Boston is one of the most successful franchises in the NBA along with the Los Angeles Lakers, they both share 34 trophies among each other with both winning 17. Well Boston are one win away from 18
The Boston Celtics are among the NBA’s most successful franchises, with a storied history featuring legends like Bill Russell and Larry Bird. As the team embarks on a new NBA Finals series, it’s a great time to revisit their illustrious past.
Founded in 1946, the Celtics are one of the original eight teams of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over their 78-year history, they’ve enjoyed periods of immense success as well as times of struggle.
The team’s first great dynasty was led by Bill Russell on the court and Red Auerbach from the sidelines. This duo guided the Celtics to 11 championships, including an incredible run of nine consecutive titles from 1957 to 1965, plus additional titles in 1968 and 1969.
Overall, the Celtics have appeared in 22 NBA Finals, winning 17 of them.
After Russell’s era, the Celtics went through five challenging years before Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, and Paul Silas brought them back to prominence with championships in 1974 and 1976. The 1980s saw another golden period with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Bill Walton leading the team to titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
How many times did the Celtics lose in the Finals?
The Celtics’ journey hasn’t always been smooth. Amidst their triumphs, they’ve faced long droughts, the most prolonged being a 22-year gap between Larry Bird’s last title in 1986 and the championship win by Paul Pierce and head coach Doc Rivers in 2008.
During their tough years, the Celtics also endured some heartbreaking Finals losses. In 1958, the team led by Bill Russell and Red Auerbach fell to the St. Louis Hawks. The 1985 and 1987 Finals saw Larry Bird and his squad defeated by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Los Angeles Lakers.
In the 21st century, the Celtics, with stars like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, were bested by the Lakers again, this time under head coach Phil Jackson, featuring Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. More recently, in 2022, the Golden State Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, overcame the Celtics’ dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Now, two years later, the Celtics stand on the brink of another potential championship. Despite the Dallas Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic, even being cited as the favorites by peers like Shaquille O’Neal, Boston has performed exceptionally well and has the title within reach.
