Editing Boston Celtics

{{Short description|American professional basketball team}}
{{redirect|Celtics|other uses|Celtic (disambiguation){{!}}Celtic}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball club
| name = Boston Celtics
| current = 2024–25 Boston Celtics season
| logo = Boston Celtics.svg
| imagesize = 190px
| conference = [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern]]
| division = [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic]]
| founded = 1946
| history = '''Boston Celtics'''<br />1946–present<ref>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Brian|title=What were the original NBA teams?|url=https://www.nba.com/news/what-were-the-original-nba-teams|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=September 14, 2023|access-date=May 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NBA.com/Stats–Boston Celtics seasons|url=https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612738/seasons|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Stats.NBA.com|access-date=December 2, 2022|archive-date=December 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202035952/https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612738/seasons|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Franchise History–NBA Advanced Stats|url=https://www.nba.com/stats/history|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|access-date=May 13, 2024}}</ref>
| arena = [[TD Garden]]
| location = [[Boston|Boston, Massachusetts]]
| colors = Green, white, black, gold, brown<!-- Please do not change the HTML color codes, unless the color codes in the team's Reproduction and Usage Guideline Sheet from MediaCentral.NBA.com have changed. Thank you. --><ref name="CelticsShowcaseNike">{{cite news|last=Snow|first=Taylor C.|title=Celtics Showcase New Nike Uniform System|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/summer-092117-celtics-showcase-new-nike-uniform-system|publisher=NBA Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=November 26, 2017|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404080404/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/summer-092117-celtics-showcase-new-nike-uniform-system|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LuckyAltLogo">{{cite press release|title=Boston Celtics Announce New Alternate Logo|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-announce-new-alternate-logo|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=July 21, 2014|access-date=July 26, 2015|archive-date=October 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004032021/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-announce-new-alternate-logo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Boston Celtics Reproduction and Usage Guideline Sheet|url=https://cdn-assets-us.frontify.com/s3/frontify-enterprise-files-us/eyJwYXRoIjoibmJhXC9maWxlXC9NU2U4WmtLeDFwRVZQQmI1YW5LRS5wZGYifQ:nba:n2kscyTBxmyspCoRdi0_-mgyKc7KgySrJ5z3_iOm6B0|publisher=NBA Properties, Inc.|access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref><br />{{color box|#008348}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} {{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#BB9753}} {{color box|#A73832}}
| sponsor = [[Amica Mutual Insurance]]<ref name="CelticsAmica">{{cite news|last=Snow|first=Taylor|title=Amica to Become Jersey Patch Partner for Celtics|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar-summer-amica-to-become-jersey-patch-partner-for-celtics|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=July 9, 2024|access-date=July 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Amica Mutual Insurance to become new jersey patch partner for 18-time champion Boston Celtics|url=https://www.amica.com/en/about-us/media-center/news-release-archive/2024/amica-celtics-partnership.html|website=Amica.com|date=July 9, 2024|access-date=February 18, 2025}}</ref>
| gm = [[Brad Stevens]]<ref name="CelticsLeadership">{{cite web|title=Leadership|url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/leadership/|publisher=HeritageWerks|website=BostonCelticsHistory.com|access-date=January 29, 2023|archive-date=February 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202143318/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/leadership/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ceo = [[Wyc Grousbeck]]<ref name="CelticsLeadership" />
| President = [[Rich Gotham]]<ref name="GothamCeltics">{{cite press release|title=Boston Celtics Name Rich Gotham Team President|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press041807-gotham-president.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=April 18, 2007|access-date=January 29, 2023|archive-date=January 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129231449/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press041807-gotham-president.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| coach = [[Joe Mazzulla]]
| owner = [[Bill Chisholm (businessman)|William Chisholm]]
| affiliation = [[Maine Celtics]]
| league_champs = '''18''' ([[1957 NBA Finals|1957]], [[1959 NBA Finals|1959]], [[1960 NBA Finals|1960]], [[1961 NBA Finals|1961]], [[1962 NBA Finals|1962]], [[1963 NBA Finals|1963]], [[1964 NBA Finals|1964]], [[1965 NBA Finals|1965]], [[1966 NBA Finals|1966]], [[1968 NBA Finals|1968]], [[1969 NBA Finals|1969]], [[1974 NBA Finals|1974]], [[1976 NBA Finals|1976]], [[1981 NBA Finals|1981]], [[1984 NBA Finals|1984]], [[1986 NBA Finals|1986]], [[2008 NBA Finals|2008]], [[2024 NBA Finals|2024]])
| conf_champs = '''11''' ([[1974 NBA playoffs|1974]], [[1976 NBA playoffs|1976]], [[1981 NBA playoffs|1981]], [[1984 NBA playoffs|1984]], [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985]], [[1986 NBA playoffs|1986]], [[1987 NBA playoffs|1987]], [[2008 NBA playoffs|2008]], [[2010 NBA playoffs|2010]], [[2022 NBA playoffs|2022]], [[2024 NBA playoffs|2024]])
| div_champs = '''35''' ([[1956–57 NBA season|1957]], [[1957–58 NBA season|1958]], [[1958–59 NBA season|1959]], [[1959–60 NBA season|1960]], [[1960–61 NBA season|1961]], [[1961–62 NBA season|1962]], [[1962–63 NBA season|1963]], [[1963–64 NBA season|1964]], [[1964–65 NBA season|1965]], [[1971–72 NBA season|1972]], [[1972–73 NBA season|1973]], [[1973–74 NBA season|1974]], [[1974–75 NBA season|1975]], [[1975–76 NBA season|1976]], [[1979–80 NBA season|1980]], [[1980–81 NBA season|1981]], [[1981–82 NBA season|1982]], [[1983–84 NBA season|1984]], [[1984–85 NBA season|1985]], [[1985–86 NBA season|1986]], [[1986–87 NBA season|1987]], [[1987–88 NBA season|1988]], [[1990–91 NBA season|1991]], [[1991–92 NBA season|1992]], [[2004–05 NBA season|2005]], [[2007–08 NBA season|2008]], [[2008–09 NBA season|2009]], [[2009–10 NBA season|2010]], [[2010–11 NBA season|2011]], [[2011–12 NBA season|2012]], [[2016–17 NBA season|2017]], [[2021–22 NBA season|2022]], [[2022–23 NBA season|2023]], [[2023–24 NBA season|2024]], [[2024–25 NBA season|2025]])
| ret_nums = '''23''' ([[Robert Parish|00]], [[Walter A. Brown|1]], [[Red Auerbach|2]], [[Dennis Johnson|3]], [[Kevin Garnett|5]], [[Bill Russell|6]], [[Jo Jo White|10]], [[Bob Cousy|14]], [[Tom Heinsohn|15]], [[Satch Sanders|16]], [[John Havlicek|17]], [[Dave Cowens|18]], [[Don Nelson|19]], [[Bill Sharman|21]], [[Ed Macauley|22]], [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|23]], [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|24]], [[K. C. Jones|25]], [[Cedric Maxwell|31]], [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|32]], [[Larry Bird|33]], [[Paul Pierce|34]], [[Reggie Lewis|35]], [[Jim Loscutoff|LOSCY]])
| website = {{URL|nba.com/celtics}}
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The '''Boston Celtics''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɛ|l|t|ᵻ|k|s}} {{respell|SEL|tiks}}{{efn|The pronunciation of [[Celts]] with an initial {{IPA|/s/}} (imported from French) was common at the time of the team's founding, but outside of organization names, is now pronounced with a {{IPA|/k/}}, as in Ancient Latin and Greek.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/wickedpedia/2023/10/24/how-do-you-pronounce-boston-celtics/ |title=Wickedpedia: Why don't we pronounce the Boston Celtics with a hard 'C'? |publisher=[[Boston.com]] |author=Conor Ryan |date=October 24, 2023 }}</ref>}}) are an American professional [[basketball]] team based in [[Boston]]. The Celtics compete in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) as a member of the [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] of the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]]. Founded in 1946 as one of the league's original eight teams, the Celtics play their home games at [[TD Garden]], a shared arena with the [[NHL]]'s [[Boston Bruins]]. The Celtics are commonly regarded as the most successful team in NBA history and hold the records for [[List of NBA champions|most NBA championships won]], with 18, and [[List of all-time NBA win–loss records|most recorded wins]] of any NBA franchise.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenstein |first=Greg |date= June 17, 2024|title= NBA Finals: Celtics defeat Mavericks for record-setting 18th championship |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/nba-finals-celtics-defeat-mavericks-league-best-18th-championship-rcna157266 |work= [[NBC News]]|location= |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NBA Season Recaps: A look back at every season since 1946|url=https://www.nba.com/history/season-recap-index|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-date=September 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928070222/http://www.nba.com/history/nba-season-recaps/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Celtics' rise to dominance began in the late 1950s, after the team, led by coach [[Red Auerbach]], acquired [[Bill Russell]] in 1956, later becoming the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty. Led by Russell, [[Bob Cousy]], and [[Tom Heinsohn]], the Celtics won their first NBA championship in [[1957 NBA Finals|1957]]. Russell, along with a talented supporting cast of future [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]] including Heinsohn, [[Don Nelson]], [[K. C. Jones]], [[John Havlicek]], [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]], [[Satch Sanders]], and [[Bill Sharman]], would usher the Celtics into the greatest period in franchise history, winning eight consecutive NBA championships from [[1959 NBA Finals|1959]] to [[1966 NBA Finals|1966]]. After Russell became the team's [[player-coach]], as well as the first African American head coach in any United States sport, they won back-to-back titles in [[1968 NBA Finals|1968]] and [[1969 NBA Finals|1969]]. The Celtics entered a period of rebuilding after Russell retired in 1969.

In the mid-1970s, the Celtics became contenders once again, winning championships in [[1974 NBA Finals|1974]] and [[1976 NBA Finals|1976]] under the leadership of head coach Tom Heinsohn with [[Dave Cowens]], Havlicek, and [[Jo Jo White]]. In the 1980s, the Celtics returned to dominance. Anchored by the "Big Three" of [[Larry Bird]], [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]], and [[Robert Parish]], the team experienced a renewed rivalry with the [[Showtime (basketball)|"Showtime" Lakers]] and won championships in [[1981 NBA Finals|1981]], [[1984 NBA Finals|1984]], and [[1986 NBA Finals|1986]], the latter two with head coach K. C. Jones. After the retirements of Bird and McHale, the departure of Parish, and the untimely deaths of 1986 draft pick [[Len Bias]] and star player [[Reggie Lewis]], the Celtics struggled through the 1990s and much of the early 2000s.

After another period of rebuilding, the Celtics assembled a new "Big Three" around team captain [[Paul Pierce]] by acquiring [[Ray Allen]] and [[Kevin Garnett]] in the 2007 offseason. Under the leadership of head coach [[Doc Rivers]], the team defeated the Lakers to win their 17th championship in [[2008 NBA Finals|2008]], while also losing to the Lakers in the [[2010 NBA Finals|2010 Finals]]. Allen, Garnett, and Pierce were no longer with the team by the start of the 2013–14 season, with Garnett and Pierce being traded to the [[Brooklyn Nets]] for four total future first round picks. With two of these first round picks, the team drafted [[Jaylen Brown]] and [[Jayson Tatum]] in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Led by [[Jays (Boston Celtics)|"The Jays"]], the team returned to the [[NBA Finals]] in [[2022 NBA Finals|2022]], losing to the [[Golden State Warriors]], and defeated the [[Dallas Mavericks]] in [[2024 NBA Finals|2024]] to secure their 18th championship.

The "Celtics" nickname and the team's mascot "Lucky the Leprechaun" are nods to [[History of Irish Americans in Boston|Boston's historically large Irish population]], and also to the [[Original Celtics]], a [[Barnstorming (sports)|barnstorming]] basketball team that played in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|title=What's in a Name?|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Name.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802165617/https://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Name.html|archive-date=August 2, 2021|access-date=December 26, 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Celtics have [[Celtics–Lakers rivalry|a notable rivalry]] with the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], who are second in NBA history with 17 championships. The teams' rivalry was especially pronounced in the 1960s and 1980s. The Celtics have played the Lakers a record 12 times in the NBA Finals and have defeated them nine times. 41 members of [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Basketball Hall of Fame]] have played for the Celtics at least once in their careers. Four Celtics players (Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird) have won the [[NBA Most Valuable Player award]]; overall, Celtics players have won an NBA-record 10 MVP awards.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mvp.html "Most Valuable Player Award Winners"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041314/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mvp.html |date=June 29, 2011 }} basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 16, 2009.</ref>

==History==
{{main|History of the Boston Celtics}}

===1946–1950: Early years===
The Boston Celtics were formed on June 6, 1946, by [[Boston Garden-Arena Corporation]] president [[Walter A. Brown]] as a team in the [[Basketball Association of America]]. In 1948, the team earned its first playoff appearance, only to lose to the [[Chicago Stags]] 4–1. In 1949, the team missed the playoffs, fifth in the Eastern Division. Then, on August 3, 1949, the team became part of the [[National Basketball Association]] following the merger of the BAA and rival [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]].<ref>{{cite news |title=NBL, BAA merge, end pro net war |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republic-nbl-baa-merge-end-pro-net/149768648/ |access-date=21 June 2024 |work=The Republic |agency=UP |date=4 August 1949 |page=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Celtics History Highlights|url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/history-highlights/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=BostonCelticsHistory.com|access-date=December 26, 2022|archive-date=December 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226192523/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/history-highlights/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1950, the Celtics signed [[Chuck Cooper (basketball)|Chuck Cooper]], becoming the first NBA franchise to [[Draft (sports)|draft]] a black player.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 14, 2021|url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-top-moments-earl-lloyd-chuck-cooper-nat-clifton-new-path-nba|title=Top Moments: Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, Nat Clifton blaze new path in NBA|work=NBA|access-date=December 27, 2022|archive-date=December 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227052447/https://www.nba.com/news/history-top-moments-earl-lloyd-chuck-cooper-nat-clifton-new-path-nba|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chuck Connors]] of ''[[The Rifleman]]'' fame was an original member of the Celtics in 1946.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/connoch01.html|title=Chuck Connors Stats|access-date=April 5, 2022|archive-date=May 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519000250/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/connoch01.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1950–1958: Arrival of Bob Cousy and Red Auerbach===
[[File:Bob Cousy NYWTS.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Bob Cousy]] played 13 years for the team, 6 of them ending in NBA titles]]
The Celtics struggled during their early years, until the hiring of coach [[Red Auerbach]].<ref>Hilton, Lisette [https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/auerbach_red.html Auerbach's Celtics played as a team], espn.go.com/classic. Retrieved August 28, 2009.</ref> In the franchise's early days, Auerbach had no assistants, ran all the practices, did all the scouting—both of opposing teams and college draft prospects—and scheduled all road trips. One of the first great players to join the Celtics was [[Bob Cousy]], whom Auerbach initially refused to draft out of nearby [[College of the Holy Cross|Holy Cross]] because he was "too flashy".<ref>{{cite news|last=Schwartz|first=Larry|title=Celtics triedltimate passer|url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00014144.html|publisher=ESPN|access-date=January 8, 2017|archive-date=April 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426074519/https://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014144.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Cousy's contract eventually became the property of the [[Chicago Stags]],<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/players/cousy_bio.html Bob Cousy Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183941/http://www.nba.com/history/players/cousy_bio.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com/history, accessed February 1, 2008|</ref> but when that franchise went bankrupt, Cousy went to the Celtics in a dispersal draft.

After the [[1955–56 NBA season|1955–56 season]], Auerbach made a stunning trade, sending perennial All-Star [[Ed Macauley]] to the [[St. Louis Hawks]] along with the draft rights to [[Cliff Hagan]] for the second overall pick in the draft.<ref name="Hall of Fame">[http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-ed-macauley.html Ed Macauley], hoophall.com, accessed May 26, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071003101707/http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-ed-macauley.html |date=October 3, 2007 }}</ref> After negotiating with the [[Rochester Royals]]—a negotiation that included a promise that the Celtics owner would send the highly sought-after [[Ice Capades]] to Rochester if the Royals would let Russell slide to No. 2—Auerbach used the pick to select [[University of San Francisco]] [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Bill Russell]].<ref>[http://davidkamp.com/2006/09/only_the_ball_was_brown_2.php Only the Ball Was Brown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320130826/http://davidkamp.com/2006/09/only_the_ball_was_brown_2.php |date=March 20, 2012 }}, daviskamp.com. Retrieved August 15, 2008.</ref> Auerbach also acquired Holy Cross standout, and 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year, [[Tom Heinsohn]].<ref name="recap1950s">[http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Recap_1950s.html Season Recap&nbsp;– 1950s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209150816/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Recap_1950s.html |date=February 9, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved February 17, 2008.</ref> Both Russell and Heinsohn worked extraordinarily well with Cousy, and they were the players around whom Auerbach would build the champion Celtics for more than a decade.<ref name="recap1950s" /> With [[Bill Russell]], the Celtics advanced to the [[1957 NBA Finals]] and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, earning their first NBA title.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/players/pettit_bio.html Bob Pettit Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184005/http://www.nba.com/history/players/pettit_bio.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com/history. Retrieved February 28, 2007.</ref> In 1958, the Celtics again advanced to the [[1958 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]], this time losing to the Hawks in 6 games.<ref>[http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/stlhawks/stlhawks.html St. Louis Hawks (1955–1968)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228121102/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/stlhawks/stlhawks.html |date=December 28, 2011 }}, sportsecyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 28, 2007.</ref>

===1958–1969: Decade-long dynasty===
{{multiple image
|align=right
|direction=horizontal
|total_width=350
|image1 = Bill russell dribbling (cropped).jpg 
|caption1 = [[Bill Russell]] starred on 11 NBA title teams in 13 years as a Celtic
|image2 = Sam_Jones,_Boston_Celtics,_1969.jpg 
|caption2 = [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]] played with the Celtics (1957–1969) winning 10 titles
}}
Following the acquisition of [[K.C. Jones]] in 1958, the Celtics began a dynasty that would last for more than a decade.<ref>[http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/celtics.html Boston Celtics (1946&nbsp;– present)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211811/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/celtics.html |date=May 13, 2012 }}, sportsecyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 9, 2008.</ref> In 1959, the Celtics won the NBA championship after sweeping the [[Minneapolis Lakers]], the first of their record eight consecutive championships.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/lakers_history_new.html Los Angeles Lakers History], nba.com/lakers. Retrieved January 13, 2005. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184021/http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/lakers_history_new.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}</ref> During that time, the Celtics met the Lakers in the Finals five times, starting an intense and often bitter rivalry that has spanned generations. In 1964, the Celtics became the first NBA team to have an all African-American starting lineup. On December 26, 1964, [[Willie Naulls]] replaced an injured Tom Heinsohn, joining [[Satch Sanders|Tom 'Satch' Sanders]], K.C. Jones, [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]], and Bill Russell in the starting lineup. The Celtics defeated St. Louis 97–84. Boston won its next 11 games with Naulls starting in place of Heinsohn.<ref>[http://www.sportshistorytoday.com/celtics-start-black-team-december-26-1964/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102223034/http://www.sportshistorytoday.com/celtics-start-black-team-december-26-1964/|date=November 2, 2014}}., Retrieved November 2, 2014.</ref> The Celtics of the late 1950s–1960s are widely considered one of the most dominant teams of all time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Berube|first=Reagan|title=High Five|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/BHM2004_HighFive.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|access-date=October 21, 2018|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184034/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/BHM2004_HighFive.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Auerbach retired as coach after the 1965–66 season and Russell took over as player-coach, which was Auerbach's ploy to keep Russell interested.<ref>[http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=127 Celtics Coach Red Auerbach Retires] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021195310/http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=127 |date=October 21, 2011 }}, massmoments.org. Retrieved October 28, 2010.</ref> With his appointment Russell became the first African-American coach in any U.S. pro sport. Auerbach would remain the general manager, a position he would hold well into the 1980s. However, the Celtics' string of NBA titles ended when they lost to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in the 1967 Eastern Conference Finals. The aging team managed two more championships in 1968 and 1969, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers each time.<ref>[http://www.blinkbits.com/blinks/boston_celtics Discover the Wisdom of Mankind on Boston Celtics] blinkbits.com. Retrieved July 16, 2005. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903042217/http://www.blinkbits.com/blinks/boston_celtics |date=September 3, 2006 }}</ref> Russell retired after the 1969 season, effectively ending a Celtics dynasty that had garnered an unrivaled 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/heritageweek2007/powerrankings6970.html Heritage Week: Power Rankings, 1969–70] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184050/http://www.nba.com/heritageweek2007/powerrankings6970.html |date=June 28, 2011 }} nba.com. Retrieved December 8, 2007.</ref> The team's run of 8 consecutive is the longest championship streak in U.S. professional sports history,<ref>[http://www.worldalmanac.com/blog/2007/01/unbreakable_sports_records.html "Unbreakable" Sports Records (The World Almanac)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802071249/http://www.worldalmanac.com/blog/2007/01/unbreakable_sports_records.html |date=August 2, 2009 }} worldalmanac.com. Retrieved April 13, 2007.</ref> with Russell's 11 titles being the [[List of NBA players with most championships|most won by an NBA player]].

