Boston Celtics History
The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of the league’s original eight teams, the team play their home games at TD Garden, which they share with the National Hockey League (NHL)’s Boston Bruins.
The Celtics are one of the most successful teams in NBA history; they have won 14 championships, tied for fourth-most in NBA history with the San Antonio Spurs, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers (16), Chicago Bulls (six), and Golden State Warriors (five).
The Boston Celtics are one of the most successful teams in NBA history. With 21 conference titles and 17 NBA championships, the Celtics have cemented their place as one of the league’s all-time greats. Founded in 1946, the Celtics were originally a part of the Basketball Association of America (BAA).
The BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949 to form the NBA, and the Celtics quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Led by star players such as Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek, the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957. They would go on to win an incredible 11 championships in 13 years between 1959 and 1981.
The 1980s were something of a down period for the franchise, but they rebounded in style in the late ‘90s under head coach Rick Pitino. Led by All-Stars Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, the Celtics returned to prominence and won another championship in 2008. Today, the team is once again among the best in the league thanks to stars like Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum.
With a rich history full of some of basketball’s greatest players and moments, there’s no doubt that the Boston Celtics are one of sport’s true dynasties.
Why are the Boston Celtics Called That? The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics play their home games at TD Garden, which they share with the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins.
The Celtics were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the Basketball Association of America (BAA). They played their first game against the Buffalo Bisons on November 5, 1946, but lost 71–53. A year later, they made their debut in the NBA playoffs against the Philadelphia Warriors.
After winning only four games out of 26 during their first two seasons in the league, they drafted center Bill Russell in 1956. With Russell and fellow Hall of Famer Bob Cousy leading the way, the Celtics won 11 championships during 13 seasons from 1957 to 1969; this remains an NBA record for winningest franchise over that span.