17th title in 2008. After losing to the Lakers in 2010, the team traded veterans for future picks, drafting Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. 'The Jays' led the franchise to a 2022 Finals loss against Golden State before defeating Dallas in 2024 to secure their 18th championship.

Reader's Guide

Fans recognize the name 'Celtics' and mascot Lucky the Leprechaun as nods to Boston's Irish population and early 20th-century barnstormers. The franchise boasts a historic rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers, who hold 17 championships; these two teams have met in the NBA Finals a record 12 times, with the Celtics winning nine of those matchups. The team's legacy is further defined by its depth of talent: 41 Hall of Fame members have played for Boston, and Celtics players have won an NBA-record 10 MVP awards, including four individual wins for Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, and Larry Bird.

Did You Know?

• In 1950, the Celtics became the first NBA franchise to draft a black player when they signed Chuck Cooper.
• On December 26, 1964, the Celtics became the first NBA team to field an all-African-American starting lineup.
• Bill Russell was the first African American head coach in any United States sport when he took over as player-coach in 1966.
• In May 2025, the team was sold for $6.1 billion, which was later surpassed by a Lakers sale of approximately $10 billion that same year.
• The Celtics' run of eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966 remains the longest championship streak in U.S. professional sports history.