As one of the most storied names in professional basketball, the Boston Celtics have been a force to be reckoned with since their founding in 1946. Synonymous with the city itself, the team has taken a record 17 national championships, making them not only the most successful franchise in the NBA but across the country’s 4 major sports leagues. The Celtics continue to be a symbol of pride for the people of Boston, and fans can’t wait to get their hands on tickets for home games at TD Garden.
After struggling during their early years, the Celtics got their first tastes of success following the arrival of legendary coach Red Auerbach. During his tenure from 1950 to 1966, he led the team to 8
straight NBA championships, the longest consecutive streak in US pro sports history. When Red retired, the team went through more than a decade of ups and downs, having their first losing season since 1950, but
ultimately earning 4 more national titles.
Then came 1979 when the Celtics drafted a rookie named Larry Bird. With future Hall of Famers Nate Archibald, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, Bird led the
team to another 3 national titles in 13 years. The 1985–86 squad was especially strong and is considered by basketball analysts to be the third greatest team in NBA history.
After Bird’s retirement, the Celtics struggled through another period of rebuilding until the mid-2000s and the signing of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett. Nicknamed the “Big 3,” the trio helped the team complete the biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history and earn its first national championship in more than 20 years.