===1969–1978: Rebuilding and further success===
{{multiple image
|align=right
|direction=horizontal
|total_width=350
|image1 = John Havlicek 1960s.jpeg 
|caption1 = [[John Havlicek]], 16 years with the Celtics
|image2 = Dave Cowens.jpeg
|caption2 = [[Dave Cowens]], two titles and MVP in 1973
}}
The 1969–70 season was a rebuilding year, as the Celtics had their first losing record since the [[1949–50 NBA season|1949–50 season]]. However, with the acquisition of [[Paul Silas]] and future Hall of Famers [[Dave Cowens]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/dave-cowens/|title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Dave Cowens|website=www.hoophall.com|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716102027/http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/dave-cowens/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Jo Jo White]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/jo-jo-white/ |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Jo Jo White |access-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006160802/http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/jo-jo-white/ |archive-date=October 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Celtics soon became dominant again. After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1972, the Celtics regrouped and came out determined in 1973 and posted an excellent 68–14 regular season record. But the season ended in disappointment, as they were upset in seven games by the [[New York Knicks]] in the Conference Finals. [[John Havlicek]] injured his right shoulder in game six and was forced to play game seven shooting left-handed.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Recap_1970s.html Season Recaps&nbsp;– 1970s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209150820/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Recap_1970s.html |date=February 9, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved August 2, 2003.</ref> The Celtics returned to the playoffs the next year, defeating the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] in the [[1974 NBA Finals]] for their 12th NBA championship.<ref>[http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/buck/other/may01/bucks-finals2.asp Bucks NBA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216071455/http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/buck/other/may01/bucks-finals2.asp |date=December 16, 2008 }}, jsonline.com. Retrieved April 16, 2005.</ref> Boston took a 3–2 series lead and had a chance to claim the title on their home court. The Bucks won Game Six in Boston when [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] nestled in a hook shot with 3&nbsp;seconds left in the game's second overtime, and the series returned to Milwaukee. Cowens was the hero in Game 7, scoring 28 points, as the Celtics brought the title back to Boston for the first time in five years.

In 1976, the team won yet another championship, defeating the [[Phoenix Suns]] in six games. The Finals featured one of the greatest games in NBA history. With the series tied at two games apiece, the Suns trailed early in the Boston Garden, but came back to force overtime. In double overtime, a [[Gar Heard]] turn-around jumper at the top of the key sent the game to a third overtime, at which point the Celtics prevailed.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/suns/history/greatestgame_index.html Greatest Game Ever] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210025753/http://www.nba.com/suns/history/greatestgame_index.html |date=February 10, 2012 }}, nba.com/suns. Retrieved March 2, 2002.</ref> After the 1976 championship and a [[1977 NBA playoffs|playoff appearance in 1977]], Boston went into another rebuilding phase. In the [[1977 NBA draft]], the Celtics drafted a young forward from [[University of North Carolina at Charlotte|UNC Charlotte]] named [[Cedric Maxwell]].<ref>[http://www.sportsfilter.com/cat.cfm/sports/Basketball.html Boston Drafts Cedric Mexwell], sportsfilter.com. Retrieved December 2, 2001. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020408231011/http://www.sportsfilter.com/cat.cfm/sports/Basketball.html |date=April 8, 2002 }}</ref> "Cornbread" Maxwell did not contribute much in his rookie season, but he showed promise. Auerbach's job became even tougher following the [[1977–78 NBA season|1977–78 season]] in which they went 32–50 as Havlicek, the Celtics' all-time leading scorer, retired after 16 seasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Retirement of Havlicek to Remove Another Link to. Celtic Glory Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/29/archives/retirement-of-havlicek-to-remove-another-link-to-celtic-glory-years.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=November 21, 2021 |date=January 29, 1978 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065159/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/29/archives/retirement-of-havlicek-to-remove-another-link-to-celtic-glory-years.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Celtics owned two of the top eight picks in the [[1978 NBA draft]].<ref>[http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/okla-thousand-point.html Oklahoma Sooners Official Athletic Site&nbsp;— Men's Basketball] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215113145/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/okla-thousand-point.html |date=February 15, 2008 }}, soonersports.com. Retrieved February 17, 2008.</ref> Auerbach took a risk by selecting junior [[Larry Bird]] of [[Indiana State]] with the sixth overall pick, knowing that Bird would stay in college for his senior year but believing that his potential would make him worth the wait. The team retained Bird's rights for one year and signed him soon after he led Indiana State to the NCAA championship game. In 1978, Celtics owner [[Irv Levin]] traded franchises with [[Buffalo Braves]] owner [[John Y. Brown Jr.]]<ref>Distel, Dave (July 20, 1978). "Celtics for Braves: It's Not Chopped Liver for Levin". The Modesto Bee.</ref> Two weeks before the swap of franchises was made official, details of a six-player trade between the two teams were reported. Boston sent [[Freeman Williams]], [[Kevin Kunnert]], and [[Kermit Washington]] to the Braves for "Tiny" Archibald, Billy Knight, and [[Marvin Barnes]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1978/07/17/822808/will-red-and-brown-harmonize-the-celtics-smoothly-changed-hands-but-the-new-owner-and-old-gm-have-yet-to-shake-on-it|title=WILL RED AND BROWN HARMONIZE?|first=Ron|last=Reid|website=Vault}}</ref> The move turned Boston fans against Brown, both because Kunnert and Washington were seen as key pieces of the team's future and because Auerbach publicly stated that he was not consulted about the trade.<ref name="auto" />

===1979–1992: Larry Bird era===
The relationship between Brown and Auerbach worsened with Brown's decision to acquire [[Bob McAdoo]] in February 1979,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/12/archives/knicks-send-mcadoo-to-celtics-for-3-picks-came-here-in-1976-mcadoo.html|title=Knicks Send McAdoo To Celtics for 3 Picks|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|date=February 12, 1979|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301121521/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/12/archives/knicks-send-mcadoo-to-celtics-for-3-picks-came-here-in-1976-mcadoo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in exchange for three first-round draft picks that Auerbach had planned to use to rebuild the franchise.<ref name="auto1">Golden, Daniel (May 10, 1987). "Brown Yearns for Old Kentucky Home; He'd Love to Return to the Governor's Mansion – And So Far, He's the Frontrunner". The Boston Globe.</ref> Again, Brown made the trade without consulting Auerbach.<ref>May, Peter (May 24, 2000). "Vindicated McAdoo Happily Heading for the Hall". The Boston Globe.</ref> Auerbach almost left Boston to take a job with the New York Knicks as a result.<ref name="auto1"/> With public support strongly behind Auerbach, Brown sold the team to [[Harry Mangurian]] in 1979 rather than run the risk of losing his famed general manager.<ref>Pluto, Terry (1990). Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association. Simon and Schuster. {{ISBN|0-671-67390-4}} at 347.</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_bio.html Bob McAdoo Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301202703/http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_bio.html |date=March 1, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved August 9, 2001.</ref> The Celtics would struggle through the season, going 29–53.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/timeline/ CNN/SI&nbsp;– 33: Timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605004844/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/timeline/ |date=June 5, 2012 }}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved April 2, 2002.</ref> Newcomers [[Chris Ford]], [[Rick Robey]], [[Cedric Maxwell]] and [[Nate Archibald]] failed to reverse the team's momentum.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/challenge_celtics1981.html All-Time Finals Challenge: 1981 Celtics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184156/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/challenge_celtics1981.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com. Retrieved June 4, 2000.</ref>

[[File:Larry Bird Lipofsky.jpg|thumb|12 time All-Star [[Larry Bird]] played in the Celtics from 1979 to 1992. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.]]
Larry Bird debuted for the Celtics during the [[1979–80 NBA season|1979–80 season]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/celtics_history.html Boston Celtics History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026022832/http://www.nba.com/celtics/celtics_history.html |date=October 26, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved February 10, 2008.</ref> With a new owner in place, Auerbach made a number of moves that would bring the team back to prominence. He almost immediately traded McAdoo,<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_summary.html Bob McAdoo Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321145107/http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_summary.html |date=March 21, 2010 }}, nba.com/history. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref><!-- Under "Transactions" section --> a former NBA scoring champion, to the [[Detroit Pistons]] for [[guard (basketball)|guard]] [[M. L. Carr]], a defensive specialist, and two first-round picks in the [[1980 NBA draft]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /> He also picked up [[point guard]] [[Gerald Henderson]] from the [[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]. Carr, Archibald, Henderson and Ford formed a highly competent backcourt, blending in well with the talented frontcourt of Cowens, Maxwell and Bird. With Bird winning [[NBA Rookie of the Year]] honors<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html Rookie of the Year Award Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307060322/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html |date=March 7, 2011 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> the team went 61–21, a 32-game improvement from the previous season. Playing strong in the playoffs, the Celtics fell to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1980.html 1980 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711100852/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1980.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref>

After the season, Auerbach completed one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, garnering a pair of future Hall of Famers for a pair of first-round draft picks. Seeking to improve the team immediately, Auerbach sent the team's two first-round draft picks to the [[Golden State Warriors]] for both [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Robert Parish]]<ref name="parish" /> and the Warriors' first-round pick. He then used the pick the Celtics obtained from Golden State to select [[University of Minnesota]] [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html#1980 Complete First R<!-- article title -->ound Results&nbsp;– 1980–89] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321192607/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html#1980 |date=March 21, 2010 }}, nba.com/history/draft. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> The "Big Three" of Bird, McHale and Parish played together for the Celtics until 1992, won three NBA championships together,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_trios_in_sports/bird_mchale_parish.html|title=RealClearSports – 1. Bird/McHale/Parish|first=Posted on 10 26 10 2:05 AM|last=UTC|website=www.realclearsports.com|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145633/http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_trios_in_sports/bird_mchale_parish.html|archive-date=December 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and were later described as the best NBA frontcourt of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2004/07/12/376468/wheres-the-chief-robert-parish-left-the-game-vowing-never-to-return-but-like-his-old-teammates-from-boston-hes-no-longer-content-to-be-on-the-sideline|title=Where's the Chief? Robert Parish left the game vowing never to return. But like his old teammates from Boston, he's no longer content to be on the sideline|first=Leigh|last=Montville|website=Vault|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602143155/https://www.si.com/vault/2004/07/12/376468/wheres-the-chief-robert-parish-left-the-game-vowing-never-to-return-but-like-his-old-teammates-from-boston-hes-no-longer-content-to-be-on-the-sideline|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SPRj9R73tA0C&q=bird+mchale+parish+best+frontcourt&pg=PA83|title=Rivals: Legendary Matchups That Made Sports History|first1=David K.|last1=Wiggins|first2=R. Pierre|last2=Rodgers|date=October 4, 2012|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=9781610753494|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=birdbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html|title=Larry Bird Bio|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|work=NBA.com|access-date=August 17, 2007|archive-date=January 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113101905/http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-01-19-9801190125-story.html|title=FANS JUST SEE THAT NUMBER|first=JEFF JACOBS; Courant Sports|last=Columnist|website=courant.com|date=January 19, 1998|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301121506/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-01-19-9801190125-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Robert Parish Celtics.jpg|thumb|Robert Parish]]
Despite losing [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Dave Cowens]] to retirement late in training camp, the Celtics went 62–20 under coach [[Bill Fitch]] in [[1980–81 NBA season|1980–81]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Season-by-Season Record|url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/season-by-season-record/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=BostonCelticsHistory.com|access-date=December 26, 2022|archive-date=December 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226191015/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/season-by-season-record/|url-status=live}}</ref> Once again, the Celtics faced the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals, falling behind 3–1 before coming back to win Game Seven, 91–90. The Celtics went on to win the 1981 NBA championship over the [[Houston Rockets]],<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981.html 1981 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712095419/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981.html |date=July 12, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> with Maxwell being named [[NBA Finals MVP]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/finalsmvps.html Finals MVP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812222132/http://www.nba.com/history/finalsmvps.html |date=August 12, 2017 }}, nba.com/history. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref>

Following the [[1981–82 NBA season|1981–82 season]], the Celtics once again met the 76ers in the playoffs. This time, they lost in seven games.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982.html 1982 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711135344/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> In [[1982–83 NBA season|1983]] the Celtics were swept in the playoffs (a first for the franchise) by the Milwaukee Bucks;<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1983.html 1983 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604201835/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1983.html |date=June 4, 2020 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> afterwards, Fitch resigned and the team was sold to new owners led by [[Don Gaston]].<ref name="gaston" />

In [[1983–84 NBA season|1983–84]], the Celtics under new coach [[K. C. Jones]] would go 62–20 and return to the [[1984 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] after a three-year hiatus.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1984.html Boston Celtics Roster and Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711215434/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1984.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> Boston came back from a 2–1 deficit to defeat the Lakers for their 15th championship.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/The1984NBAFinals_121203.html The 1984 NBA Finals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184428/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/The1984NBAFinals_121203.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> Bird renewed his college rivalry with Lakers star [[Magic Johnson]] during this series. After the season, Auerbach officially retired as general manager, but maintained the position of team president.<ref name="red"/> He was succeeded by [[Jan Volk]].<ref name="red"/>

In 1985, the Lakers and Celtics met again in the Finals, with the Lakers winning.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1985.html 1985 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404191546/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1985.html |date=April 4, 2020 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> This was the first time the Lakers had defeated the Celtics in the Finals and the only time the team had won a championship at Boston Garden. During the following off-season, the Celtics acquired [[Bill Walton]] from the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] in exchange for [[Cedric Maxwell]].<ref>[http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2007/11/postscript-on-walton-maxwell-trade.html Postscript on the Walton-Maxwell Trade] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120710191524/http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2007/11/postscript-on-walton-maxwell-trade.html |date=July 10, 2012 }}, lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com September 7, 1985. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> Walton had been an All-Star and league MVP while leading the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] to the 1977 NBA championship, but injuries had hobbled him since. Considered the best passing center in NBA history, he stayed healthy and was a big part of the Celtics' success in 1986.

The Celtics won the second pick in the [[1986 NBA draft]] and drafted [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]] star [[Len Bias]], one of the most heralded prospects of his era.<ref>Jackson, Scoop [https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/060619_bias The legend of Len Bias], sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> Bias died 36 hours later of an accidental cocaine overdose.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/biasfrnt.htm The Len Bias Tragedy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201915/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/biasfrnt.htm |date=June 28, 2011 }}, washingtonpost.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> Despite the tragedy, the Celtics remained competitive in [[1986–87 NBA season|1986–87]], going 59–23 and again winning the Eastern Conference Championship.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1987.html 1987 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018123628/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1987.html |date=October 18, 2011 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> They were defeated in the Finals by the Lakers in six games.

In 1988, the Celtics lost in six games to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988.html 1988 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711140305/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> Following the season, head coach K.C. Jones retired and was replaced by assistant [[Jimmy Rodgers (basketball)|Jimmy Rodgers]]. Boston's hopes for [[1988–89 NBA season|1988–89]] faded when Bird underwent a procedure to remove bone spurs in his feet early in the season, and the Celtics won just 42 games before a first-round playoff defeat to the Pistons. Bird returned in [[1989–90 NBA season|1989–90]] and led the Celtics to a 52–30 record. In the [[1990 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], the Celtics collapsed after winning the first two games in a best-of-five series against the New York Knicks, losing three straight games and the series. After the playoffs, Rodgers was fired and replaced by assistant coach and former Celtics player [[Chris Ford]].

Under Ford's leadership, the Celtics improved to 56–26 in [[1990–91 NBA season|1990–91]], recapturing the Atlantic Division title even though Bird missed 22 games with several injuries. The Celtics again lost to the Pistons in the playoffs. In 1992, a late-season rally allowed a 51–31 Celtics team to catch the New York Knicks and repeat as Atlantic Division champions. After sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the first round, the Celtics lost a seven-game Eastern Conference Semifinals series to the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]. Back injuries limited Bird to only 45 regular season games, and just four of ten in the playoffs. After thirteen NBA seasons and a gold medal at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona Olympics]] with the [[United States men's national basketball team|Dream Team]], continued back trouble led Bird to retire in 1992.

===1993–1998: Tragedy and decline===
The loss of Bird and the aging of the team's other veteran stars forced coach Chris Ford into rebuilding mode.<ref>{{cite news|title=Villanova to Retire Former Celtic Player, Coach Chris Ford's Jersey|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press-ford013006.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=January 30, 2006|access-date=October 21, 2018|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184439/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press-ford013006.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hopes centered on 26-year-old [[Reggie Lewis]], a [[small forward]] out of Boston's [[Northeastern University (Boston)|Northeastern University]]. In the [[1993 NBA playoffs|first round of the 1993 playoffs]] Lewis fainted during Boston's four-game series loss by the [[Charlotte Hornets]].<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1993.html 1993 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018131742/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1993.html |date=October 18, 2011 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 22, 2010.</ref> An examination revealed heart problems,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/13/sports/pro-basketball-reggie-lewis-s-family-had-history-heart-problems-report-asserts.html Pro Basketball; Reggie Lewis's Family Had a History of Heart Problems, Report Asserts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220054153/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/13/sports/pro-basketball-reggie-lewis-s-family-had-history-heart-problems-report-asserts.html |date=December 20, 2011 }}. ''The New York Times''. September 13, 1993. Retrieved November 22, 2010.</ref> but Lewis was able to get doctors to clear him for a comeback. Before he could make it he died of a heart attack while shooting baskets at Brandeis University during the off-season.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100118093133/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101930809-162165,00.html Did Reggie Lewis Have to Die?], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. June 21, 2001. Retrieved November 22, 2010.</ref> The Celtics honored his memory by retiring his number 35.<ref name="lewis">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/070203_RememberingReggie.html|title=Remembering Reggie... – The Official Site of the Boston Celtics|website=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030133432/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/070203_RememberingReggie.html|url-status=live}}</ref> With McHale having retired after the Celtics' playoff loss to the Hornets, Boston's original Big 3 era came to an end in 1994 upon Robert Parish's signing with Charlotte.<ref name="parish">Editors of Publication International, Ltd. [http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/robert-parish-at.htm Robert Parish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607223152/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/robert-parish-at.htm |date=June 7, 2013 }}, entertainment.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved November 22, 2010.</ref> The team collapsed, finishing out of the playoffs with a 32–50 mark.

In 1994, the Celtics hired former player and legendary towel-waving cheerleader [[M. L. Carr]] as the team's new vice president of basketball operations. Working alongside general manager [[Jan Volk]], Carr selected [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina]] star [[Eric Montross]] with Boston's first-round pick in the [[1994 NBA draft]]. Montross became the new heir apparent in the paint, but failed to develop and was eventually traded. [[1994–95 NBA season|1994–95]] was the Celtics' final season in the [[Boston Garden]]. The Celtics signed aging [[Dominique Wilkins]] as a free agent, who led the team in scoring with 17.8 PPG. Second-year player [[Dino Rađa]], a power forward from [[Croatia]], added an interior presence the team had been lacking in [[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94]]. The Celtics made the playoffs, losing to the heavily favored [[Orlando Magic]] in four games. In 1995, the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden to the Fleet Center (later TD BankNorth, then [[TD Garden]]). Carr fired [[Chris Ford]] and took the coaching reins himself. After drafting [[Providence College]] star Eric Williams, the Celtics struggled to a 33–49 record.

Things got worse in [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97]] as the Celtics lost a franchise-record 67 games, setting an unwanted [[imperfect season|NBA record]] winning only once against other Atlantic Division teams and just fifteen victories overall. In spite of the emergence of 1st-round draft pick [[Antoine Walker]], Carr resigned after the season ended, while [[Rick Pitino]] was hired to join the franchise as the team's president, director of basketball operations, and [[head coach]], reportedly on a $70 million ten-year contract. Volk resigned on May 7, 1997.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dohrmann |first1=George |title=Pitino Is Lured by Celtic Green |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-07-sp-56236-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 21, 2021 |date=May 7, 1997 |archive-date=February 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216062110/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-07-sp-56236-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Sam |title=Pity the Celtics with Pitino in charge |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-31-9710310050-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=November 21, 2021 |date=October 31, 1997 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065604/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-31-9710310050-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Pitino's appointment as team president was controversial as Auerbach, the incumbent who had filled that role for more than 25 years, first heard about the change from local media. Unfortunately for the franchise, Pitino was not the savior everyone hoped he would be. Auerbach bore the insult of being elbowed out with dignity, even as the team failed to improve.

The Celtics received the third and sixth draft picks in the [[1997 NBA draft]],<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1990s.html#1997 Complete First round Results&nbsp;– 1990–99] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124032549/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1990s.html#1997 |date=January 24, 2012 }} nba.com/history. Retrieved November 5, 2010.</ref> and used the picks to select a brand new backcourt through [[Chauncey Billups]] and [[Ron Mercer]]. The young team that lost 67 games the year before was dismantled, with [[David Wesley]], [[Dino Rađa]] and [[Rick Fox]] being let go, and Williams traded to the [[Denver Nuggets]] for a pair of second round draft picks (Williams would return to the Celtics in 1999 and played for four years). [[Walter McCarty]] was also acquired in a trade with the Knicks. With a promising start, upsetting the defending champions [[Chicago Bulls]] at home on opening night,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/02/sports/on-basketball-pitino-s-young-guns-overrun-the-bulls.html|title=On Basketball; Pitino's Young Guns Overrun The Bulls|first=Ira|last=Berkow|date=November 2, 1997|access-date=October 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|archive-date=December 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226114322/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/02/sports/on-basketball-pitino-s-young-guns-overrun-the-bulls.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and hard play from the youngsters that led to leaderships in turnovers and steals, the team improved its victories from 15 to 36 despite many losing streaks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/celtics_history.html#33|title=Boston Celtics History – Celtics.com – The official website of the Boston Celtics|first=Boston|last=Celtics|website=www.nba.com|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026022832/http://www.nba.com/celtics/celtics_history.html#33|archive-date=October 26, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boston-wins-without-pitino/|title=Boston Wins Without Pitino|website=[[CBS News]]|date=April 18, 1998|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806220339/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/boston-wins-without-pitino/|url-status=live}}</ref> Billups was subsequently traded to the Raptors during his rookie year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/19/sports/basketball-kenny-anderson-is-traded-to-celtics-in-7-player-deal.html|title=Basketball; Kenny Anderson Is Traded To Celtics in 7-Player Deal|first=Mike|last=Wise|date=February 19, 1998|access-date=October 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807070843/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/19/sports/basketball-kenny-anderson-is-traded-to-celtics-in-7-player-deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and Mercer was traded to the Nuggets during his third season.<ref>[http://www.celticslife.com/2012/05/what-hell-happened-toron-mercer.html What the Hell Happened to&nbsp;... Ron Mercer?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528045940/http://www.celticslife.com/2012/05/what-hell-happened-toron-mercer.html |date=May 28, 2012 }}, celticslife.com May 25, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.</ref>

===1998–2013: Paul Pierce era===
[[File:Paul Pierce 2008-01-13.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Drafted by the Celtics in 1998, [[Paul Pierce]] went on to star for the Celtics and later won the NBA Finals MVP Award when the team won the NBA championship in 2008]]
The following year in the [[1998 NBA draft]], the Celtics drafted [[Paul Pierce]],<ref>[http://www.mynbadraft.com/1998 1998 NBA Draft History&nbsp;– Round 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208071107/http://www.mynbadraft.com/1998 |date=February 8, 2012 }}, mynbadraft.com. Retrieved June 4, 2004.</ref> a college star who had been expected to be drafted much earlier than the Celtics' 10th overall pick. Pierce had an immediate impact during the lockout-shortened [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99 season]], averaging 19.5 points and being named [[NBA Rookie of the Month Award|Rookie of The Month]] in February as he led the league in steals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20000828&id=c1M1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1222,27991407|title=Philippine Daily Inquirer – Google News Archive Search|website=[[Google News]]|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010905/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20000828&id=c1M1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1222,27991407|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the Celtics continued to struggle as Pitino failed to achieve meaningful success. After Boston lost to the [[Toronto Raptors]] on March 1, 2000, on a buzzer-beater by [[Vince Carter]], Pitino delivered the memorable "walking through that door" speech, invoking Bird, McHale and Parish, which has been frequently cited over the years as a reality check for organizations wrestling with bygone glory.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=There's something about Pitino and the Celtics|magazine=[[Sporting News|The Sporting News]]|date=March 13, 2000|author=D'Alessandro, Dave|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_11_224/ai_60498918/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708184710/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_11_224/ai_60498918/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|access-date=June 11, 2009}}</ref> He resigned in January 2001.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/01/08/pitino_ap/ Pitino's resignation doesn't mean an end to his career] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112120435/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/01/08/pitino_ap/ |date=November 12, 2011 }}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com January 8, 2001. Retrieved January 9, 2001.</ref>

Following the resignation of Rick Pitino, the Celtics saw modest improvement under coach [[Jim O'Brien (basketball, born 1952)|Jim O'Brien]]. [[Paul Pierce]] matured into an NBA star and was ably complemented by Antoine Walker and the other players acquired over the years. While the team was 12–21 when Pitino left, O'Brien's record to finish the season was 24–24.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/ Franchise Index] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208143747/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/ |date=December 8, 2006 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 3, 2005.</ref> Following the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]] O'Brien was given the job of head coach on a permanent basis. As a result of numerous trades, the Celtics had three picks in the [[2001 NBA draft]]. They selected [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]], [[Joseph Forte|Joe Forte]], and [[Kedrick Brown]]. Only Johnson managed to succeed in the NBA, becoming a perennial All-Star after leaving the Celtics.

The Celtics entered the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]] with low expectations. The team's success in the latter stages of 2000–01 was largely forgotten, and critics were surprised when the team, along with the [[New Jersey Nets]], surged to the top of the [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, who were fresh off a trip to the [[2001 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]. The Celtics won a hard-fought 5-game series with the 76ers in the first round, 3–2. Pierce scored 46 points in the series-clinching game at the [[FleetCenter (Boston)|Fleet Center]]. In the Conference Semifinals, the Celtics defeated the favored Detroit Pistons 4–1. In their first trip to the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] Finals since [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988]], the Celtics jumped out to a 2–1 series lead over the Nets, after rallying from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to win Game 3, but would lose the next three games to fall 4–2.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2002.html 2002 NBA Playoffs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922012146/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2002.html |date=September 22, 2013 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2003.</ref>

====2003–2007: New ownership and arrival of Doc Rivers====
In 2003, the Celtics were sold by owner Paul Gaston to Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C.,<ref name="nba.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/Partners_123102.html |title=Boston Basketball Partners Assume Ownership of Celtics Franchise |work=NBA.com |date=December 31, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184526/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/Partners_123102.html |archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref> led by [[H. Irving Grousbeck]], [[Wycliffe Grousbeck]] and [[Steve Pagliuca]]. The team made it back to the [[2003 NBA playoffs|playoffs]] but were swept by the Nets in the second round, despite bringing Game 4 to double overtime.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/playoffs2003/ 2003 NBA Playoffs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107233033/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2003/ |date=November 7, 2018 }}, nba.com, accessed May 2, 2003.</ref> Before their elimination, the team hired former Celtics' guard [[Danny Ainge]] as general manager, moving Chris Wallace to another position in the organization. Ainge believed the team had reached its peak and promptly sent Antoine Walker to the [[Dallas Mavericks]] (along with [[Tony Delk]]).<ref>[http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/mavs_aquire_antoine_walker_boston.html Mavs Acquire &#91;sic&#93; Antoine Walker and Tony Delk from Boston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184548/http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/mavs_aquire_antoine_walker_boston.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com/mavericks. Retrieved April 6, 2006.</ref> In return, the Celtics received the often-injured [[Raef LaFrentz]], [[Chris Mills (basketball)|Chris Mills]], [[Jiří Welsch]],<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/102003_CelticsAcquireLafrentz.html Celtics Acquire LaFrentz, Mills & Welsch From Mavericks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184616/http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/102003_CelticsAcquireLafrentz.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com. Retrieved April 6, 2005.</ref> and a first-round pick in [[2004 NBA draft|2004]]. The Celtics made the [[2004 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], only to be swept in the first round by the Indiana Pacers, losing all four games.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2004/series?series=indbos 2004 NBA Playoffs], sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved June 14, 2004.</ref>

[[File:Doc Rivers.JPG|thumb|150px|Head coach [[Doc Rivers]] led the Celtics to an NBA title in 2008.]]
The Celtics were a young team under new coach [[Doc Rivers]] during the 2004–05 season,<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708065626/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_20_105/ai_n6160431/ Doc Rivers goes back to the bench, hired to coach Boston Celtics], findarticles.com May 17, 2004, accessed May 20, 2004.</ref> having drafted youngsters [[Al Jefferson]], [[Delonte West]] and [[Tony Allen (basketball)|Tony Allen]] in the 2004 Draft. Yet they seemed to have a core of good young players, led by Pierce and rookie [[Al Jefferson]], to go along with a group of able veterans. The Celtics went 45–37 and won their first [[NBA Atlantic Division|Atlantic Division]] title since [[1991–92 NBA season|1991–92]], receiving a boost from returning star Antoine Walker in mid-season. The Pacers defeated them in the first round yet again, with the series culminating in an embarrassing 27-point loss in Game 7 at the [[FleetCenter (Boston)|Fleet Center]]. After the season Walker was traded again, this time to the [[Miami Heat]]. Despite Pierce's career season, in which he averaged career-highs in points (26.8), the Celtics missed the playoffs with a 33–49 record, owing largely to a young roster and constant roster shuffling, which saw the likes of [[Marcus Banks]], [[Ricky Davis]] and [[Mark Blount]] traded for underachieving former first-overall pick [[Michael Olowokandi]] and former all-star [[Wally Szczerbiak]].

The Celtics continued to rebuild in the [[2006 NBA draft]]. The Celtics selected Kentucky point guard [[Rajon Rondo]], who was to become a key piece in the team's revival. In the second round the Celtics added center [[Leon Powe]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/draft-central/press062806-draft-rights-powe.html Celtics Acquire Draft Rights to Leon Powe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503174907/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/draft-central/press062806-draft-rights-powe.html |date=May 3, 2009 }}, nba.com, accessed April 7, 2008.</ref> The [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]] was a gloomy one for the franchise, starting with the death of Red Auerbach at 89. Auerbach was one of the few remaining people who had been a part of the NBA since its inception in 1946.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2642131 Legendary Celtics coach Auerbach dead at age 89], sports.espn.go.com October 29, 2006. Retrieved October 31, 2006.</ref> The Celtics went 2–22 from late December 2006 through early February 2007 after losing Pierce to injury, the result of a stress reaction in his left foot. At first, the Celtics received a much-needed boost from guard [[Tony Allen (basketball)|Tony Allen]] but he tore his [[anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]] and [[medial collateral ligament|MCL]] on a needless dunk attempt after the whistle.<ref>Gil, Gideon [https://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/09/recovery_from_a.html Recovery from ACL tear took 6–9 months] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126223146/http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/09/recovery_from_a.html |date=January 26, 2012 }}, boston.com September 8, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.</ref> The Celtics compiled a record of 24–58, second-worst in the NBA, including a franchise-record [[List of National Basketball Association longest losing streaks|18-game losing streak]].<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2866831 Celtics finished with second-worst record last season], sports.espn.go.com May 10, 2007, accessed May 14, 2008.</ref> At the end of the season, the Celtics, with the second-worst record in the NBA, were at least hopeful that they could secure a high draft pick and select either [[Greg Oden]] or [[Kevin Durant]] to help rebuild the franchise, but the Celtics fell to fifth in the Draft Lottery.

===={{anchor|The new big three}} 2007–2012: Pierce, Allen, and Garnett "Big Three" era====
In the summer of 2007, general manager [[Danny Ainge]] made a series of moves that returned the Celtics to prominence. On draft night, he traded No. 5 pick [[Jeff Green (basketball)|Jeff Green]], [[Wally Szczerbiak]] and [[Delonte West]] to Seattle for perennial All-Star [[Ray Allen]] and Seattle's second-round pick, which the team used to select LSU's [[Glen Davis (basketball)|Glen "Big Baby" Davis]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/draft/press062807-ray-allen-trade.html Celtics Acquire Seven-Time All-Star Ray Allen from Sonics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606003414/http://www.nba.com/celtics/draft/press062807-ray-allen-trade.html |date=June 6, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved July 12, 2007.</ref> The Celtics then traded [[Ryan Gomes]], [[Gerald Green]], Al Jefferson, [[Theo Ratliff]], [[Sebastian Telfair]], and a first-round draft pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for superstar power forward [[Kevin Garnett]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press073107-garnett.html Celtics Acquire 10-Time All-Star Kevin Garnett] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510050157/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press073107-garnett.html |date=May 10, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved July 31, 2007.</ref> These moves created a new "Big Three" of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett.

{{multiple image
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|footer = [[Kevin Garnett]] and [[Ray Allen]] were key players in the Celtics' 2008 NBA title victory
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In the 2007–08 season, Celtics completed the largest single-season turnaround in [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] history. The team went 66–16 in the regular season, a 42-game improvement over its 2006–07 record. However, the team struggled in the early rounds of the playoffs, needing seven games to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round and another seven to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals. The Celtics then beat the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning two road games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=280530008|title=Pierce shoots Celtics to first Finals appearance since '87|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 30, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2008|archive-date=May 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516044149/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280530008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For the 11th time in league history, and for the first time since 1987, the Celtics and the Lakers faced off in the NBA Finals. The Celtics won Game One at home 98–88, fueled by strong play by Garnett and Pierce's dramatic comeback from a second-half knee injury. They won Game Two 108–102 despite nearly blowing a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter. As the series shifted to Los Angeles, the Lakers stifled Pierce and Garnett in Game Three and won 87–81. However, the Celtics would overcome a 24-point deficit in Game 4 to win 97–91, making the largest in-game comeback in NBA Finals history. After again blowing a large lead, the Lakers hung on to win Game 5 103–98, sending the series back to Boston. In Game 6, the Celtics overpowered the Lakers, winning 131–92 and clinching their 17th NBA title. [[Paul Pierce]] was named Finals MVP.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=280617002|title=Celtics smash Lakers, bring home 17th NBA championship|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=June 17, 2008|access-date=June 17, 2008|archive-date=June 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621155803/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280617002|url-status=dead}}</ref> With the win the Celtics set a record for most games a team had ever played in a postseason with 26.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/basketball/17nba.html?pagewanted=print|title=Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity|date=June 17, 2008|first=Howard|last=Beck|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D2|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623062841/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/basketball/17nba.html?pagewanted=print|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2008–09 Celtics started off the season at 27–2, the then-best starting record in NBA history.<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gKyAf4srenZECaWOsfizcspJ2x3Q NBA Celtics win 19th straight to set franchise record] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521033201/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gKyAf4srenZECaWOsfizcspJ2x3Q |date=May 21, 2013 }}, news.google.com December 23, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.</ref> They also had a franchise-record 19-game streak.<ref>[http://sports.outsidethebeltway.com/2008/12/lakers-snap-celtics-19-game-winning-streak/ Lakers snap Celtics 19 game winning streak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715023015/http://sports.outsidethebeltway.com/2008/12/lakers-snap-celtics-19-game-winning-streak/ |date=July 15, 2011 }}, outsidethebeltway.com December 25, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.</ref> After the All-Star Break, [[Kevin Garnett]] was injured in a loss against the [[Utah Jazz]] and missed the last 25 games of the season. Garnett was eventually shelved for the playoffs. The 2009 Celtics still finished with 62 victories, but their playoff run would end against the Magic in the second round.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/f/print/sports/more_sports/ewing_prophetic_as_magic_beat_celtics_sBpcbCKFHHZ5hLwVFnnQ2H|title=EWING PROPHETIC AS MAGIC BEAT CELTICS IN GAME 7|first=Marc|last=Berman|date=May 18, 2009|work=New York Post|access-date=September 17, 2009|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120312/http://www.nypost.com/f/print/sports/more_sports/ewing_prophetic_as_magic_beat_celtics_sBpcbCKFHHZ5hLwVFnnQ2H|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, with the return of Garnett from injury and the additions of [[Rasheed Wallace]] and [[Marquis Daniels]], the Celtics started the season 23–5 and at one point had the best record in the NBA. However, Doc Rivers decided to lessen his aging stars' minutes to keep them fresh for the playoffs. As a result, the Celtics sputtered to an even 27–27 record the rest of the way and finished the 2009–10 regular season with a 50–32 record.<ref>Lowe, Zach [http://celticshub.com/2010/03/03/home-court-records-and-champions/ Home Court Records and Champions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426011344/http://celticshub.com/2010/03/03/home-court-records-and-champions/ |date=April 26, 2012 }}, celticshub.com March 3, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2010.</ref> Despite being the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics managed to make the [[NBA Finals]]. Rajon Rondo emerged as a star during postseason play.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2010-05-28-celtics-magic-game-5_N.htm|title=Celtics finally finish off Magic in Game 6 to head back to Finals|date=May 28, 2010|work=USA Today|access-date=May 29, 2010|first=Jeff|last=Zillgitt|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183833/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2010-05-28-celtics-magic-game-5_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> For the 12th time, the Celtics faced the Lakers in the Finals. After taking a 3–2 lead heading into Los Angeles for Game Six, the Celtics appeared poised to win their 18th title. However, starting center [[Kendrick Perkins]] suffered a severe knee injury early in Game Six,<ref>{{cite news|last=Beacham|first=Greg|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010061713&print=1|title=Lakers edge Celtics in Game 7, win 16th title|agency=Associated Press|date=June 18, 2010|access-date=June 18, 2010|work=Yahoo! Sports|archive-date=June 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623064002/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010061713&print=1|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Celtics went on to lose the series in seven games.

During the 2010 off-season, with Perkins expected to be out until February 2011, the Celtics signed two former All-Star centers, [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Jermaine O'Neal]]. Shaquille O'Neal's presence wound up leading to Perkins' departure: the Celtics were 33–10 in games Perkins had missed during the year due to injury<ref name="may">{{cite news|last=May |first=Peter |title=Celtics Creak Toward Postseason, Hoping They Have Legs for a Run |date=April 11, 2011 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=D7 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/sports/basketball/11celtics.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606094416/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/sports/basketball/11celtics.html?_r=1 |archive-date=June 6, 2022 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and had a 19–3 record in games when O'Neal played over 20&nbsp;minutes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Payne |first=Greg |title=Doc Rivers: Timing of trade was off |date=May 16, 2011 |work=ESPNBoston.com |url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=6555870 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518152756/http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=6555870 |archive-date=May 18, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Consequently, Perkins was traded to the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] in February, when the Celtics were 41–14 and led the Eastern Conference despite another rash of injuries. Following the trade, however, they proceeded to win only 15 of their final 27 games. They finished with a 56–26 record, sliding to the third seed.<ref name=may/><ref>{{cite news |title=Amare Stoudemire back as Celts' reserves top Knicks' second string |date=April 13, 2011 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=310413002 |access-date=April 14, 2011 |quote=Shaquille O'Neal, who has played 5&nbsp;minutes, 29&nbsp;seconds since February 1, also sat out. |archive-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417152245/http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310413002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 2010–11 season still provided three landmarks: The Celtics became the second team to reach 3,000 victories, Paul Pierce became the third Celtic to score 20,000 points (the others are Larry Bird and John Havlicek), and Ray Allen broke the NBA record for most career three-pointers. The [[2011 NBA playoffs]] started with the Celtics sweeping the New York Knicks 4–0 in the opening round. In the second round, they were ousted by eventual Eastern Conference champions Miami Heat in five games. Shaquille O'Neal, limited to 12&nbsp;minutes in two games of the second round, retired at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chris |title=Report card: Shaquille O'Neal |date=May 18, 2011 |work=ESPNBoston.com |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4684171/report-card-shaquille-oneal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520011654/http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4684171/report-card-shaquille-oneal |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Celtics started the [[2011 NBA lockout|lockout-shortened]] season 0–3, as Pierce was out with a heel injury. At the All-Star break, the Celtics were below .500 with a 15–17 record. However, they were one of the hottest teams in the league after the break, going 24–10 the rest of the year and winning their fifth division title in a row. The Celtics made the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Celtics faced the [[Atlanta Hawks]] in the first round, beating them in six games led by strong play from Pierce and Garnett. In the conference semifinals, the Celtics defeated the 76ers in seven games. The Celtics faced the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing in seven games to the eventual NBA champions.

