The Boston Celtics were established in 1946 and have a rich history. The team is part of the Eastern Conference in the NBA and more specifically, belongs to the Atlantic Division. The Celtics have consistently been a powerhouse in professional basketball, often considered to be one of the strongest teams in the NBA and constantly seeing the rise of stars in their team.
The Touchdown Garden, the Home Center of the Boston Celtics has a seating capacity of 19,580 spectators and is known to be one of the most hostile environments for rival teams to play in due to the support given by the home team. The Celtics are known to have a strong ownership composed of personalities committed to winning championships.
The Celtics tied the record for the number of championships won by an NBA team with 17 rings along with the Los Angeles Lakers. These have been won by legends of the game like Bill Russell, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Larry Bird. The team’s legacy is now being carried on by stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
How many championships have the Boston Celtics won?
The Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA championships in their history. The team won its first NBA championship in 1957, marking the beginning of an era. Under the leadership of NBA legend Bill Russell, the Celtics won 11 championships over a period of 13 seasons, making them the most dominant team of the era. Of these 11 championships, eight were won consecutively.
The team's last championship was earned in 2008 and was notably the most thrilling championship won by the Celtics. The NBA trophy was hoisted at a time when the Celtics formed the big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. This championship was won against Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers. The championship signified a turning point for the franchise in terms of roster changes and seeing the end of a two-decade-long championship drought.
| Team Name | Head Coach | Against | Final Date and Year | Venue | ‘Team Name’ Wins/Losses by Game in Series |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Atlanta Hawks | April 13, 1957 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | April 9, 1959 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-0 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Atlanta Hawks | April 9, 1960 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Atlanta Hawks | April 9, 1961 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-1 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | April 12, 1962 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | April 14, 1963 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Golden State Warriors | April 18, 1964 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-1 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | April 25, 1965 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-1 |
| Boston Celtics | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | April 28, 1966 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| Boston Celtics | Bill Russell | Los Angeles Lakers | April 26, 1968 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| Boston Celtics | Bill Russell | Los Angeles Lakers | April 24, 1969 | The Forum | Celtics won 4-3 |
| Boston Celtics | Bill Russell | Milwaukee Bucks | May 12, 1974 | Fiserv Forum | Celtics won 4-3 |
| Boston Celtics | Tom Heinsohn | Phoenix Suns | May 16, 1976 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| Boston Celtics | Tom Heinsohn | Houston Rockets | May 14, 1981 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| Boston Celtics | Bill Fitch | Los Angeles Lakers | June 12, 1984 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| Boston Celtics | KC Jones | Houston Rockets | June 8, 1986 | The Summit | Celtics won 4-2 |
| Boston Celtics | KC Jones | Los Angeles Lakers | June 17, 2008 | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
Boston Celtics Finals Appearance History
The Boston Celtics have appeared in the final stage for the Larry O'Brien trophy 21 times in their franchise history. Winning the title 17 times has solidified their status as one of the league's most successful franchises. The Celtics have however tasted defeat on four trips to the finals.
Despite these defeats, the team’s winning culture and dedication to excellence have known no bounds. The organization has always bounced back in the face of adversity and has come out stronger. From their early years of dominance to their current endeavors to get back to winning ways, the Celtics have been known to be highly successful in the NBA.
| Year | Head Coach | Against | Venue | Result |
| 1957 | Red Auerbach | Atlanta Hawks | TD Garden | Celtics win 4-3 |
| 1958 | Red Auerbach | Atlanta Hawks | TD Garden | Celtics win 4-2 |
| 1959 | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics win 4-0 |
| 1960 | Red Auerbach | Atlanta Hawks | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| 1961 | Red Auerbach | Atlanta Hawks | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-1 |
| 1962 | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| 1963 | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| 1964 | Red Auerbach | Golden State Warriors | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-1 |
| 1965 | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-1 |
| 1966 | Red Auerbach | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| 1968 | Bill Russell | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| 1969 | Bill Rusell | Los Angeles Lakers | The Forum | Celtics lost 3-4 |
| 1974 | Tom Heisohn | Milwaukee Bucks | Fiserv Forum | Celtics won 4-3 |
| 1976 | Tom Heisohn | Phoenix Suns | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| 1981 | Bill Fitch | Houston Rockets | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| 1984 | KC Jones | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-3 |
| 1985 | KC Jones | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics lost 2-4 |
| 1986 | KC Jones | Houston Rockets | The Summit | Celtics won 4-2 |
| 1987 | KC Jones | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics lost 2-4 |
| 2008 | Doc Rivers | Los Angeles Lakers | TD Garden | Celtics won 4-2 |
| 2010 | Doc Rivers | Los Angeles Lakers | Staples Center. TD Garden | Celtics lost 3-4 |
| 2022 | Ime Udoka | Golden State Warriors | TD Garden, Chase Center | Celtics lost 2-4 |
What teams did the Boston Celtics lose the Championship Finals against?
The Boston Celtics have lost the NBA finals 4 times in their history. The team has lost the finals against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors:
Celtics lost the finals against the Lakers 2-4, 1985
Celtics lost the finals against the Lakers 2-4, 1987
Celtics lost the finals against the Lakers 3-4, 2010
Celtics lost the finals against the Golden State Warriors 2-4, 2022
The team has made it to the finals 21 times of which the four losses came from just two teams in the NBA.
Boston Celtics Last Finals Appearance
The Boston Celtics made their last NBA finals appearance in the 2021-22 NBA season. They finished the regular season with a record of 51 wins to 31 losses and were placed 2nd on the Eastern Conference Standings.
The team faced off against the Golden State Warriors in the finals and lost the series 2-4 after putting up a strong fight against the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The series was competitive up to four games with both teams tied at two wins each. The fifth and sixth games of the series saw the Warriors emerge as winners.
In the 2023-24 season, the Celtics have once again made the trip to the Finals and will face the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Championship.
FAQ's On Boston Celtics Final Appearances
A. The Boston Celtics appeared in the NBA finals 21 times. Most of these were achieved in a span of 13 years.
A. The Boston Celtics have won the NBA finals 17 times. The team has lost only four Finals matchups in their history.
A. The Boston Celtics have 17 championship rings to their name. They are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for most championships won by an NBA team.
A. The Boston Celtics have been defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals.
A. The Boston Celtics last won the NBA finals in the 2007-08 NBA season.
