Boston Celtics

The most decorated franchise in NBA history. 18 championships and counting, the green and white still casts a long shadow.

The story

Eighteen banners and the weight they carry

The Celtics started in 1946 and turned winning into a habit no other American team has matched. Bill Russell arrived in 1956 and the dynasty followed: eleven titles in thirteen years, built on defence, Red Auerbach's eye for talent, and that famous victory cigar.

The 1980s gave the league Larry Bird, and his duel with Magic Johnson's Lakers pulled the NBA back from the brink. After Bird the green went quiet for two decades, broken only by the 2008 title that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen dragged home.

In 2024 Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown delivered number eighteen, moving Boston one clear of the Lakers for the most in history. The retired numbers in the TD Garden rafters are not decoration. They are the job description.

For the fans

You do not support the Celtics for fun. You inherit a standard. Anything less than a banner feels like a wasted year, and that is exactly how the green wants it.

For the punters

Boston has long been tough to beat at home and the recent sides are elite. The watch-out is the playoffs, where a cold night from three can turn a heavy favourite into a live underdog. Check their three-point rate before you lay the points.

See the Celtics odds board →Rivalries: Lakers · 76ers

Power rank

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Record

42-12

Conference

East

Division

Atlantic