The 2012 off-season started with the Celtics having only six players under contract. While Kevin Garnett was signed to a new contract, Ray Allen signed with the Miami Heat for less money than the Celtics offered; this move brought the five-year "Big Three" era to a somewhat acrimonious end. The Celtics finished the season with 41 wins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nba.si.com/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-bombing-terror-attack-celtics-pacers-game-cancelled-nba |title=NBA cancels game between Celtics and Pacers after Boston Marathon blasts |author=Ben Golliver |work=SI.com |access-date=June 30, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222005012/http://nba.si.com/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-bombing-terror-attack-celtics-pacers-game-cancelled-nba/ |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }}</ref> The Celtics trailed the New York Knicks 3–0 in the first round of the [[2013 NBA playoffs]] before losing the series in six games. In Game Six, the Celtics nearly completed a comeback when they went on a 20–0 run to cut the lead to four.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400459963|title=Knicks vs. Celtics – Game Recap – May 3, 2013 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=January 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102003828/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400459963|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2013–2016: Rebuilding years===
During the off-season, head coach [[Doc Rivers]] was allowed to terminate his contract. He departed the Celtics to coach the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Celtics received a 2015 unprotected first-round pick as compensation. A few days later, Pierce, Garnett (who waived a no-trade clause), [[Jason Terry]], and [[D. J. White]], were traded to the [[Brooklyn Nets]] for [[Keith Bogans]], [[MarShon Brooks]], [[Kris Humphries]], [[Kris Joseph]], [[Gerald Wallace]], and three future first-round draft picks (2014, 2016, 2018), together with the right to swap 2017 first-round picks with Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 28, 2013|title=Nets, Celtics work out blockbuster|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/9429958/sources-boston-celts-brooklyn-nets-agree-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-deal|access-date=June 28, 2013|archive-date=July 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701073717/http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9429958/sources-boston-celts-brooklyn-nets-agree-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> The deal marked the start of a youth movement for the team.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 12, 2013|title=Celtics Complete Trade With Brooklyn Nets|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press_release/celtics-complete-trade-brooklyn-nets|work=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=July 12, 2013|archive-date=June 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616031658/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press_release/celtics-complete-trade-brooklyn-nets|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Brad Stevens 2017.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Brad Stevens]], former head coach of the Celtics.]]
On July 3, 2013, the Celtics announced that [[Brad Stevens]], the head coach of [[Butler Bulldogs men's basketball|Butler University]], would replace Doc Rivers as head coach.<ref name="Stevens2013">{{cite news|last=D'Amico|first=Mark|title=Celtics Hire Brad Stevens as Head Coach|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press_release/070313-celtics-hire-brad-stevens-head-coach|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=July 3, 2013|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=July 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706145322/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press_release/070313-celtics-hire-brad-stevens-head-coach|url-status=live}}</ref> Halfway through the season, in January, Rajon Rondo made his return and was named the 15th Team Captain in team history, and the team furthered the youth movement by acquiring two draft picks in a three-team trade that sent Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks to the Golden State Warriors while the Celtics received the Heat center [[Joel Anthony]]. The 2013–14 season marked the Celtics' first missed playoffs since the "Big Three".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/04/12/new-york-knicks-los-angeles-lakers-boston-celtics-miss-nba-playoffs-for-first-time/7660189/|title=NBA's big three miss playoffs in same year for first time|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018193440/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/04/12/new-york-knicks-los-angeles-lakers-boston-celtics-miss-nba-playoffs-for-first-time/7660189/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The next off-season, the Celtics drafted [[Marcus Smart]] with the 6th overall pick and [[James Young (basketball)|James Young]] with the 17th overall pick in the [[2014 NBA draft]],<ref>{{cite web|title=What can the Celtics do with the sixth pick?|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24584575/draft-options-what-can-the-celtics-do-with-the-sixth-pick|website=CBSSports.com|access-date=June 10, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111729/http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24584575/draft-options-what-can-the-celtics-do-with-the-sixth-pick|url-status=live}}</ref> and signed [[Evan Turner]]. The 2014–15 season had several roster moves, the most prominent being Rondo and rookie [[Dwight Powell]] traded to the Dallas Mavericks for center [[Brandan Wright]], forward [[Jae Crowder]], veteran point guard [[Jameer Nelson]], and future picks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Boston Celtics Complete Trade With Dallas Mavericks|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-complete-trade-dallas-mavericks|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=December 18, 2014|access-date=January 15, 2023|archive-date=January 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109070550/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-complete-trade-dallas-mavericks|url-status=live}}</ref> A total of 22 players spent time with the Celtics,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4718052/roster-overhaul-hasnt-changed-cs-goals|title=Roster overhaul hasn't changed C's goals|date=February 28, 2015|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407222135/http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4718052/roster-overhaul-hasnt-changed-cs-goals|url-status=live}}</ref> leading scorer and rebounder Sullinger suffered a season-ending left metatarsal stress fracture,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/12363599/jared-sullinger-boston-celtics-miss-rest-season-due-foot-injury|title=Jared Sullinger of Boston Celtics will miss rest of season due to foot injury|work=ESPN.com|date=February 22, 2015|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630041101/http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/12363599/jared-sullinger-boston-celtics-miss-rest-season-due-foot-injury|url-status=live}}</ref> and the team was only tenth in the East with 28 games remaining.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2015/02/the_celtics_will_probably_miss_the_playoffs_and_th.html|title=The Celtics Will Probably Miss the Playoffs, and That's Okay|newspaper=Boston.com|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080654/http://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2015/02/the_celtics_will_probably_miss_the_playoffs_and_th.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, midseason acquisition [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]] helped the team win 22 of their last 34 games, finishing the season with a 40–42 record, enough for the seventh seed in the [[2015 NBA playoffs|Eastern Conference Playoffs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/04/on_verge_of_playoffs_isaiah_th.html|title=Now in playoffs, Isaiah Thomas has discovered the Boston Celtics are not one of the NBA's worst teams|date=April 14, 2015|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018133758/http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/04/on_verge_of_playoffs_isaiah_th.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Celtics were swept by the second seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

In the [[2015 NBA draft]] Boston selected [[Terry Rozier]], [[R.J. Hunter]], [[Jordan Mickey]], and [[Marcus Thornton (basketball, born 1993)|Marcus Thornton]] with the 16th, 28th, 33rd, and 45th selections respectively. During the off-season, the Celtics signed forward [[Amir Johnson]] and traded [[Gerald Wallace]] and [[Chris Babb]] in exchange for Warriors forward David Lee. The Celtics finished the 2015–16 NBA season with a 48–34 record, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They played the fourth seed Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. After leading by 3 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1, guard Avery Bradley went down with a hamstring injury, making him sit out for the rest of the series. The Celtics lost the series 4–2 to the Hawks, ending their season.

===2016–present: Brown–Tatum era ("the Jays")===
{{main|Jays (Boston Celtics)}}
{{multiple image
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In the [[2016 NBA draft]], the Celtics selected [[Jaylen Brown]] with the third pick. On July 8, 2016, the team signed four-time All-Star [[Al Horford]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Boston Celtics Sign Al Horford|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-sign-al-horford|website=NBA.com|access-date=August 3, 2017|date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=July 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709091928/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-sign-al-horford/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Celtics finished the [[2016–17 NBA season|2016–17 season]] with a 53–29 record and clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/04/12/celtics-clinch-1-seed-will-face-bulls-in-first-round/|title=Celtics Clinch #1 Seed; Will Face Bulls In First Round|date=April 12, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2017|archive-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930175506/http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/04/12/celtics-clinch-1-seed-will-face-bulls-in-first-round/|url-status=live}}</ref> After a hip injury ended Thomas' playoff run in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2710816-isaiah-thomas-out-for-rest-of-2017-nba-postseason-with-hip-injury|title=Isaiah Thomas out for Rest of 2017 NBA Postseason with Hip Injury|first=Scott|last=Polacek|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902232511/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2710816-isaiah-thomas-out-for-rest-of-2017-nba-postseason-with-hip-injury|url-status=live}}</ref> the Celtics eventually lost to the Cavaliers in five games. Isaiah Thomas was selected for his second straight All-Star game and first All-NBA selection, finishing third in the league in scoring and fifth in MVP voting. For the [[2017 NBA draft]], the Celtics won the draft lottery, earning them the first pick.{{efn|This pick originally belonged to the [[Brooklyn Nets]], but was sent to the Celtics in the 2013 trade involving Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The Nets had the worst record in the previous season, which gave the Celtics the highest chance of winning the lottery.}} They were projected to select freshman guard [[Markelle Fultz]], but the pick was subsequently traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the third pick in the 2017 draft and future picks.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reynolds|first=Tim|date=June 19, 2017|title=Boston Celtics trade No. 1 overall draft pick to Philadelphia 76ers|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/06/19/boston-celtics-philadelphia-76ers-trade-draft-picks-0#/|access-date=October 8, 2017|website=NBA.com|archive-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307231824/http://www.nba.com/article/2017/06/19/boston-celtics-philadelphia-76ers-trade-draft-picks-0#/|url-status=live}}</ref> The 76ers would go on to draft Fultz, while the Celtics used the third pick to select freshman forward [[Jayson Tatum]]. During the off-season, the team signed [[Gordon Hayward]].<ref>{{cite web|date=July 14, 2017|title=Boston Celtics Sign Gordon Hayward|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-sign-gordon-hayward|access-date=August 3, 2017|website=NBA.com|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803230658/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-sign-gordon-hayward|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 22, 2017, the Celtics agreed to a deal that sent [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]], [[Jae Crowder]], Ante Žižić, and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for [[Kyrie Irving]].<ref>{{cite web|date=August 22, 2017|title=Celtics Acquire Four-Time All-Star Kyrie Irving|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/celtics-acquire-four-time-all-star-kyrie-irving|access-date=August 22, 2017|work=NBA.com|archive-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831181509/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/celtics-acquire-four-time-all-star-kyrie-irving/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2017–2019: Kyrie Irving saga====
By the end of the off-season, only four Celtics' players remained from the [[2016–17 Boston Celtics season|2016–17 team]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Suddenly, only four Celtics remain from the 2016–2017 team – The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2017/08/22/celtics-turn-over-roster-time/RsW2CQloAYAye2DSSq3JFK/story.html|website=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=October 25, 2017|archive-date=May 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514155101/https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2017/08/22/celtics-turn-over-roster-time/RsW2CQloAYAye2DSSq3JFK/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Marcus Smart]] being the longest-tenured Celtic from the [[2014 NBA draft]]. On the team's opening night game in the first quarter against the Cavaliers, Hayward suffered a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle in his left leg,<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Rapaport|first=Daniel|date=October 17, 2017|title=Gordon Hayward Suffers Dislocated Ankle, Fractured Tibia in First Quarter of Season Opener|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2017/10/17/gordon-haywayd-injury-news-update-serious-leg-injury|access-date=November 15, 2017|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018174656/https://www.si.com/nba/2017/10/17/gordon-haywayd-injury-news-update-serious-leg-injury|url-status=live}}</ref> causing him to be ruled out for the rest of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 28, 2017|title=Celtics granted $8.4M player exception for Gordon Hayward|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21196166/boston-celtics-granted-84m-disabled-player-exception-gordon-hayward|access-date=November 15, 2017|website=ESPN.com|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143723/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21196166/boston-celtics-granted-84m-disabled-player-exception-gordon-hayward|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the loss, the Celtics went on a [[List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks|16-game winning streak]], which also went down as the fourth-longest winning streak in the teams' history.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Staff reports|title=Boston Celtics' winning streak ends at 16|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/11/18/boston-celtics-longest-winning-streaks|website=NBA.com|access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020181207/https://www.nba.com/article/2017/11/18/boston-celtics-longest-winning-streaks|url-status=live}}</ref> The Celtics finished the year with a 55–27 record, good enough for second place in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round in seven games, and continued the feat in the Conference Semifinals by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in five games before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the Conference Finals.
[[File:Kyrie Irving free throw (cropped).jpg|thumb|Kyrie Irving played for Boston for two seasons making two all star appearances.]]
The Celtics finished the [[2018–19 NBA season|2018–19 season]] with a 49–33 record. Analysts started questioning the team's performance and chances for the championship when the Celtics had a 10–10 record after the first 20 games on November 24, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goss|first=Nick|date=November 20, 2018|title=Paul Pierce gives honest take on Celtics' disappointing start to season|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/paul-pierce-gives-honest-take-celtics-disappointing-start-season|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=nbcsports.com|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727022619/https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/paul-pierce-gives-honest-take-celtics-disappointing-start-season|url-status=live}}</ref> The Celtics then won the next eight games improving their record to 18–10.<ref>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Dave|date=December 14, 2018|title=Celtics putting up unprecedented numbers over 8-game win streak|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-putting-unprecedented-numbers-over-8-game-win-streak|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=nbcsports.com|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727015932/https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-putting-unprecedented-numbers-over-8-game-win-streak|url-status=live}}</ref> During the eight-game win streak, the Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 128–95, the New York Knicks 128–100, and also defeated the Chicago Bulls by 56 points (133–77), setting a record for the largest margin in a victory in franchise history, while also tying the record for largest victory margin by an away team.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=December 9, 2018|title=Celtics throttle Bulls by 56 points as both teams set records|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401071064|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=[[ESPN]]|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210100830/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401071064|url-status=live}}</ref> The Celtics finished the regular season in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. During an April 7 game, [[Marcus Smart]] injured his hip and was ruled out for the rest of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 10, 2019|title=Celtics' Marcus Smart sidelined 4–6 weeks with oblique injury|url=https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/10/report-marcus-smart-torn-oblique-out-two-rounds|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=nba.com|archive-date=April 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417105948/https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/10/report-marcus-smart-torn-oblique-out-two-rounds|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2019 NBA playoffs|2019 playoffs]], the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round, and then lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Mark|date=May 8, 2019|title=Celtics eliminated in ugly Game 5 loss to Bucks|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/05/08/celtics-season-comes-to-ugly-end/|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=bostonherald.com|archive-date=May 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511081457/https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/05/08/celtics-season-comes-to-ugly-end/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-06 |title=Why did Kyrie Irving leave the Celtics? Revisiting guard's promise to Boston, decision to sign with Nets {{!}} Sporting News Australia |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/kyrie-irving-leave-celtics-promise-nets/85f6bc4afeac27caa1012f4d |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-au}}</ref>

The Celtics held four picks in the [[2019 NBA draft]]. Following a series of transactions, the team landed [[Romeo Langford]] with the 14th pick and also added [[Grant Williams (basketball)|Grant Williams]], [[Carsen Edwards]], and [[Tremont Waters]] (2020 G-league Rookie of the year).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/06/21/everything-the-celtics-did-at-the-2019-nba-draft/|title=Everything The Celtics Did At The 2019 NBA Draft|date=June 21, 2019|access-date=July 10, 2019|archive-date=July 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710223929/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/06/21/everything-the-celtics-did-at-the-2019-nba-draft/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 2019 off-season, Irving and Horford signed with the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively. Irving left, despite promising to stay in Boston.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-06 |title=Why did Kyrie Irving leave the Celtics? Revisiting guard's promise to Boston, decision to sign with Nets {{!}} Sporting News Australia |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/kyrie-irving-leave-celtics-promise-nets/85f6bc4afeac27caa1012f4d |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-au}}</ref> On June 30, 2019, the Celtics and point guard [[Kemba Walker]] agreed to a four-year maximum contract worth $141 million. On July 6, 2019, the Celtics officially acquired Walker in a sign and trade with the Charlotte Hornets; the Celtics sent guard Terry Rozier and a protected 2020 second-round draft pick to Charlotte in exchange for Walker and a 2020 second-round draft pick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/charlotte-hornets-acquire-terry-rozier-boston-celtics-sign-and-trade-deal-kemba-walker|title=Charlotte Hornets Acquire Terry Rozier From Boston Celtics In Sign-And-Trade Deal For Kemba Walker|website=Charlotte Hornets|access-date=July 10, 2019|archive-date=July 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709161126/https://www.nba.com/hornets/charlotte-hornets-acquire-terry-rozier-boston-celtics-sign-and-trade-deal-kemba-walker|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 1, 2019, the Celtics agreed to a two-year contract with center [[Enes Kanter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27098241|title=Celtics pick up Kanter on 2-year, $10M contract|date=July 10, 2019|website=ESPN.com|access-date=July 10, 2019|archive-date=July 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710223926/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27098241|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2019–2021: Rise of "the Jays" ====
Following the [[suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season]], the Celtics were one of the 22 teams invited to the [[2020 NBA Bubble|NBA Bubble]] to participate in the final 8 games of the regular season.<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA Board of Governors approves competitive format to restart 2019–20 season with 22 teams returning to play |url=https://www.nba.com/news/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 10, 2020 |date=June 4, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022021825/https://www.nba.com/news/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2020 NBA playoffs|2020 playoffs]], the Celtics swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, beat the Toronto Raptors in a seven-game series, and fell to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 28, 2020|title=Celtics eliminated in Game 6 loss to Miami|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/09/27/celtics-eliminated-in-game-6-loss-to-miami/|access-date=November 23, 2020|website=Boston Herald|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025161330/https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/09/27/celtics-eliminated-in-game-6-loss-to-miami/|url-status=live}}</ref> Boston struggled with injuries in the 2020–21 season, with Walker, Tatum and Brown all missing games at different points in the season due to injury and COVID-19. Boston could not automatically qualify for the playoffs and were sent to the play-in tournament, where they defeated the [[Washington Wizards]] 119–100. In the playoffs, they lost to the Brooklyn Nets in five games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Playoffs: East First Round {{!}} Nets (2) vs. Celtics (7) |url=https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2021/east-first-round-2 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref>

====2021–22: First Finals appearance for the Jays====
On June 2, 2021, the Celtics named head coach Brad Stevens as president of basketball operations replacing [[Danny Ainge]] after he announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Danny Ainge Announces Retirement; Brad Stevens Promoted to President of Basketball Operations |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/danny-ainge-announces-retirement-brad-stevens-promoted-president-basketball |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 2, 2021 |date=June 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602154528/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/danny-ainge-announces-retirement-brad-stevens-promoted-president-basketball |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 18, Stevens made his first transaction in his new position trading away [[Kemba Walker]], the 16th pick in the [[2021 NBA draft]], and a 2025 second-round pick in exchange for former Celtic Horford, [[Moses Brown (basketball)|Moses Brown]], and a 2023 second-round pick.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celtics Acquire Five-Time All-Star Al Horford in Deal with Thunder |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/061821-celtics-acquire-five-time-all-star-al-hoford-in-deal-with-thunder |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 22, 2021 |date=June 18, 2021 |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619204539/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/061821-celtics-acquire-five-time-all-star-al-hoford-in-deal-with-thunder |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 23, 2021, it was reported that Stevens had made the decision to hire [[Ime Udoka]] as his own replacement as head coach of the Celtics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boston Celtics finalizing choaching deal with Brooklyn Nets' Ime Udoka, sources say|date=June 23, 2021|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31694434/boston-celtics-finalizing-coaching-deal-brooklyn-nets-ime-udoka-sources-say|access-date=September 21, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522193530/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31694434/boston-celtics-finalizing-coaching-deal-brooklyn-nets-ime-udoka-sources-say|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Boston Celtics to hire Ime Udoka: Brooklyn Nets Assistant to be named new coach, per report| newspaper=Cbssports.com| url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/boston-celtics-to-hire-ime-udoka-brooklyn-nets-assistant-to-be-named-new-coach-per-report/| access-date=September 21, 2021| archive-date=May 13, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513034335/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/boston-celtics-to-hire-ime-udoka-brooklyn-nets-assistant-to-be-named-new-coach-per-report/| url-status=live}}</ref> Tatum made his third All-Star appearance off the bench at the [[2022 NBA All-Star Game]] in Cleveland.

In April 2022, the Celtics qualified for the [[2022 NBA playoffs]] as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, having a 51–31 record; they swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the postseason.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2022 |title=2022 NBA playoffs first round: No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Nets |url=https://dknation.draftkings.com/2022/4/12/23021112/celtics-vs-nets-nba-playoffs-2022-first-round-picks-predictions-odds-preview |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=DraftKings Nation |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413031144/https://dknation.draftkings.com/2022/4/12/23021112/celtics-vs-nets-nba-playoffs-2022-first-round-picks-predictions-odds-preview |url-status=live }}</ref> They next faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating both teams in seven-game series, earning the Celtics their first Finals appearance since 2010. The Celtics took a 2–1 series lead, but lost the next three games to lose to the Golden State Warriors 4–2.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2022/06/17/warriors-beat-celtics-win-fourth-title-eight-seasons|title=Warriors Beat Celtics in Game 6 to Clinch Seventh NBA Championship|last=McDaniel|first=Mike|date=June 12, 2022|website=Si.com|publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=November 29, 2022|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129110744/https://www.si.com/nba/2022/06/17/warriors-beat-celtics-win-fourth-title-eight-seasons|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2022–23: Conference finals loss====
In September, the Celtics suspended Udoka for the whole [[2022–23 Boston Celtics season|2022–23 season]] for engaging in an improper intimate relationship with a female staffer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2022 |title=Celtics address Ime Udoka's one-year suspension for violating team policies: Takeaways from Boston's presser |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/celtics-address-ime-udokas-one-year-suspension-for-violating-team-policies-takeaways-from-bostons-presser/live/ |access-date=May 2, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref> Assistant coach [[Joe Mazzulla]] replaced Udoka as the interim head coach.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Adam |last=Himmelsbach |title=Celtics suspend coach Ime Udoka for a year for violations of team policies, his future with team unclear |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |department=Sports |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/09/22/sports/celtics-suspend-coach-ime-udoka-year-will-make-joe-mazzulla-interim-coach/ |access-date=May 2, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> On February 16, 2023, Mazzulla was named the team's permanent head coach after leading the Celtics to a league-best 42–17 record at the [[NBA All-Star break]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grasso |first=Justin |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Sixers Rival Watch: Ime Udoka's Time With Celtics Finished |url=https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/sixers-rival-watch-ime-udokas-time-with-celtics-finished |access-date=May 2, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated Philadelphia 76ers News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref> After overcoming a 3–2 deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers to advance to the [[2023 NBA playoffs|Eastern Conference Finals]], the Celtics fell behind 3–0 in a rematch against the Heat. They battled their way back to Game 7 thanks to a [[Derrick White]] buzzer-beater in Game 6, but the Heat ultimately prevented the first [[List of teams to overcome 3–0 series deficits|3–0 comeback]] in NBA history with a decisive win in Boston.

====2023–24: 18th championship for Boston====
[[File:Al Horford (51688343399) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Al Horford made an All-Star Appearance for Boston in 2018 and won his first championship in 2024.]]
During the 2023 off-season, the Celtics acquired [[Kristaps Porziņģis]] from the Wizards. In the trade, they sent [[Marcus Smart]] to the [[Memphis Grizzlies]] in a three-team deal,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kristaps Porzingis to Celtics, Marcus Smart to Grizzlies in 3-team deal |url=https://www.nba.com/news/kristaps-porzingis-trade-celtics-3-team-deal |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 7, 2023 |date=June 24, 2023 |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206111700/https://www.nba.com/news/kristaps-porzingis-trade-celtics-3-team-deal |url-status=live }}</ref> and also traded [[Grant Williams (basketball)|Grant Williams]] to the Dallas Mavericks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mavericks land Grant Williams in 3-team sign-and-trade deal |url=https://www.nba.com/news/grant-williams-three-team-trade |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 7, 2023 |date=July 12, 2023 |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206111626/https://www.nba.com/news/grant-williams-three-team-trade |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 1, 2023, the Celtics acquired [[Jrue Holiday]] in exchange for [[Malcolm Brogdon]], [[Robert Williams III]] and two draft picks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celtics acquire Jrue Holiday from Blazers |url=https://www.nba.com/news/jrue-holiday-traded-to-celtics-2023 |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 7, 2023 |date=October 1, 2023 |archive-date=November 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130214450/https://www.nba.com/news/jrue-holiday-traded-to-celtics-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 7, 2024, before the trade deadline, the Celtics acquired [[Xavier Tillman]] from the Grizzlies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Esnaashari |first=Farbod |date=March 2, 2024 |title=Newest Member of Celtics Gives Honest Opinion on Team's Culture |url=https://www.si.com/nba/grizzlies/news/newest-member-of-celtics-gives-honest-opinion-on-teams-culture |access-date=March 28, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated Memphis Grizzles News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref>

The Celtics finished the 2023–24 regular season with the best record in the NBA, securing a 64–18 record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Ricardo Klein Contributing Sports |date=April 20, 2024 |title=NBA News: Heavy Favorites to Win Title This Season Revealed |url=https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/nba-news-boston-celtics-enter-playoffs-heavy-favorites-win-title-1892509 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> After the regular season's close, the Celtics entered the 2024 NBA playoffs, defeating the [[Miami Heat]] in the first round, moving on to defeat the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] in the East Semifinals, and moving on again to defeat the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern [[NBA conference finals|Conference Finals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Playoffs: East First Round {{!}} Celtics (1) vs Heat (8) |url=https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2024/east-first-round-1 |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Playoffs: East Semifinal {{!}} Celtics (1) vs. Cavaliers (4) |url=https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2024/east-semifinal-1 |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Playoffs: East Final {{!}} Celtics (1) vs. Pacers (6) |url=https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2024/east-final |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref> The Celtics' victory in the Eastern Conference Finals on May 27, 2024, was accompanied by the announcement that [[Jaylen Brown]] had been selected as the NBA Eastern Conference Finals [[Most valuable player|MVP]], and Brown was presented with the [[Larry Bird trophy]], the first of his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Playoffs: East Final {{!}} Celtics (1) vs. Pacers (6) |url=https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2024/east-final |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA Conference Finals MVP Award Winners |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-conference-finals-mvp-award-winners |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref> The Celtics would go on to defeat the Dallas Mavericks in five games to win the NBA Finals, their record-setting 18th championship and breaking the tie with the Lakers (who have 17).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title='It means the world': Celtics earn record 18th title |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40375053/celtics-stomp-mavericks-game-5-clinch-record-18th-nba-title |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Rivalries==

===Los Angeles Lakers===
{{main|Celtics–Lakers rivalry}}
The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and [[Los Angeles Lakers]] involves the two most storied franchises in NBA history. It has been called the NBA's best rivalry.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/nba.best.rivalries/content.1.html|title=NBA;s Best Rivalries|access-date=June 3, 2011|magazine=Sports Illustrated|archive-date=February 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223113032/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/nba.best.rivalries/content.1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The two teams have met a record twelve times in the [[NBA Finals]], starting with their first Finals meeting in {{NBA Finals Year|1959}}. They would go on to dominate the league in the 1960s and the 1980s, facing each other six times in the 1960s, three times in the 1980s, in 2008, and in 2010.

The Celtics have won the first eight finals meetings, while the Lakers won three of last four.

The rivalry had been less intense since the retirements of [[Magic Johnson]] and Larry Bird in the early 1990s, but in 2008 it was renewed as the Celtics and Lakers met in the Finals for the first time since 1987, with the Celtics winning the series in six games. They faced off once again in the [[2010 NBA Finals]] which the Lakers won in seven games. The two teams are first and second for the highest number of championships, with the Celtics leading the Lakers, 18 titles to 17; together, their 35 championships account for almost half of the [[List of NBA champions|78 championships]] in NBA history.

===Atlanta Hawks===
The Celtics–[[Atlanta Hawks|Hawks]] rivalry is a [[List of sports rivalries|rivalry]] in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] that has lasted for over five decades, although the two teams have played each other since the 1949–50 season, when the then-[[Quad Cities|Tri-Cities]] Blackhawks joined the NBA as part of the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]] and the [[Basketball Association of America]] merger. However, the Blackhawks could not field a truly competitive team until they moved to [[St. Louis]] as the St. Louis Hawks after a four-year stopover at [[Milwaukee]]. The two teams have faced each other eleven times in the NBA Playoffs, four times in the [[NBA Finals]], with the Celtics winning ten of twelve series against the Hawks, including three out of four NBA Finals.<ref name="celticsrecap1950s">[http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Recap_1950s.html Boston Celtics Franchise History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209150816/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Recap_1950s.html |date=February 9, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved November 8, 2012.</ref> While the Hawks have only defeated the Celtics twice out of eleven series in the NBA Playoffs, they still often managed to make their series with the Celtics memorable. The rivalry intensified in 2016 with Hawks All-Star Center [[Al Horford]] spurning the team and joining the Celtics.

===Brooklyn Nets===
The Boston Celtics were once rivals of the [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] during the early 2000s due to their respective locations and their burgeoning stars. The Nets were led by [[Jason Kidd]] and [[Kenyon Martin]], while the Celtics were experiencing newfound success behind Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. The rivalry began to heat up in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, which was preceded by trash-talking from the Celtics<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-05-20/sports/18200319_1_antoine-walker-kenyon-martin-paul-pierce | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=Celtics Talk A Good Game&nbsp;– New York Daily News | first1=Ohm | last1=Youngmisuk | first2=Darren | last2=Everson | date=May 20, 2002 | access-date=September 26, 2014 | archive-date=March 8, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308073957/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-05-20/sports/18200319_1_antoine-walker-kenyon-martin-paul-pierce | url-status=dead }}</ref> who claimed Martin was a "fake" tough guy. Things progressed as the series started, and on-court tensions seemed to spill into the stands. Celtics' fans berated Kidd and his family with chants of "Wife Beater!"<ref>{{cite web |author=Steve WilsteinAP Sports Writer |url=http://amarillo.com/stories/053102/spo_jasonkidd.shtml |title=Celtics fans' taunts hurt Jason Kidd's wife &#124; Amarillo.com &#124; Amarillo Globe-News |publisher=Amarillo.com |date=May 31, 2002 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019040927/http://amarillo.com/stories/053102/spo_jasonkidd.shtml |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in response to Kidd's 2001 domestic abuse charge. When asked about the fan barbs being traded, [[Kenyon Martin]] stated, "Our fans hate them, their fans hate us." [[Bill Walton]] said at the time that Nets-Celtics was the "beginning of the next great NBA rivalry" during the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002 with the Nets advancing to the NBA Finals, though New Jersey would go on to sweep Boston in the 2003 playoffs. In 2012, the year the Nets returned to New York in the borough of Brooklyn, there were indications that the rivalry might be rekindled when an altercation occurred on the court on November 28, resulting in the ejection of [[Rajon Rondo]], Gerald Wallace, and Kris Humphries. Rondo was suspended for two games in the aftermath, while Wallace and [[Kevin Garnett]] were fined.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/sports/basketball/celtics-rajon-rondo-suspended-2-games-for-melee.html?_r=0 | work=The New York Times | title=Suspension and 2 Fines After Brawl | first1=May | last1=Peter | date=November 30, 2012 | access-date=February 6, 2017 | archive-date=November 8, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108035905/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/sports/basketball/celtics-rajon-rondo-suspended-2-games-for-melee.html?_r=0 | url-status=live }}</ref> The story was revisited on December 25, when Wallace grabbed Garnett's shorts and the two had to be broken up by referees and players alike. However, the rivalry between the Nets and the Celtics appeared significantly cooled off by the June 2013 blockbuster trade that dealt Celtics stars Garnett and [[Paul Pierce]] to the Nets in exchange for Wallace, Humphries, and others. This move was billed as a merger of the two [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] teams.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/bondy-prokhorov-mentality-reminiscent-boss-article-1.1403107 |title=Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's win-at-all-costs mentality is reminiscent of late George Steinbrenner |newspaper=NY Daily News |date=July 18, 2013 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |location=New York |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022143049/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/bondy-prokhorov-mentality-reminiscent-boss-article-1.1403107 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Detroit Pistons===
{{main|Celtics–Pistons rivalry}}
The rivalry between the Celtics and the [[Detroit Pistons]] peaked in the 1980s, featuring players such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, [[Isiah Thomas]], [[Bill Laimbeer]], [[Dennis Rodman]], and [[Joe Dumars]]. These teams met in the [[NBA playoffs]] five times in 7 seasons from 1985 to 1991, with the Celtics winning in 1985 and 1987, and the Pistons coming out on top en route to back-to-back Finals appearances in {{NBA Finals Year|1988}} and their championship seasons of {{NBA Finals Year|1989}} and {{NBA Finals Year|1990}}. Led by [[Paul Pierce]], [[Kevin Garnett]] and [[Ray Allen]] in the 2008 [[NBA Conference Finals|Eastern Conference Finals]] the Celtics defeated the Pistons in 6 games to advance to the NBA Finals where they went on to beat the Lakers also in 6 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?page=CelticsPistonsRivalry-080528|title=Celtics-Pistons Top 10 games|date=May 28, 2008|website=ESPN.com|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018134052/http://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?page=CelticsPistonsRivalry-080528|url-status=live}}</ref>

===New York Knicks===
{{main|Celtics–Knicks rivalry}}
The rivalry between the Celtics and the [[New York Knicks]] stems from the location of the teams, both of which are in the NBA's Atlantic division. It is one of many rivalries between Boston and New York teams, most notably the [[Yankees–Red Sox rivalry|New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox]] in [[Major League Baseball]]. Boston and New York are also the only two original NBA franchises that have remained in the same city for the duration of their existence. The teams have played 512 games against each other during the regular season, with the Celtics winning 276 times. The two teams have also faced each other 61 times during the playoffs, with the Celtics winning 34 times.<ref>{{cite news|last=Abrams|first=Jonathan|title=Knicks and Celtics Renew Playoff Rivalry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/sports/basketball/13rivalry.html?_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 13, 2011|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070633/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/sports/basketball/13rivalry.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Philadelphia 76ers===
{{main|76ers–Celtics rivalry}}
[[File:Wilt Chamberlain Bill Russell 2.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Wilt Chamberlain]] of the Philadelphia 76ers being defended by Celtics' center [[Bill Russell]] in 1966]]
The Celtics and the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] are the two teams who have the most meetings in the [[NBA playoffs]], playing each other in 22 series, of which the Celtics have won 15.<ref name="Most frequent playoff matchups">{{cite web|url=http://mcubed.net/nba/mfpm.shtml|work=McCubed.net|title=NBA: Most frequent playoff matchups|access-date=March 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921073719/http://mcubed.net/nba/mfpm.shtml|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 76ers are considered the Celtics' biggest rival in the Eastern Conference. The rivalry reached its peak when players Bill Russell and [[Wilt Chamberlain]] of the 76ers played each other from 1965 to 1968. Their play would result in the Celtics not winning every NBA Finals series in the 1960s when the 76ers won in 1967.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Bob|title=Celtics-76ers has been a playoff tradition|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/1985/05/12/celtics-ers-has-been-playoff-tradition/Up6aa8FI6WUKsLqkRl1GVL/story.html|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 12, 1985|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108035020/https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/1985/05/12/celtics-ers-has-been-playoff-tradition/Up6aa8FI6WUKsLqkRl1GVL/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Washington Wizards===
One of the most recent and unexpected rivalries that has been created between the Celtics is with the [[Washington Wizards]]. Although both teams had engaged in a fight in [[1984 NBA playoffs|1984]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.celticslife.com/2017/04/the-last-time-celtics-played-washington.html|title=The last time the Celtics played Washington in the playoffs was 33 years ago (and it ended in a brawl)|date=April 30, 2017|access-date=August 2, 2018|archive-date=August 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802071628/http://www.celticslife.com/2017/04/the-last-time-celtics-played-washington.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the rivalry intensified during the 2015–16 season in a January regular season game after [[Jae Crowder]] was given a technical foul. Crowder then began to exchange words with then Wizards coach [[Randy Wittman]]. It began to escalate that off-season when the Celtics were trying to sign [[Al Horford]]. It was publicly reported that Jae Crowder emphasized that the Celtics beat the Wizards in all of their meetings that season and should sign with them rather than Washington. In their first meeting of the 2016–17 season, Wall hit [[Marcus Smart]] in the back-court when they were up by 20 late in the 4th quarter. Wall was hit with a Flagrant 2 foul and was promptly ejected. Smart immediately got back up and began to scuffle with Wall. Their words continued even after being separated with Wall telling Smart to meet him out back after the game. No incident was reported between the two following the game. In their next meeting, the Celtics won 117–108. However, after the game Wall and Crowder exchanged words in front of the Wizards bench. Crowder ended up trying to jab his finger at Wall's nose and Wall tried to fight back with a slap. Teammates and coaches from both sides had to step in and separate the two teams but the players continued to yell while entering their respective locker rooms. Police officers had to be on guard between the two locker rooms to ensure no further confrontation. [[Otto Porter]] is quoted as calling the Celtics as dirty. [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]] replied "If playing hard is dirty, then I guess we are a dirty team."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4725574/how-the-celtics-and-wizards-became-the-nbas-most-unexpected-rivalry|title=How Celtics-Wizards became the NBA's most unexpected rivalry|work=ESPN.com|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225914/http://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4725574/how-the-celtics-and-wizards-became-the-nbas-most-unexpected-rivalry|url-status=live}}</ref>

In their next game in January, the Wizards wore all black to enter the game. The notion was that it is similar to the attire of a funeral. Their decision worked as they defeated the Celtics 123–108. The two teams would go on to meet in the Conference Semifinals in the 2017 Playoffs. In Game 1, [[Markieff Morris]] landed on Horford's ankle after shooting a jumpshot. Morris sprained his ankle and had to miss the rest of the game which was a 123–111 loss. Morris believed that Horford did this intentionally. In Game 2, Morris retaliated by grabbing Horford by the waist and pushed him into the seats.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2017/12/22/things-change-but-nba-hopes-wizards-celtics-rivalry-still-brings-christmas-magic/|title=Things change, but NBA hopes Wizards-Celtics rivalry still brings Christmas magic|last=Buckner|first=Candace|date=December 24, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=April 2, 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225807/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2017/12/22/things-change-but-nba-hopes-wizards-celtics-rivalry-still-brings-christmas-magic/|url-status=live}}</ref> In Game 3, [[Kelly Olynyk]] set a hard screen on [[Kelly Oubre Jr.|Kelly Oubre]]. Olynyk's shoulder hit Oubre in the chin causing him to drop to the floor. Oubre angrily rose and pushed Olynyk down onto the floor. Oubre was then assessed a flagrant 2 foul and was ejected while also being suspended for Game 4.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://andscape.com/features/kelly-oubre-jr-vs-kelly-olynyk/|title=Kelly Oubre Jr. vs. Kelly Olynyk: In the battle of the Kellys, Twitter stood by Oubre Jr.|last=Dodson|first=Aaron|date=May 5, 2017|work=[[Andscape]]|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=August 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809204338/https://andscape.com/features/kelly-oubre-jr-vs-kelly-olynyk/|url-status=live}}</ref> No significant altercations erupted in the rest of the seven-game series in which the Celtics would go on to win. The rivalry has since dissipated as the Celtics have retooled their roster but their match-ups are still seen as significant as they played on Christmas in 2017.

