Boston Celtics accomplishments and records

Celtics' NBA championship banners hanging from the rafters at TD Garden

This is a comprehensive list of the accomplishments and records of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are an American professional basketball team currently playing in the National Basketball Association.

Playoffs

Championships (18)

The Celtics' 18 NBA Championships are the most of any NBA franchise. Boston's first 13 championships were won as the Walter A. Brown Trophy (original trophy retired in 1976), and five recent championships were won as the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy (introduced in 1977 as the second incarnation of the Walter A. Brown Trophy, renamed in 1984).^[1]

• 1957
• 1959
• 1960
• 1961
• 1962
• 1963
• 1964
• 1965
• 1966
• 1968
• 1969
• 1974
• 1976
• 1981
• 1984
• 1986
• 2008
• 2024

Conference titles (11)

Since 2022, the Eastern Conference championship trophy was renamed the Bob Cousy Trophy in honor of the legendary Celtics player.^[2][3]

• 1974
• 1976
• 1981
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 2008
• 2010
• 2022
• 2024

Division titles (34)

Since 2022, the Atlantic Division championship was awarded to that division's first-place team, and was named the Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton Trophy in honor of the first African American player to sign an NBA contract.^[4][5]

• 1957
• 1958
• 1959
• 1960
• 1961
• 1962
• 1963
• 1964
• 1965
• 1972
• 1973
• 1974
• 1975
• 1976
• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1991
• 1992
• 2005
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2017
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024

Regular season titles (19)

Since 2023, the NBA has awarded the Maurice Podoloff Trophy to the team who finished with the best overall record in the regular season.^[6]

• 2024

Hall of Fame

37 people were inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as players, 6 – as coaches, 6 – as contributors.^[7]

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:

• ¹ In total, Heinsohn was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as coach.
• ² In total, Bird was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as a member of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ³ In total, Russell was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as coach.
• ⁴ Sanders was also coached the team in 1978.

Retired numbers

The Celtics have retired 23 numbers,^[8][9] the most of any professional sports franchise in North America.^[10]

• Robert Parish, C (1980–1994); retired January 18, 1998
• Walter A. Brown, founder, owner (1946–1964); retired October 17, 1964
• Red Auerbach, head coach, executive (1950–2006); retired January 4, 1985
• Dennis Johnson, G (1983–1990); retired December 13, 1991
• Kevin Garnett, F (2007–2013); retired March 13, 2022
• Bill Russell, C ¹ (1956–1969); retired March 12, 1972
• Jo Jo White, PG (1969–1979); retired April 9, 1982
• Bob Cousy, PG (1950–1963); retired October 16, 1963
• Tom Heinsohn, F ²
  (1956–1965); retired October 15, 1966
• Satch Sanders, PF ³
  (1960–1973); retired January 19, 1973
• John Havlicek, SF (1962–1978); retired October 13, 1978
• Dave Cowens, C ⁴
  (1970–1980); retired February 8, 1981
• Jim Loscutoff, PF ⁵ (1955–1964); retired April 8, 1977
• Don Nelson, F (1965–1976); retired December 15, 1976
• Bill Sharman, G (1951–1961); retired October 15, 1966
• Ed Macauley, C (1950–1956); retired October 16, 1963
• Frank Ramsey, SF (1954–1964); retired October 16, 1965
• Sam Jones, SG (1957–1969); retired March 9, 1969
• K.C. Jones, PG ⁶ (1958–1967); retired February 12, 1967
• Cedric Maxwell, SF ⁷ (1977–1985); retired December 15, 2003
• Kevin McHale, PF (1980–1993); retired January 30, 1994
• Larry Bird, F (1979–1992); retired February 4, 1993
• Paul Pierce, F (1998–2013); retired February 11, 2018
• Reggie Lewis, PG ⁸ (1987–1993); retired March 22, 1995
• Johnny Most, broadcaster (1953–1990); retired 1990

• ¹ Also served as head coach (1966–69). Retired league-wide in 2022.
• ² Also served as head coach (1969–78); as broadcaster (1966–1969, 1980–2020).
• ³ Also served as head coach (1978).
• ⁴ Also served as head coach (1978–79).
• ⁵ Loscutoff, who wore #18, asked that his legacy be honored by allowing other Celtics to wear his number in the future. On one of the banners of retired numbers at the TD Garden, Loscutoff is represented by a square with the letters "LOSCY". #18 was later retired for Dave Cowens.
• ⁶ Also served as head coach (1983–88).
• ⁷ Also served as broadcaster (1995-present); briefly wore No. 30 in 1977–78.
• ⁸ Died of a cardiac arrest while still playing for the team; number retired posthumously.

Award winners

^[11]

NBA MVP

• Bob Cousy – 1957
• Bill Russell – 1958, 1961–1963, 1965
• Dave Cowens – 1973
• Larry Bird – 1984–1986

NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP

• Jayson Tatum – 2022
• Jaylen Brown – 2024

NBA Finals MVP

• John Havlicek – 1974
• Jo Jo White – 1976
• Cedric Maxwell – 1981
• Larry Bird – 1984, 1986
• Paul Pierce – 2008
• Jaylen Brown – 2024

NBA Defensive Player of the Year

• Kevin Garnett – 2008
• Marcus Smart - 2022

NBA Hustle Award

• Marcus Smart – 2019, 2022, 2023

NBA Rookie of the Year

• Tom Heinsohn – 1957
• Dave Cowens – 1971
• Larry Bird – 1980

NBA Sixth Man of the Year

• Kevin McHale – 1984, 1985
• Bill Walton – 1986
• Malcolm Brogdon – 2023

NBA Coach of the Year

• Red Auerbach – 1965
• Tom Heinsohn – 1973
• Bill Fitch – 1980

NBA Executive of the Year

• Red Auerbach – 1980
• Danny Ainge – 2008
• Brad Stevens – 2024

Community Assist Award

• Isaiah Thomas – 2017
• Jaylen Brown – 2020

All-NBA First Team

• Ed Sadowski – 1948
• Ed Macauley – 1951–1953
• Bob Cousy – 1952–1961
• Bill Sharman – 1956–1959
• Bill Russell – 1959, 1963, 1965
• John Havlicek – 1971–1974
• Larry Bird – 1980–1988
• Kevin McHale – 1987
• Kevin Garnett – 2008
• Jayson Tatum – 2022–2024

All-NBA Second Team

• Bill Sharman – 1953, 1955, 1960
• Ed Macauley – 1954
• Bill Russell – 1958, 1960–1962, 1964, 1966–1968
• Tom Heinsohn – 1961–1964
• Bob Cousy – 1962, 1963
• John Havlicek – 1964, 1966, 1968–1970, 1975, 1976
• Sam Jones – 1965–1967
• Dave Cowens – 1973, 1975, 1976
• Jo Jo White – 1975, 1977
• Nate Archibald – 1981
• Robert Parish – 1982
• Larry Bird – 1990
• Paul Pierce – 2009
• Isaiah Thomas – 2017
• Kyrie Irving – 2019
• