It’s impossible to write NBA history without the Celtics being the main characters of the story.
The franchise not only dominated the sport through the Bill Russell and Larry Bird eras, but they also rivaled some of the best franchises in all of sports.
Boston’s championship success hasn’t quite carried over since Bird retired, aside from the 2008 title. That said, the bar is high for the Celtics — a 50-win season is almost always considered a failure if it doesn’t end with the Larry O’Brien trophy in hand.
The Celtics have been wildly successful in the past decade compared to other franchise’s standards. They just haven’t been able to hang another banner in TD Garden. As Boston approaches yet another NBA Finals appearance, here’s a breakdown of its championship history.
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Celtics NBA Finals history
When is the last time the Celtics went to the NBA Finals?
Even the youngest Celtics fans could remember the last time the team reached the NBA Finals. Boston faced the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals.
The Warriors won the series in six games, and Stephen Curry won his first Finals MVP. It was Golden State’s fourth NBA championship and first since 2018 with Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green at the forefront.
Prior to the 2022 run, the Celtics hadn’t played in the NBA Finals since 2010 when they lost to the Lakers. Boston defeated Los Angeles in 2008 for the championship.
The Celtics had a significant dry spell through the 1990s and early 2000s, however. The 2008 title run was the first time the franchise reached the stage since 1987.
If the Celtics reach the Finals in 2024, they will be up to 23 NBA Finals appearances in their history.
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How many NBA championships have the Celtics won?
The Celtics have 17 NBA championships, which is tied for the most in league history with the Lakers.
Most of Boston’s postseason success has come with either Russell or Bird at the helm. Russell won 11 titles in his time with Boston; Bird won three.
Russell won his championships before the Finals MVP was introduced. The award is named after him today.
| Season | Opponent | Games | Record | NBA Finals MVP |
| 1956-57 | Hawks | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1957-58 | Hawks | 6 | L, 4-2 | N/A |
| 1958-59 | Lakers | 4 | W, 4-0 | N/A |
| 1959-60 | Hawks | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1960-61 | Hawks | 5 | W, 4-1 | N/A |
| 1961-62 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1962-63 | Lakers | 6 | W, 4-2 | N/A |
| 1963-64 | Warriors | 5 | W, 4-1 | N/A |
| 1964-65 | Lakers | 5 | W, 4-1 | N/A |
| 1965-66 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1967-68 | Lakers | 6 | W, 4-2 | N/A |
| 1968-69 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | Jerry West, Lakers |
| 1973-74 | Bucks | 7 | W, 4-3 | John Havlicek, Celtics |
| 1975-76 | Suns | 6 | W, 4-2 | Joe White, Celtics |
| 1980-81 | Rockets | 6 | W, 4-2 | Cedric Maxwell, Celtics |
| 1983-84 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | Larry Bird, Celtics |
| 1984-85 | Lakers | 6 | L, 4-2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lakers |
| 1985-86 | Rockets | 6 | W, 4-2 | Larry Bird, Celtics |
| 1986-87 | Lakers | 6 | L, 4-2 | Magic Johnson, Lakers |
| 2007-08 | Lakers | 6 | W, 4-2 | Paul Pierce, Celtics |
| 2009-10 | Lakers | 7 | L, 4-3 | Kobe Bryant, Lakers |
| 2021-22 | Warriors | 6 | L, 4-2 | Stephen Curry, Warriors |
Most NBA titles by team
The Celtics and Lakers lead the pack with the most NBA titles in league history. They hold a double-digit lead over third place.
| Teams | Finals appearances | Championships | Years won |
| Boston Celtics | 22 | 17 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008 |
| Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers | 32 | 17 | 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020 |
| Philadelphia/San Francisco/Golden State Warriors | 12 | 7 | 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
| Chicago Bulls | 6 | 6 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 6 | 5 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 |
| Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers | 9 | 3 | 1955, 1967, 1983 |
| Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons | 7 | 3 | 1989, 1990, 2004 |
| Miami Heat | 7 | 3 | 2006, 2012, 2013 |
| Houston Rockets | 4 | 2 | 1994, 1995 |
| New York Knicks | 8 | 2 | 1970, 1973 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 3 | 2 | 1971, 2021 |
| Denver Nuggets | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 5 | 1 | 2016 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 2 | 1 | 2011 |
| Seattle Supersonics/OKC Thunder | 4 | 1 | 1979 |
| Baltimore Bullets/Washington Bullets/Washington Wizards | 4 | 1 | 1978 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 3 | 1 | 1977 |
| Rochester Royals/Cincinnati Royals/Kansa City Kings/Sacramento Kings | 1 | 1 | 1951 |