===Miami Heat===
{{Main|Celtics–Heat rivalry}}
The Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat developed an intense rivalry during the 2010s. The two teams were highlighted by their star trios in Boston's Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce whereas Miami had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. They first met in the [[2010 NBA playoffs|2010 NBA Playoffs]] where Boston won the series in 5 games. They would then meet the [[2011 NBA playoffs|following year]] where Miami would end up winning in 5 games. The teams would meet for the third straight year in the [[2012 NBA playoffs|2012 Eastern Conference Finals]]. Despite Boston holding a 3–2 lead, Miami would win the next 2 games to advance to the NBA Finals where they defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the [[2020 NBA Bubble]], the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics met in the [[2020 NBA playoffs|2020 Eastern Conference Finals]] where Miami won in 6 games and advanced to the NBA Finals where they were prevented Boston from meeting their longtime rival Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, Miami lost in 6 games to the Los Angeles Lakers. They would meet in the [[2022 NBA playoffs|2022 Eastern Conference Finals]] where Boston finally beat the Miami Heat in 7 games. It was their first win against Miami since 2010. In the following year, the two met in the [[2023 NBA playoffs|2023 Eastern Conference Finals]]. Despite Miami taking a commanding a 3–0 lead, Boston won the next three games to send the series to 7 games. However, Miami won to avoid earning the distinction of blowing a 3–0 lead while also preventing Boston from meeting the Lakers in the Finals. They then met in the [[2024 NBA playoffs|2024 first round]] where Boston beat Miami in 5 games.

==Season-by-season record==
''List of the last five seasons completed by the Celtics. For the full season-by-season history, see [[List of Boston Celtics seasons]].''

'''''Note:''' GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="font-weight:bold; {{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}};"
| Season || GP || W || L || W–L% || Finish || Playoffs
|-
| [[2020–21 NBA season|2020–21]] || 72 || 36 || 36 || {{Winning percentage|36|36}} || 4th, Atlantic || Lost in First Round, 1–4 ([[Brooklyn Nets|Nets]])
|-
| [[2021–22 NBA season|2021–22]] || 82 || 51 || 31 || {{Winning percentage|51|31}} || 1st, Atlantic || Lost in [[2022 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]], 2–4 ([[Golden State Warriors|Warriors]])
|-
| [[2022–23 NBA season|2022–23]] || 82 || 57 || 25 || {{Winning percentage|57|25}} || 1st, Atlantic || Lost in Conference Finals, 3–4 ([[Miami Heat|Heat]])
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
| [[2023–24 NBA season|2023–24]] || 82 || 64 || 18 || {{Winning percentage|64|18}} || 1st, Atlantic || [[2024 NBA Finals|NBA champions]], 4–1 ([[Dallas Mavericks|Mavericks]])
|-
| [[2024–25 NBA season|2024–25]] || 82 || 61 || 21 || {{Winning percentage|61|21}} || 1st, Atlantic || Lost in Conference Semifinals, 2–4 ([[New York Knicks|Knicks]])
|}

==Records, retired numbers, and awards==
[[File:BostonCelticsChampionshipBanners.jpg|thumb|Boston Celtics NBA Championship banners]]
{{main|Boston Celtics accomplishments and records}}
The Celtics have won an NBA-record 18 championships.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|last=Reynolds|first=Tim|title=Sweet 17: Lakers tie Celtics for most NBA championships|url=https://www.nba.com/news/lakers-tie-celtics-most-nba-championships|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=October 11, 2020|access-date=December 26, 2023|archive-date=March 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301034354/https://www.nba.com/news/lakers-tie-celtics-most-nba-championships|url-status=live}}</ref> Forty-eight members of the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] are connected to the Celtics,<ref>{{cite web|title=Celtics Hall of Famers|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/HallOfFamers.html|work=NBA.com|access-date=February 8, 2012|archive-date=May 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530122204/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/HallOfFamers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the franchise has [[retired numbers|retired]] 23 [[Number (sports)|jersey numbers]], more than any other American sports team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Retired Numbers – Celtics|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/RetiredNumbers.html|work=NBA.com|access-date=February 8, 2012|archive-date=May 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518131639/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/RetiredNumbers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of December 2023, the Celtics have won more NBA regular season games than any other team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/|title=NBA & ABA Team Index|publisher=[[Sports Reference|Sports Reference LLC]]|website=basketball-reference.com|accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref>

===Hall of Fame===
<!--DO NOT CHANGE TO 37 UNTIL THE CEREMONY TAKES PLACE-->37<!--DO NOT CHANGE TO 37 UNTIL THE CEREMONY TAKES PLACE--> people were inducted in the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] as players, 6 – as coaches, 6 – as contributors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celtics Hall of Famers|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/HallOfFamers.html|work=NBA.com|access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="10" style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}};"|Boston Celtics Hall of Famers
|-
! colspan="10" style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics}};"|Players
|-
! No. !! Name !! Position !! Tenure !! Inducted !! No. !! Name !! Position !! Tenure !! Inducted
|-
| '''22''' || [[Ed Macauley]] || [[Forward-center|F/C]] || 1950–1956 || 1960 || '''17''' || [[Andy Phillip]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1956–1958 || 1961
|-
| '''14''' || [[Bob Cousy]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1950–1963 || 1971 || '''6''' || [[Bill Russell]] <sup>3</sup> || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1956–1969 || 1975
|-
| '''21''' || [[Bill Sharman]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1951–1961 || 1976 || '''23''' || [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|Frank Ramsey]] || [[Swingman|G/F]] || 1954–1964 || 1982
|-
| '''24''' || [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]] || [[Swingman|G/F]] || 1957–1969 || 1984 || '''17''' || [[John Havlicek]] || [[Swingman|G/F]] || 1962–1978 || 1984
|-
| '''15'''<br />'''20''' || [[Tom Heinsohn]] <sup>1</sup> || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1956–1965 || 1986 || '''20''' || [[Bob Houbregs]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]]/[[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1954 || 1987
|-
| '''44''' || [[Pete Maravich]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1980 || 1987 || '''4'''<br />'''34''' || [[Clyde Lovellette]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1962–1964 || 1988
|-
| '''25'''<br />'''27''' || [[K. C. Jones]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1958–1967 || 1989 || '''44''' || [[Dave Bing]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1977–1978 || 1990
|-
| '''18''' || [[Dave Cowens]] || [[Forward-center|F/C]] || 1970–1980 || 1991 || '''7''' || [[Nate Archibald]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1978–1983 || 1991
|-
| '''5''' || [[Bill Walton]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1985–1988 || 1993 || '''18''' || [[Bailey Howell]] || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1966–1970 || 1997
|-
| '''19''' || [[Arnie Risen]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1955–1958 || 1998 || '''33''' || [[Larry Bird]] <sup>2</sup> || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1979–1992 || 1998
|-
| '''32''' || [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1980–1993 || 1999 || '''11''' || [[Bob McAdoo]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]]/[[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1979 || 2000
|-
| '''00''' || [[Robert Parish]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1980–1994 || 2003 || '''12''' || [[Dominique Wilkins]] || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1994–1995 || 2006
|-
| '''3''' || [[Dennis Johnson]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1983–1990 || 2010 || '''53''' || [[Artis Gilmore]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1988 || 2011
|-
| '''20''' || [[Gary Payton]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 2004–2005 || 2013 || '''10''' || [[Jo Jo White]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1969–1979 || 2015
|-
| '''36''' || [[Shaquille O'Neal]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 2010–2011 || 2016 || '''11''' || [[Charlie Scott (basketball)|Charlie Scott]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1975–1977 || 2018
|-
| '''40''' || [[Dino Rađa]] || [[Forward-center|F/C]] || 1994–1997 || 2018 || '''20''' || [[Ray Allen]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 2007–2012 || 2018
|-
| '''11''' || [[Chuck Cooper (basketball)|Chuck Cooper]] || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1950–1954 || 2019 || '''4''' || [[Carl Braun (basketball)|Carl Braun]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1961–1962 || 2019
|-
| '''44''' || [[Paul Westphal]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1972–1975 || 2019 || '''5''' || [[Kevin Garnett]] || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 2007–2013 || 2020
|-
| '''34''' || [[Paul Pierce]] || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1998–2013 || 2021 || '''4''' || [[Chauncey Billups]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1997–1998 || 2024
|-
! colspan="10" style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics}};"|Coaches
|-
! colspan="2"|Name !! Position !! Tenure !! Inducted !! colspan="2"|Name !! Position !! Tenure !! Inducted
|-
| colspan="2"|[[Doggie Julian]] || Head coach || 1948–1950 || 1968 || '''2''' || [[Red Auerbach]] || Head coach || 1950–1966 || 1969
|-
| colspan="2"|[[Rick Pitino]] || Head coach || 1997–2001 || 2013 || colspan="2"|[[Tom Heinsohn]] <sup>1</sup> || Head coach || 1969–1978 || 2015
|-
| colspan="2"|[[Bill Fitch]] || Head coach || 1979–1983 || 2019 || colspan="2"|[[Bill Russell]] <sup>3</sup> || Head coach || 1966–1969 || 2021
|-
! colspan="10" style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics}};"|Contributors
|-
! colspan="2"|Name !! Position !! Tenure !! Inducted !! colspan="2"|Name !! Position !! Tenure !! Inducted
|-
| '''1''' || [[Walter A. Brown]] || Owner || 1945–1964 || 1965 || colspan="2"|[[Bill Mokray]] || Executive || 1946–1969 || 1965
|-
| '''28''' || [[Wayne Embry]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1966–1968 || 1999 || colspan="2"|[[Dave Gavitt]] || Executive || 1990–1994 || 2006
|-
| '''16''' || [[Satch Sanders]] <sup>4</sup> || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1960–1973 || 2011 || '''17''' || [[Don Barksdale]] || [[Forward (basketball)|F]] || 1953–1955 || 2012
|}

Additionally, [[Johnny Most]] and [[Mike Gorman]] were honored with the Hall of Fame's [[Curt Gowdy Media Award]]. Most was awarded in 1993 for his 37-year career as the Celtics radio announcer, while Gorman was awarded in 2021 for his 40-year career as the Celtics television announcer.

'''Notes:'''
* <sup>1</sup> In total, Heinsohn was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as coach.
* <sup>2</sup> In total, Bird was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as a member of the [[1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team|1992 Olympic team]].
* <sup>3</sup> In total, Russell was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as coach.
* <sup>4</sup> Sanders also coached the team in 1978.

===FIBA Hall of Fame===
[[FIBA]], the body which governs international basketball, has selected two players associated with the Celtics to the [[FIBA Hall of Fame]] for contributions to international basketball.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Boston Celtics FIBA Hall of Famers
|-
! colspan="5" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Players
|-
! No. || Name || Position || Tenure || Inducted
|-
| '''6''' || [[Bill Russell]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 1956–1969 || 2007
|-
| '''36''' || [[Shaquille O'Neal]] || [[Center (basketball)|C]] || 2010–2011 || 2017
|}

==Home arenas==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| header =
| header_align = left/right/center
| header_background =
| footer =
| footer_align = left/right/center
| footer_background =
| width =
| image1 = Lipofsky-Boston-Garden.jpg
| width1 = 250
| caption1 = [[Boston Garden]] in 1994
| image2 = TD Garden.JPG
| width2 = 220
| caption2 = [[TD Garden]] in 2009
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Arena
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Location
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Duration
|-
| [[Boston Arena]]
| rowspan=3|[[Boston, Massachusetts]]
| [[1946–47 Boston Celtics season|1946]]–[[1954–55 Boston Celtics season|1955]]
|-
| [[Boston Garden]]
| [[1946–47 Boston Celtics season|1946]]–[[1994–95 Boston Celtics season|1995]]
|-
| [[TD Garden]]
| [[1995–96 Boston Celtics season|1995]]–present
|}
{{clear}}

==Personnel==
{{Main|Boston Celtics all-time roster}}

===Current roster===
{{Boston Celtics roster}}

===Retained draft rights===
The Celtics hold the draft rights to the following unsigned draft picks who have been playing outside the NBA. A drafted player is ostensibly either an international draftee or a college draftee who is not signed by the team that drafted him, is allowed to sign with any non-NBA teams. In this case, the team retains the player's draft rights in the NBA until one year after the player's contract with the non-NBA team ends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm|title=NBA Salary Cap FAQ – 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement|quote=If the player is already under contract to, or signs a contract with a non-NBA team, the team retains the player's draft rights for one year after the player's obligation to the non-NBA team ends. Essentially, the clock stops as long as the player plays pro ball outside the NBA.|first=Larry|last=Coon|author-link=Larry Coon|access-date=April 13, 2014|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527075033/http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> This list includes draft rights that were acquired from trades with other teams.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Draft
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Round
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Pick
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Player
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Pos.
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Nationality
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Current team
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Note(s)
! class="unsortable" style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2021 NBA draft|2021]]
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|45
| {{sortname|Juhann|Begarin}}
| style="text-align:center;"|G
| {{flagu|France}}
| [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]] ([[LNB Élite|Monaco]])
| 
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|first=Marc|last=D'Amico|title=Celtics Select 18-Year-Old French Guard Juhann Begarin at No. 45|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/draft-072921-celtics-select-18-year-od-french-guard-juhann-begarin-at-no-45|website=NBA.com|date=July 30, 2021|access-date=August 29, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818053306/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/draft-072921-celtics-select-18-year-od-french-guard-juhann-begarin-at-no-45|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2020 NBA draft|2020]]
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|47
| {{sortname|Yam|Madar}}
| style="text-align:center;"|G
| {{flagu|Israel}}
| [[Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] ([[Israeli Basketball Premier League|Israel]])
| 
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|first1=Taylor|last1=Snow|title=Nesmith, Pritchard Hope to Impact C's With Shooting, Competitive Spirit|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/draft-111820-nesmith-pritchard-hope-impact-celtics-shooting-competitive-spirit|date=November 19, 2020|website=NBA.com|access-date=November 19, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119160350/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/draft-111820-nesmith-pritchard-hope-impact-celtics-shooting-competitive-spirit|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

===Captains===
[[File:Paul Pierce LeBron James.jpg|thumb|Former Celtics captain [[Paul Pierce]] being defended by [[LeBron James]]]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|All-time team captains
|-
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Captain
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Tenure
|-
| [[Bob Cousy]] || 1950–1963<ref>{{cite news|title=C's Captain a Work in Progress|newspaper=Telegram & Gazette|date=February 28, 1999}}</ref>
|-
| [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|Frank Ramsey]] & [[Bill Russell]] || 1963–1964<ref>{{cite news|last=AP|title=Celtics Vow To Be Champions|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bg0qAAAAIBAJ&pg=3479,1046145&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Gadsden Times|date=October 10, 1963|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010404/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bg0qAAAAIBAJ&pg=3479,1046145&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Bill Russell || 1964–1966
|-
| [[John Havlicek]] || January 16, 1967<ref>{{cite news|last=AP|title=Havlicek Celtic Captain|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mOsgAAAAIBAJ&pg|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=The Day|date=January 16, 1967}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>–1978
|-
| [[Jo Jo White]] & [[Dave Cowens]] || October 17, 1978<ref>{{cite news|last=UPI|title=White, Cowens captains; Maxwell to start Friday|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xe08AAAAIBAJ&pg=5409,4590185&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=October 12, 1978|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010904/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xe08AAAAIBAJ&pg=5409,4590185&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>–November 14, 1978
|-
| Jo Jo White || November 14, 1978 – January 30, 1979
|-
| Dave Cowens & [[Chris Ford]] || January 31, 1979<ref>{{cite news|last=UPI|title=Celtics Defuse Rockets|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yaMrAAAAIBAJ&pg|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=February 1, 1979}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>–1979
|-
| Dave Cowens || 1979 – October 1, 1980<ref>{{cite news|title=Cowens Calls It Quits|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_A9ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=928,3118809&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=The Daily Union Democrat|date=October 2, 1980|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214011052/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_A9ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=928,3118809&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || 1983<ref>{{cite news|last=UPI|title=Talented, ambitious Celtics in opener at Detroit tonight|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JD00AAAAIBAJ&pg=3966,4706369&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=October 28, 1983|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010548/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JD00AAAAIBAJ&pg=3966,4706369&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>–1992<ref name=LewisCaptain />
|-
| [[Reggie Lewis]] || 1992–1993<ref name=LewisCaptain>{{cite news|last=AP|title=Celtics name Lewis captain|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bLFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2917,4040258&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=October 14, 1992|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010758/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bLFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2917,4040258&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Robert Parish]] || 1993–1994<ref>{{cite news|last=Hohman|first=Ralph|title=Celtics wish for a new star|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Za1HAAAAIBAJ&pg=5771,5618492&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Record-Journal|date=October 31, 1993|archive-date=October 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012134354/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Za1HAAAAIBAJ&pg=5771,5618492&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Dominique Wilkins]] & [[Dee Brown (basketball, born 1968)|Dee Brown]] || 1994–1995<ref>{{cite news|last=AP|title=Brown, Wilkins appointed as co-captains for Celtics|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=khEqAAAAIBAJ&pg=2507,577843&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Sun Journal|date=November 2, 1994|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011200705/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=khEqAAAAIBAJ&pg=2507,577843&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Dee Brown || 1995–1996<ref>{{cite news|last=AP|title=High Hopes at Celts' Camp|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VzFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=3728,1495001&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=The Hour|date=October 11, 1995|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010905/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VzFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=3728,1495001&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Rick Fox]] || 1996–1997<ref>{{cite news|last=The Associated Press|title=Magic Edge Hawks|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RtYjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1465,6483666&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Gainesville Sun|date=November 28, 1996|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011223736/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RtYjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1465,6483666&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Dee Brown & [[Antoine Walker]] || October 8, 1997<ref>{{cite news|last=Holley|first=Michael|title=Pitino does his analysis play by play|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 9, 1997}}</ref>–December 2, 1997<ref name=EllisonCaptain />
|-
| Dee Brown, Antoine Walker, & [[Pervis Ellison]] || December 2, 1997<ref name=EllisonCaptain>{{cite news|last=AP|title=Pitino names Ellison captain|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=euAgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1423,444526&dq|access-date=June 3, 2012|newspaper=Sun Journal|date=December 3, 1997|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214011051/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=euAgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1423,444526&dq|url-status=live}}</ref>-February 18, 1998<ref>{{cite news|last=Holley|first=Michael|title=Pitino Plies Trade Again|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 19, 1998}}</ref>
|-
| Antoine Walker and Pervis Ellison || February 18, 1998 – 1998
|-
| Antoine Walker || 1998–1999
|-
| Antoine Walker & [[Dana Barros]] || 1999–2000<ref>{{cite news|last=Bulpett|first=Steve|title=Walker, Barros will captain ship|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=October 27, 1999}}</ref>
|-
| Antoine Walker & [[Paul Pierce]] || 2000<ref>{{cite news|title=Pierce, Walker are Co-Captains|newspaper=Telegram & Gazette|date=October 12, 2000}}</ref>–2003
|-
| Paul Pierce || 2003–2013
|-
| [[Rajon Rondo]] || January 17, 2014 – December 19, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/cs-name-rondo-captain-night-return|title=C's Name Rondo Captain On Night of Return|website=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=May 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504125758/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/cs-name-rondo-captain-night-return|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Jaylen Brown|Jaylen Brown (unofficial)]]
|2023 - Present <ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Justin |title=How Jaylen Brown became the Boston Celtics captain |url=https://celticswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/celtics/2025/02/27/how-jaylen-brown-became-the-celtics-captain/80337755007/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Celtics Wire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-04 |title=Why These Celtics Made the Captaincy Into a Thing of the Past |url=https://www.theringer.com/2025/03/04/nba/celtics-city-hbo-captain-history-jaylen-brown |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.theringer.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Colin |title=Jaylen Brown explains why he calls himself the Celtics' captain |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2025/02/15/nba-all-star-celtics-jaylen-brown-captain-explained/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.boston.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

===Franchise leaders===
'''Bold''' denotes still active with the team.

''Italic'' denotes still active but not with the team.

