NBA Team Guide
Boston Celtics: History, Championships & Facts
The Boston Celtics were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the Basketball Association of America, which became the NBA in 1949. As of 2026 they have won 18 NBA championships, the most of any franchise.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1946, a charter member of the BAA |
|---|---|
| Arena | TD Garden, Boston (opened 1995) |
| NBA titles | 18 (1957, 1959–1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024) |
| NBA Finals appearances | 23 through 2026 (lost in 1958, 1985, 1987, 2010, 2022) |
| Retired numbers | 23, plus honors for Jim Loscutoff and Johnny Most |
Championship history
Boston has won 18 NBA championships, including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966. The 2024 title broke a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history.
- 1957: first title, in Bill Russell's rookie season
- 1959–1966: eight straight titles, an NBA record
- 1968 and 1969: two more titles, with Bill Russell as player-coach
- 1974: beat the Milwaukee Bucks 4–3
- 1976: beat the Phoenix Suns 4–2
- 1981, 1984 and 1986: three titles in the Larry Bird era, including a 4–3 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984
- 2008: beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2
- 2024: beat the Dallas Mavericks 4–1
Franchise history
- 1946: Founded by Walter Brown as a charter member of the BAA.
- 1950: Hired Red Auerbach as head coach.
- 1956: Acquired the draft rights to Bill Russell in a trade with the St. Louis Hawks.
- 1957–1969: Won 11 titles in 13 seasons.
- 1978: Drafted Larry Bird, who debuted in the 1979–80 season.
- 1995: Left Boston Garden for the new arena that became TD Garden.
- 2024: Won an 18th championship, passing the Lakers for the most in NBA history.
Franchise record holders
| Points (through 2025–26) | John Havlicek, 26,395 |
|---|---|
| Rebounds | Bill Russell, 21,620 |
| Assists | Bob Cousy, 6,945 |
Retired numbers
- 00Robert Parish
- 1Walter Brown (founder)
- 2Red Auerbach (coach and executive)
- 3Dennis Johnson
- 5Kevin Garnett
- 6Bill Russell (also retired across the NBA)
- 10Jo Jo White
- 14Bob Cousy
- 15Tom Heinsohn
- 16Tom "Satch" Sanders
- 17John Havlicek
- 18Dave Cowens
- 19Don Nelson
- 21Bill Sharman
- 22Ed Macauley
- 23Frank Ramsey
- 24Sam Jones
- 25K.C. Jones
- 31Cedric Maxwell
- 32Kevin McHale
- 33Larry Bird
- 34Paul Pierce
- 35Reggie Lewis
- LOSCYJim Loscutoff (nickname honored; he wore No. 18)
- —Johnny Most, radio broadcaster (name retired)
Hall of Famers
Red Auerbach, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, Frank Ramsey, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Paul Pierce.
Biggest rivalries
- Los Angeles Lakers: 12 NBA Finals meetings from 1959 to 2010, with Boston winning nine.
- Philadelphia 76ers: Atlantic Division rivals with a long playoff history, including the Bill Russell–Wilt Chamberlain era.
- Detroit Pistons: eastern powers of the 1980s who met in the 1987 and 1988 conference finals.
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How many championships have the Celtics won?
18, as of 2026: 1957, 1959–1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008 and 2024.
Who has more titles, the Celtics or the Lakers?
As of 2026 the Celtics lead 18 to 17. Boston's 2024 title broke the tie.
Who is the Celtics' all-time leading scorer?
John Havlicek, with 26,395 regular-season points from 1962 to 1978, a franchise record through the 2025–26 season.
What does LOSCY in the rafters mean?
It honors Jim Loscutoff, a Celtics forward of the 1950s and 1960s. He wore No. 18, which was later retired for Dave Cowens, so his nickname hangs instead.
Where do the Celtics play?
At TD Garden in Boston, which opened in 1995 and replaced the original Boston Garden.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.