'''Points scored (regular season) (as of the end of the 2024–25 season)'''<ref name="basketball-reference1">{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/players.html |title=Boston Celtics: Players |publisher=Basketball Reference |date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=April 18, 2017 |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527152103/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/players.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1. [[John Havlicek]] (26,395)
* 2. [[Paul Pierce]] (24,021)
* 3. [[Larry Bird]] (21,791)
* 4. [[Robert Parish]] (18,245)
* 5. [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] (17,335)
* 6. [[Bob Cousy]] (16,955)
* 7. [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]] (15,411)
* 8. [[Bill Russell]] (14,522)
* 9. '''[[Jayson Tatum]]''' (13,784)
* 10. [[Dave Cowens]] (13,192)
* 11. [[Jo Jo White]] (13,188)
* 12. [[Bill Sharman]] (12,287)
* 13. [[Tom Heinsohn]] (12,194)
* 14. '''[[Jaylen Brown]]''' (11,436)
* 15. [[Antoine Walker]] (11,386)
* 16. [[Don Nelson]] (9,968)
* 17. [[Satch Sanders]] (8,766)
* 18. [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|Frank Ramsey]] (8,378)
* 19. [[Cedric Maxwell]] (8,311)
* 20. [[Reggie Lewis]] (7,902)
* 21. [[Ed Macauley]] (7,882)
* 22. [[Dennis Johnson]] (6,805)
* 23. [[Danny Ainge]] (6,257)
* 24. [[Kevin Garnett]] (6,233)
* 25. ''[[Marcus Smart]]'' (6,141)
* 26. [[Ray Allen]] (5,987)
* 27. [[Bailey Howell]] (5,812)
* 28. [[Rajon Rondo]] (5,783)
* 29. [[Don Chaney]] (5,689)
* 30. [[Dee Brown (basketball, born 1968)|Dee Brown]] (5,512)
* 31. [[Larry Siegfried]] (5,420)
* 32. '''[[Al Horford]]''' (5,221)
* 33. [[K.C. Jones]] (5,011)
* 34. [[Avery Bradley]] (5,008)
* 35. [[Kevin Gamble]] (4,895)
* 36. [[Rick Fox]] (4,759) 
* 37. [[Tiny Archibald]] (4,550)
* 38. [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]] (4,422)
* 39. [[Eric Williams (basketball, born 1972)|Eric Williams]] (4,248)
* 40. [[Paul Silas]] (3,744)
* 41. [[Dino Radja]] (3,733)
* 42. '''[[Derrick White]]''' (3,658)
* 43. [[Gerald Henderson]] (3,521)
* 44. ''[[Jeff Green (basketball)|Jeff Green]]'' (3,252)
* 45. [[Brandon Bass]] (3,216)
* 46. [[Chris Ford]] (3,194)
* 47. [[Jim Loscutoff]] (3,156)
* 48. '''[[Payton Pritchard]]''' (3,153)
* 49. [[Dana Barros]] (3,109)
* 50. ''[[Kyrie Irving]]'' (3,062)
{{div col end}}

'''Other statistics (regular season) (as of the end of the 2024–25 season)'''<ref name="basketball-reference1"/>

{{columns-start|num=3}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Most minutes played
|-
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Player
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Minutes
|-
| [[John Havlicek]] || 46,471
|-
| [[Bill Russell]] || 40,726
|-
| [[Paul Pierce]] || 40,360
|-
| [[Robert Parish]] || 34,977
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || 34,443
|-
| [[Bob Cousy]] || 30,131
|-
| [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] || 30,118
|-
| [[Dave Cowens]] || 28,551
|-
| [[Jo Jo White]] || 26,770
|-
| [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]] || 24,285
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Most rebounds
|-
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Player
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Rebounds
|-
| [[Bill Russell]] || 21,620
|-
| [[Robert Parish]] || 11,051
|-
| [[Dave Cowens]] || 10,170
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || 8,974
|-
| [[John Havlicek]] || 8,007
|-
| [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] || 7,122
|-
| [[Paul Pierce]] || 6,651
|-
| [[Satch Sanders]] || 5,798
|-
| [[Tom Heinsohn]] || 5,749
|-
| [[Antoine Walker]] || 4,782
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Most assists
|-
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Player
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Assists
|-
| [[Bob Cousy]] || 6,945
|-
| [[John Havlicek]] || 6,114
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || 5,695
|-
| [[Rajon Rondo]] || 4,474
|-
| [[Paul Pierce]] || 4,305
|-
| [[Bill Russell]] || 4,100
|-
| [[Jo Jo White]] || 3,686
|-
| [[Dennis Johnson]] || 3,486
|- 
| [[K. C. Jones]] || 2,908
|-
| [[Dave Cowens]] || 2,828
|}
{{columns-end}}
{{columns-start|num=3}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Most steals
|-
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Player
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Steals
|-
| [[Paul Pierce]] || 1,583
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || 1,556
|-
| [[Rajon Rondo]] || 990
|-
| ''[[Marcus Smart]]'' || 914
|-
| [[Robert Parish]] || 873
|-
| [[Antoine Walker]] || 828
|-
| [[Dee Brown (basketball, born 1968)|Dee Brown]] || 675
|-
| [[Danny Ainge]] || 671
|-
| [[Dennis Johnson]] || 654
|-
| '''[[Jayson Tatum]]''' || 639
|-
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Most blocks
|-
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Player
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Blocks
|-
| [[Robert Parish]] || 1,703
|-
| [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] || 1,690
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || 755
|-
| [[Paul Pierce]] || 668
|-
| [[Kendrick Perkins]] || 646
|-
| '''[[Al Horford]]''' || 516
|-
| [[Dave Cowens]] || 473
|-
| [[Reggie Lewis]] || 417
|-
| [[Kevin Garnett]] || 394
|-
| '''[[Jayson Tatum]]''' || 384
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Most three-pointers made
|-
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Player
! style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|3-pointers made
|-
| [[Paul Pierce]] || 1,823
|-
| '''[[Jayson Tatum]]''' || 1,546
|-
| '''[[Jaylen Brown]]''' || 1,144
|-
| [[Antoine Walker]] || 937
|-
| ''[[Marcus Smart]]'' || 911
|-
| [[Ray Allen]] || 798
|-
| '''[[Al Horford]]''' || 712
|-
| '''[[Payton Pritchard]]''' || 661
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || 649
|-
| '''[[Derrick White]]''' || 644
|}
{{columns-end}}

==Coaches==

===Head coaches===
{{Main|List of Boston Celtics head coaches}}
[[File:Auerbach Lipofsky.jpg|thumb|[[Red Auerbach]] coached the Boston Celtics to 9 NBA titles, with eight straight between 1959 and 1966.]]
There have been 18 head coaches in Celtics' history. [[Red Auerbach]] is the most successful franchise's head coach having won 9 NBA championships with the team. Celtics' legend [[Bill Russell]] took coaching duties from Auerbach and led them to 2 NBA championships while playing and coaching at the same time. The other two coaches that won 2 NBA titles with the team are [[Tom Heinsohn]] and [[K. C. Jones]]. [[Bill Fitch]] and [[Doc Rivers]] led the Celtics to 1 NBA championship apiece, as has current head coach [[Joe Mazzulla]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bontemps |first=Tim |date=2024-06-17 |title=Celtics stomp Mavs, clinch record 18th NBA title |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40375053 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Logos and uniforms==

===Logos===
[[File:CelticsWordmark.svg |left|thumb|150px|The Celtics' wordmark, used since the [[1969–70 NBA season|1969–70 season]]]]
The Boston Celtics logo features a [[leprechaun]] spinning a basketball, named Lucky, originally depicted with a large basketball for a background. It was originally designed by Zang Auerbach, the brother of Celtics head coach [[Red Auerbach]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Introducing Lucky the Leprechaun|url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/item/introducing-lucky-the-leprechaun/|publisher=HeritageWerks|website=BostonCelticsHistory.com|access-date=September 4, 2023|archive-date=October 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001110914/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/item/introducing-lucky-the-leprechaun/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Creation of a Logo|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Logo.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040114020142/https://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Logo.html|archive-date=January 14, 2004|access-date=March 16, 2025|url-status=dead}}</ref> Through the [[1995–96 NBA season|1995–96 season]], the logo's only colors were green, white and black.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/pphdqx7bfbbbumpehh7telq1h/Boston_Celtics/1977/Primary_Logo|title=Boston Celtics Primary Logo - National Basketball Association (NBA) - Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net|website=www.sportslogos.net|access-date=September 2, 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902115720/http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/pphdqx7bfbbbumpehh7telq1h/Boston_Celtics/1977/Primary_Logo|url-status=live}}</ref> Then for the [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]], celebrating the club's 50th anniversary, the logo got a full-color treatment. Lucky's face and hands were both painted tan, while gold was included on the vest, bow tie and hat, as well as brown on the ball and [[shillelagh (club)|shillelagh]], and black on its pants and shoes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Efraim |first1=Aviv |title=Boston Celtics Logo |url=https://www.symbols.com/symbol/boston-celtics-logo |website=www.symbols.com |access-date=October 19, 2018 |archive-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020011601/https://www.symbols.com/symbol/boston-celtics-logo |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Celtics also have various alternative logos, with the most popular being a white [[shamrock]] with the letters "Celtics" above it, wrapped in a green circle, which has been used since the [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99 season]]. The alternate logo is based on logos used by the Celtics before they used the Zang Auerbach leprechaun. For much of its history, the shamrock was trimmed in gold, as seen in the old team warmup jackets. A new secondary logo, unveiled in 2014, featured a variation of the leprechaun logo, in silhouette form.<ref name="LuckyAltLogo" /><ref name="LuckyAlternateLogo">{{cite web|title=Celtics unveil new alternate logo|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/11241929/boston-celtics-unveil-new-alternate-logo-2014-15|publisher=[[ESPN.com|ESPNBoston.com]]|date=July 21, 2014|access-date=July 26, 2015|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627161443/http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/11241929/boston-celtics-unveil-new-alternate-logo-2014-15|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Uniforms===

====Primary uniforms====
{{multiple image
| footer = The Celtics uniforms, as worn by [[Bill Sharman]], [[Dennis Johnson]], [[Rajon Rondo]] and [[Semi Ojeleye]], have seen minimal changes since the 1950s.
| align = center
| total_width = 800
| image1 = Bill Sharman, Boston Celtics, signed.jpg
| image2 = Dennis Johnson Lipofsky.jpg
| image3 = Rajon Rondo Kyle Singler Will Bynum.jpg
| image4 = Semi Ojeleye (cropped).jpg
}}
For much of their history, the Celtics wore green uniforms on the road and white uniforms at home. The basic template of the current Celtics' uniforms was formalized in the team's early years, and along the way they made a few adjustments in the lettering and stripes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rocking the Shamrock: Uniforms|url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/collection/rocking-the-shamrock-celtics-uniforms/|publisher=HeritageWerks|website=BostonCelticsHistory.com|access-date=September 4, 2023|quote=Not many uniforms in NBA history are as classic as Boston's. The team's iconic green and white threads have remained largely unchanged since the Celtics first took the court in 1946|archive-date=March 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330075326/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/collection/rocking-the-shamrock-celtics-uniforms/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Among the more notable changes in the uniforms were the switch from serifed to sans-serif block lettering in 1968, the addition of names in 1972, and the incorporation of the three-leaf shamrock logo in 1998. While the white uniforms remained largely intact, the green uniforms have featured either the city name (1950s–1965; 2014–present) or the team name (1965–2014).<ref>{{cite web|title=NBA LockerVision – Boston Celtics – Icon Edition – Story Guide|url=https://lockervision.nba.com/outfit/boston-celtics/icon-edition|publisher=NBA Properties, Inc.|website=LockerVision.NBA.com|access-date=January 29, 2023|quote=The Boston Celtics Icon Edition uniform mirrors the build of the Association Edition. A green base with white trim features a "Boston" jersey wordmark and a shamrock on the belt buckle. While the base of this uniform has remained unchanged over time, the wordmark on the front of the jersey has switched from "Boston" to "Celtics" and back again various times, with the current look of the uniform being settled on before the 2014–15 season.|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027195745/https://lockervision.nba.com/outfit/boston-celtics/icon-edition|url-status=live}}</ref>

When [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] became the NBA's uniform provider in 2017, they decided to eliminate the "home" and "away" uniform designations. Thus the white Celtics uniforms became known as the "Association" uniforms while the green uniforms became the "Icon" uniforms. Both sets are now used regardless of home and road games.<ref name="CelticsShowcaseNike" />

In January 2017, the Celtics signed a multi-year deal with [[General Electric]] where they became the "exclusive Data and Analytics partner" for the team. As part of the deal, GE agreed to pay the Celtics more than $7 million per year<ref>{{cite news|last=Sutherland|first=Brooke|title=GE's Nickel-and-Diming Included a Payroll Switch|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2018-03-22/ge-s-nickel-and-diming-included-a-payroll-switch|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=March 22, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323033513/https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2018-03-22/ge-s-nickel-and-diming-included-a-payroll-switch|url-status=live}}</ref> to have the uniforms with a GE logo prominently placed on the left shoulder of jerseys in green and white. This was the first time a corporate logo were placed on the game uniforms.<ref name="CelticsGE">{{cite press release|title=Celtics, GE Announce Multi-Year Partnership|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/celtics-ge-announce-multiyear-partnership|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=December 17, 2017|archive-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203110527/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/celtics-ge-announce-multiyear-partnership|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Dylan|title=GE Just Struck a Major Partnership with the Celtics|url=http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2017/01/25/ge-signs-major-deal-with-boston-celtics-new-jersey-with-ge-logo/|work=[[BostInno]]|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=January 26, 2017|archive-date=January 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125195819/http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2017/01/25/ge-signs-major-deal-with-boston-celtics-new-jersey-with-ge-logo/|url-status=live}}</ref> Along with the GE logo, the Nike logo now emblazons the right shoulder of the Celtics' uniforms.

In November 2020, the Celtics signed a multi-year deal with [[Vistaprint]] who became the main jersey sponsor of the team.<ref>{{cite press release|last=George|first=Kyle|title=Vistaprint and the Celtics Announce New Multi-Year Partnership|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/vistaprint-and-celtics-announce-new-multi-year-partnership|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=November 17, 2020|access-date=December 25, 2020|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112184810/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/vistaprint-and-celtics-announce-new-multi-year-partnership|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2024, [[Amica Mutual Insurance]] signed on as the team's jersey sponsor.<ref name="CelticsAmica" />

====Alternate uniforms====
{{multiple image
| footer = [[Ray Allen]] (left) wearing the alternate green uniform in 2008; [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]] (right) wearing the alternate gray "Parquet Pride" uniform in 2017.
| align = right
| total_width = 400
| image1 = Ray Allen 2008-01-13.jpg
| image2 = Isaiah Thomas (32471151946).jpg
}}
From 2005 to 2017, the Celtics wore alternate green uniforms with black lettering and trim featuring the word "Boston" on the front side. One noticeable difference in the alternate uniforms was the black panels with a green shamrock, reminiscent of the original Celtics uniforms worn in the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Boston Celtics Unveil New Alternate Road Uniforms|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/AlternateUnis.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=November 21, 2005|access-date=November 19, 2017|archive-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131193505/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/AlternateUnis.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During its run, the green-and-black alternates were considered 'unlucky' by the team whenever they wore them in the playoffs; the Celtics went 0–8 in these uniforms.<ref>{{cite news|title=Celtics suffer from Curse of the Black Trim|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4722862/celtics-and-the-curse-of-the-black-trim|publisher=ESPN|website=ESPN.com|date=April 19, 2016|access-date=April 6, 2025}}</ref>

A gray uniform set was also used from 2014 to 2017. Dubbed "Parquet Pride", the uniforms featured sleeves (a prominent figure in [[Adidas]]' NBA uniforms), white letters with green trim, the silhouetted leprechaun logo on the shorts, the shamrock logo on the left leg, and a parquet-like pattern on the sides.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Boston Celtics and adidas Unveil Parquet Pride Collection|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-and-adidas-unveil-parquet-pride-collection|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=November 6, 2014|access-date=July 26, 2015|archive-date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612195044/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-and-adidas-unveil-parquet-pride-collection|url-status=live}}</ref>

For 2017 and beyond, the Celtics will wear black "Statement" uniforms (labeled by Nike in reference to the league's third jerseys). The uniform features a black base with "Celtics" in green lettering and white trim, and other than a few changes in the striping scheme, the uniform remained essentially the same. Starting in 2020, the "Statement" uniform would feature the [[Air Jordan]] brand logo, a feature previously exclusive to the [[Charlotte Hornets]] uniforms.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Jumpman logo will appear on NBA Statement Edition uniforms for 2020–21 season|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-statement-edition-uniforms-jordan-brand-jumpman|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=July 21, 2020|access-date=December 26, 2022|archive-date=December 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226224749/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-statement-edition-uniforms-jordan-brand-jumpman|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Special uniforms====
Between 2006 and 2017, the Celtics wore special [[Saint Patrick's Day in the United States#Basketball|St. Patrick's Day]] uniforms. The initial uniforms were worn from 2006 to 2013 and it strongly resembled their regular green uniforms save for gold and white trim and the city name in front.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Boston Celtics Unveil Special St. Patrick's Uniforms|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/promotions/press030606-st-patricks-day-jersey.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=March 6, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825041418/https://www.nba.com/celtics/promotions/press030606-st-patricks-day-jerseyhtml|archive-date=August 25, 2018|access-date=January 29, 2023|url-status=dead}}</ref> For 2014 and 2015, the uniforms were sleeved, replaced the city name in front in favor of the team name, and now resembled their green/black alternates.<ref>{{cite news|last=Golliver|first=Ben|title=Celtics unveil green, sleeved St. Patrick's Day jerseys by Adidas|url=https://www.si.com/nba/point-forward/2014/03/11/boston-celtics-green-sleeved-jerseys-st-patricks-day|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 11, 2014|access-date=April 30, 2019|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430122037/https://www.si.com/nba/point-forward/2014/03/11/boston-celtics-green-sleeved-jerseys-st-patricks-day|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016 and 2017, the uniforms were again sleeveless and featured the city name in front, but kept the previous striping.

During the [[2007 NBA Europe Live Tour|NBA Europe Live Tour]] prior to the [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]], the Celtics used the alternate road jerseys in their game against the [[Toronto Raptors]] in Rome, except that the words "Boston" on the front side of the jersey and the shamrock on the shorts and on the reverse side of the jersey contained the green, white and red [[Flag of Italy|tricolors]] of the [[Flag of Italy|Italian flag]]. In the second game in London, the regular road jerseys featured a patch containing the [[Union Jack]].

At the [[2008–09 NBA season|2008–09 season]] opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics wore a modified version of their home uniforms, accented with gold, to commemorate last season's championship team.

The Celtics have also worn special edition [[National Basketball Association Christmas games|Christmas Day]] uniforms since the 2008–09 season. For the first four games, they wore their regular green uniforms modified with the NBA logo inside a [[snowflake]]. Then in the [[2012–13 NBA season|2012–13 season]], they wore monochrome uniforms with green lettering trimmed in white. For the [[2016–17 NBA season|2016–17 season]], the Celtics wore a special green uniform with a more ornate script lettering, but without the additional striping.

Starting with the 2017–18 season, the Celtics wore special edition "City" uniforms designed by Nike. Their first "City" uniforms were in gray and featured a pattern of the parquet floor throughout, a green shamrock with white trim on the left leg, green letters with white trim, Red Auerbach's signature near the uniform tag, and a portion of the 2008 championship banner on the beltline.<ref>{{cite press release|title=NIKE NBA CITY EDITION UNIFORM|url=https://news.nike.com/news/nike-nba-city-edition-uniform|publisher=Nike, Inc.|date=December 27, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2017|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228005007/https://news.nike.com/news/nike-nba-city-edition-uniform|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the 2018–19 season, the Celtics wore white "City" uniforms with green letters and shamrocks trimmed in gold. It also has Red Auerbach's signature near the uniform tag and a gold-trimmed alternate Celtics logo on the beltline.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=celtics|author=Boston Celtics|number=1060911339529531392|date=November 9, 2018|title=Tradition redefined. Say hello to our 2018–19 City Edition.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=City Edition uniforms: Eastern Conference teams in 2018–19|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2018/11/09/city-edition-uniforms-eastern-conference-2018-19|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=November 9, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2018|quote=The Celtics kept up with their storied tradition in their City Edition uniforms. The new look features a signature from Red Auerbach stitched into the jersey. The jerseys also feature Nike+ Connect, the traditional "BOSTON" wordmark that debuted on road uniforms in the 1940s and colors of green, white and gold that are part of the franchise's roots.|archive-date=November 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109182321/https://www.nba.com/article/2018/11/09/city-edition-uniforms-eastern-conference-2018-19|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, the Celtics wore an "Earned" edition uniform exclusive only to the 16 teams that made the [[2018 NBA playoffs]]. Their rendition is a palette swap of the "City" uniforms with a green base and gold letters and shamrocks with white trim. Both uniforms were inspired by the team's warmup jackets they wore from the 1950s until 1998, which contained a brighter gold trim.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=Teams unveil Earned Edition uniforms for 2018–19 season|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2018/12/12/nba-unveils-earned-edition-uniforms|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=December 12, 2018|access-date=December 12, 2018|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212210203/http://www.nba.com/article/2018/12/12/nba-unveils-earned-edition-uniforms|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Celtics' "City" uniform for the 2019–20 season featured a green base and a stylized "Boston" wordmark and numbers in gold with black trim. A [[Celtic knot]] in the shape of a shamrock adorn the beltline.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=Celtics unveil City Edition uniforms|url=https://www.nba.com/article/2019/11/21/celtics-unveil-city-edition-uniforms|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=November 21, 2019|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727022619/https://www.nba.com/article/2019/11/21/celtics-unveil-city-edition-uniforms|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2020–21 Celtics' "City" uniform was patterned after the 17 championship banners that adorn the TD Garden rafters. The uniform, which is white with thick green stripes, features the full name in [[Futura (typeface)|Futura Condensed]] stacked in front, and Red Auerbach's signature and quote "The Boston Celtics are not a basketball team. They're a way of life." appears above the manufacturer's tag.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=Celtics' 17 NBA titles a key part of City Edition uniforms|url=https://www.nba.com/news/celtics-championship-legacy-inspires-city-edition-uniforms|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=November 21, 2020|access-date=November 21, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120190236/https://www.nba.com/news/celtics-championship-legacy-inspires-city-edition-uniforms|url-status=live}}</ref> The Celtics also released a second "Earned" uniform after qualifying in the [[2020 NBA playoffs]]; this design features a dark green base with Celtic and lime green striping, and the letters were rendered in Celtic green with white trim.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=Nike Earned Edition Jersey: Boston Celtics|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nike-earned-edition-boston-celtics|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=March 7, 2021|access-date=March 13, 2021|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313080813/https://www.nba.com/news/nike-earned-edition-boston-celtics|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Celtics' green "City" uniform for the 2021–22 season was a mix of previous uniform designs. The neck and arm striping was taken from their current uniforms. The green lettering with white drop shadows was a nod to the 1949 uniform design. The gray triangles on the shorts represented the franchise's initial uniforms; the left side contained the team's 75th anniversary emblem, while the right side contained a green-and-white version of the Red Auerbach memorial shamrock used in the 2006–07 season. Contrasting nameplates on the back were inspired by the warmup jackets the team used for much of its history, and the original "jumping leprechaun" logo from the 1960s was added to the waist. Retired numbers, the Auerbach signature and quotation (see 2021 "City" uniform), and 17 shamrocks representing each championship season, surrounded the jock tag.<ref>{{cite news|author=Justin Quinn|title=Boston Celtics reveal new City Edition jerseys for NBA's 75th anniversary season|url=https://celticswire.usatoday.com/lists/nba-boston-celtics-75th-city-edition-jerseys-revealed/|publisher=USA Today|website=Celtics Wire|date=November 1, 2021|access-date=November 2, 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101170427/https://celticswire.usatoday.com/lists/nba-boston-celtics-75th-city-edition-jerseys-revealed/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2022–23 "City" uniform served as a memorial to Bill Russell, who died on July 31. The uniform is dark green with metallic gold and black accents, and has the "Celtics" wordmark inspired by the Slade's Bar & Grill restaurant once owned by Russell. The black stripes contained 11 gold diamonds on each side, commemorating each of Russell's championships, and also featured a grayscale pattern of the parquet floor. The waistband contained Russell's jersey no. 6 surrounded by the 11 gold diamonds.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=Boston Celtics Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Bill Russell|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/boston-celtics-celebrate-the-life-and-legacy-of-bill-russell|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Celtics.com|date=October 17, 2022|access-date=October 17, 2022|archive-date=October 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017142714/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/boston-celtics-celebrate-the-life-and-legacy-of-bill-russell|url-status=live}}</ref>

The "City" uniform in the 2023–24 season featured a nod to the origins of the game of basketball. The white-based design featured dark green letters and brown trim in reference to traditional maker's marks from Boston's history of furniture makers, along with wood grain accents to reference the peach baskets first used in the game.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=Boston Celtics 2023–24 City Edition Uniform: It All Leads Back To Our City|url=https://www.nba.com/news/boston-celtics-2023-24-city-edition-uniform-it-all-leads-back-to-our-city|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=November 2, 2023|access-date=November 2, 2023|archive-date=November 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102140446/https://www.nba.com/news/boston-celtics-2023-24-city-edition-uniform-it-all-leads-back-to-our-city|url-status=live}}</ref> In another first, the Celtics unveiled an alternate court specific to the [[2023 NBA in-season tournament]]. The design, which is based on the "City" uniform, featured a mostly green-painted maple court with a brown strip along the free throw lanes. The silhouette of the NBA Cup is situated along the free throw lanes, and the actual trophy is painted at center court along with the "BOSTON" wordmark.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=NBA debuts In-Season Tournament courts for all 30 teams|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-debuts-in-season-tournament-courts-for-all-30-teams|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=October 30, 2023|access-date=November 2, 2023|archive-date=October 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030173237/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-debuts-in-season-tournament-courts-for-all-30-teams|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the 2024–25 "City" uniform, the Celtics built upon last season's "City" uniform and focused on continuous evolution of the game of basketball. The black-based uniform featured "Action green" (neon green) letters and striping, along with futuristic-style numbers.<ref>{{cite news|author=NBA.com Staff|title=Boston Celtics 2024-25 City Edition Uniform: Celebrating its evolution|url=https://www.nba.com/news/boston-celtics-2024-25-city-edition-uniform|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=November 14, 2024|access-date=November 14, 2024}}</ref>

====Memorial patches====
During the [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]], the Celtics wore a commemorative patch of a black [[shamrock]] with the nickname "Red" in green letters on the right top of the jersey in remembrance of [[Red Auerbach]], who died shortly prior to the beginning of the season.<ref name="jerseyhonors">{{cite web |title=2007–08 Downloadable Media Guide |page= 223 |work=nba.com |url=http://www.nba.com/media/celtics/media_guide0708_7-Tradition07.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410094059/http://www.nba.com/media/celtics/media_guide0708_7-Tradition07.pdf |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The team has honored deceased members of the Celtics family with a commemorative black band on the left shoulder strap of the jersey. It has been featured thirteen times to date: [[Walter A. Brown|Walter Brown]] ([[1964–65 NBA season|1964–65]]), [[Robert Schmertz|Bob Schmertz]] ([[1975–76 NBA season|1975–76]]), Joan Cohen ([[1989–90 NBA season|1989–90]]), [[Johnny Most]] ([[1992–93 NBA season|1992–93]]), [[Reggie Lewis]] ([[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94]]), Dorothy Auerbach ([[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01]]), [[Dennis Johnson]] ([[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07]]),<ref name="jerseyhonors" /> [[Jim Loscutoff]] ([[2015–16 NBA season|2015–16]]), [[Jo Jo White]] ([[2017–18 NBA season|2017–18]]), [[John Havlicek]] ([[2018–19 NBA season|2018–19]]), [[Tom Heinsohn]], and [[K. C. Jones]] (both [[2020–21 NBA season|2020–21]]), [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]] ([[2021–22 NBA season|2021–22]]), and [[Bill Walton]] ([[2023–24 NBA season|2023–24]]). During the [[2019–20 NBA season|2019–20 season]], the Celtics wore a black band in honor of two people who had never been part of the Celtics organization; former NBA commissioner [[David Stern]] and former [[Los Angeles Lakers]] star [[Kobe Bryant]]. The Celtics have also worn a black band for reasons not directly related to the franchise, such as the [[Boston Marathon bombing]] in 2013 (later replaced with a dedicated memorial patch), and the death of [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]]' younger sister during the [[2017 NBA playoffs]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-10 |title=A Brief History of Boston Celtics Memorial Patches |url=https://uni-watch.com/2024/06/10/a-brief-history-of-boston-celtics-memorial-patches/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Uni Watch |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the [[2022–23 NBA season|2022–23 season]], the Celtics joined the rest of the NBA in wearing the black no. 6 patch in memory of [[Bill Russell]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Jimmy Golen|title=NBA unveils No. 6 patch to honor Bill Russell across league|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-no-6-patch-to-honor-bill-russell-across-league|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=September 27, 2022|access-date=October 17, 2022|archive-date=October 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017143209/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-no-6-patch-to-honor-bill-russell-across-league|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Uniform traditions====
The team also had the tradition of wearing black sneakers through most of their history. According to legend, Celtics patriarch [[Red Auerbach]] had a problem with the white sneakers, claiming that the white sneakers can easily get dirty; hence starting a long tradition with the black sneakers. In the early 1970s, the Celtics changed their sneaker color to green, but by 1985, returned to the customary black due to the difficulty of producing the right shade of Celtic green.<ref name=ctwrblk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fWtfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3646%2C1056226 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Celtics to wear black |date=October 19, 1985 |page=4B |access-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010655/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fWtfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3646%2C1056226 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to the [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]], then-Celtics general manager [[Danny Ainge]] and captain [[Paul Pierce]] suggested wearing white sneakers, in part due to a growing number of teams wearing black sneakers. Ainge gladly accepted and the white sneakers have remained since on home games. They still wore the black sneakers on away games, and brought them back for all home games during the [[2004 NBA playoffs]], and in one home game during the [[2005 NBA playoffs]]. In the [[2008–09 NBA season|2008–09 season]], they wore white sneakers with green and gold accents while wearing their St. Patrick's Day jerseys on the road. Most recently, when the Celtics play on [[National Basketball Association Christmas games|Christmas Day]], they wore white or green sneakers with red and gold accents.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.boston.com/yourlife/fashion/articles/2003/11/05/celtics_court_change_with_a_move_to_white_sneakers/ | work=The Boston Globe | title=Celtics court change with a move to white sneakers | first1=Joseph P. | last1=Kahn | date=May 11, 2003 | access-date=February 20, 2020 | archive-date=March 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042040/http://www.boston.com/yourlife/fashion/articles/2003/11/05/celtics_court_change_with_a_move_to_white_sneakers/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Since the 2009–10 season, the NBA relaxed its rules on specified sneaker colors, and Celtics players are now seen wearing custom-made and personalized sneakers at home and on the road, although for the most part they wear either green, white or black sneakers.

The Celtics were the only team to wear warmup jackets with the player names on the back. During the 1980s, this style was dominant in most NBA warmup jackets, but by the late 1990s, this style gradually declined. The Celtics, however, kept the design in keeping with tradition, before discontinuing the practice after the 2011–12 season in favor of a templated jacket design common to all 30 teams.

==Television and radio==
{{Main|List of Boston Celtics broadcasters}}
[[NBC Sports Boston]] is the Boston Celtics' main television outlet, having aired its games since 1981 when the station was known as PRISM New England. In 1983, it rebranded as SportsChannel New England. Like all the other SportsChannel networks, the New England channel was rebranded as [[Fox Sports Net|Fox Sports]] New England when former owner [[Cablevision]] entered into a partnership with [[Liberty Media]] and [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] in 1998. Comcast purchased Cablevision's original network stake in 2001, then acquired the remaining stake in what was now [[Fox Sports Networks|FSN]] New England in 2007 and rebranded the network as Comcast SportsNet New England. In 2017, all CSN networks (including CSN New England) were renamed as [[NBC Sports Regional Networks]] in reference to Comcast's current ownership of [[NBCUniversal]].

As of the 2024–25 season, Drew Carter serves as the television play-by-play announcer with [[Brian Scalabrine]] as an analyst.

All Celtics games are heard on radio through [[Beasley Broadcast Group]]'s [[WBZ-FM]] (98.5, otherwise branded as "The Sports Hub"), with play-by-play from [[Sean Grande]] and color commentary from [[Cedric Maxwell]], a deal in place since the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/09/26/boston-celtics-98-5-the-sports-hub-announce-multi-year-broadcast-partnership/ |title=Celtics, 98.5 The Sports Hub Announce Multi-Year Broadcast Partnership « CBS Boston |publisher=Boston.cbslocal.com |date=September 26, 2013 |access-date=October 25, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192727/http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/09/26/boston-celtics-98-5-the-sports-hub-announce-multi-year-broadcast-partnership/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is carried on stations in 5 of the 6 New England States via the [[Boston Celtics Radio Network]].

Long-time announcers [[Johnny Most]] and [[Mike Gorman]] have won the [[Curt Gowdy Media Award]] for their outstanding work as broadcasters. Most was the team's radio announcer from 1953 to 1990, and Gorman served as the television announcer from 1981 to 2024.

==Management==

===Ownership history===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Ownership history
|-
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Owner
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Tenure
|-
| [[Boston Garden-Arena Corporation]] || June 6, 1946&nbsp;– July 31, 1950
|-
| [[Walter A. Brown]]/[[Lou Pieri]] || July 31, 1950&nbsp;– September 7, 1964<ref>{{cite news|title=Brown, Pieri Purchases Celtics Basketball Club|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=August 1, 1950}}</ref>
|-
| [[Lou Pieri]] and [[Marjorie Brown]], wife of team founder || September 7, 1964&nbsp;– June 24, 1965
|-
| [[Marvin Kratter]]/Knickerbocker Brewing Company, subsidiary of National Equities || June 24, 1965&nbsp;– 1968
|-
| [[Ballantine (brewery)|Ballantine Brewery]], subsidiary of Investors Funding Corporation || 1968–1969<br />1971–1972
|-
| [[Trans-National Communications]] || 1969–1971
|-
| [[Irv Levin]] and [[Harold Lipton]] || April 1972&nbsp;– May 1972*<br />November 1975&nbsp;– 1978
|-
| [[Robert Schmertz]]/Leisure Technology || May 1972&nbsp;– January 1975
|-
| [[Robert Schmertz]]/Leisure Technology, [[Irv Levin]], and [[Harold Lipton]] || January 1975&nbsp;– November 1975<ref>{{cite news |title=New Owner But Red Is Still Boss of Celts |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JaMgAAAAIBAJ&pg=5462,1797882&dq |work=Lewiston Evening Journal |date=January 14, 1975 |access-date=March 14, 2010 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010759/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JaMgAAAAIBAJ&pg=5462,1797882&dq |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[John Y. Brown, Jr.]] and [[Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.]] || 1978–1979
|-
| [[Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.]] || 1979–1983
|-
| [[Don Gaston]], [[Alan N. Cohen]], Paul Dupee || 1983–1993<ref name="gaston">[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/09/27/celtics_sale_ap/ Investment group buys Celtics for $360&nbsp;million] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920034723/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/09/27/celtics_sale_ap/ |date=September 20, 2012 }}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com September 27, 2002. Retrieved September 12, 2009.</ref>
|-
| Paul Gaston || 1993–2002<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130502093523/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8243348.html Paul Gaston to run Celtics; Cohen out], September 2, 1993.</ref>
|-
| [[Boston Basketball Partners|Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C.]]|| December 2002 – 2025 (sale pending [[List_of_NBA_team_owners|NBA]] approval)<ref name="nba.com"/><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6218327/2025/03/20/celtics-franchise-sale-william-chisholm-highest-value-billion/ Celtics sold for $6.1 billion, highest price in North American sports history: Source]</ref>
|- 
| [[Bill Chisholm (businessman)|William Chisholm]]||2025 (sale pending [[List_of_NBA_team_owners|NBA]] approval)<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6218327/2025/03/20/celtics-franchise-sale-william-chisholm-highest-value-billion/ Celtics sold for $6.1 billion, highest price in North American sports history: Source]</ref>
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Sale not approved by NBA''<ref>{{cite news |title=Celtics' owner dispute is more confused than ever |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QUYgAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,4210919&dq |work=[[The Tuscaloosa News]] |date=July 22, 1974 |access-date=March 14, 2010 |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011193422/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QUYgAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,4210919&dq |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Team presidents===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|All-time Team presidents
|-
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|President
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Tenure
|-
| [[Walter A. Brown]] || 1946–1963<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains">{{cite web|title=Leadership|url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/leadership/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=BostonCelticsHistory.com|access-date=December 26, 2022|archive-date=December 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226185515/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/leadership/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Louis Pieri]] || 1963–1965<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Jack Waldron (basketball)|Jack Waldron]] || 1965–1967<br />1968–1970<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Clarence H. Adams]] || 1967–1968<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Red Auerbach]] || 1970–1997<br />2001–2006<ref name="red">[http://www.jockbio.com/Classic/Red/Red_bio.html Red Auerbach Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202172008/http://www.jockbio.com/Classic/Red/Red_bio.html |date=February 2, 2012 }}, jockbio.com. Retrieved December 10, 2010.</ref><ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Rick Pitino]] || 1997–2001<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Rich Gotham]] || 2007–present<ref name="GothamCeltics" />
|}

===General managers===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|GM history
|-
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|GM
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Tenure
|-
| [[Walter A. Brown]] || 1946–1950<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Red Auerbach]] || 1950–1984<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Jan Volk]] || 1984–1997<ref name="ManagementsandCaptains"/>
|-
| [[Chris Wallace (basketball)|Chris Wallace]] || 1997–2007<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Chris_Wallace.html Chris Wallace, General Manager] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203023443/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Chris_Wallace.html |date=December 3, 2010 }}, nba.com. Retrieved December 16, 2010.</ref>
|-
| [[Danny Ainge]] || 2007–2021<ref name="danny">[http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Danny_Ainge.html Danny Ainge, Executive Director of Basketball Operations and General Manager] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418073430/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Danny_Ainge.html |date=April 18, 2008 }}, nba.com. Retrieved December 16, 2010.</ref>
|-
| [[Brad Stevens]] || 2021–present
|}

===Other===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Name !! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Position !! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics|border=2}};"|Tenure
|-
| [[Dave Gavitt]] || CEO || 1990–1994
|-
| [[Larry Bird]] || Special assistant to front office || 1992–1997
|-
| [[M. L. Carr]] || Director of basketball operations || 1994–1997
|-
| [[Danny Ainge]] || President of basketball operations<ref name="danny"/> || 2003–2021
|-
| [[Brad Stevens]] || President of basketball operations || 2021–present
|}

==See also==
* [[The Auerbach Center]], official Celtics practice facility (opened June 2018)
* [[The Sports Museum]] (at TD Garden)
* [[Reebok Pro Summer League]], a former summer league operated by the Celtics
* [[List of Boston Celtics head coaches]]
* [[Boston Celtics draft history]]
* [[Celtics–Lakers rivalry]]
* [[Celtics–Knicks rivalry]]
* [[Celtics–Pistons rivalry]]
* [[76ers–Celtics rivalry]]
* [[Boston Celtics all-time roster]]
* [[Boston Garden]]
* [[TD Garden]]
* [[Boston Celtics Radio Network]]
* [[Sports in Boston]]
* [[Sports in Massachusetts]]
* [[List of NBA champions]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Taylor, John. *The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball.* New York: Random House, 2006.
* [https://www.hoophall.com Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Boston Celtics' Legacy] - Profiles of legendary Celtics players such as Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and Larry Bird from the official Hall of Fame website.
* [https://www.nba.com/history/team/boston-celtics NBA’s Official Celtics History Page] - Overview of the Celtics’ achievements, notable players, and championships.
* [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/ Basketball-Reference: Boston Celtics Franchise Index] - Comprehensive data on the Celtics’ season records, player statistics, and more.
* Russell, Bill. *Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend.* New York: HarperCollins, 2009.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
<!-- please, add only ONE official link, per [[:Wikipedia:External_links#Official_links]] -->

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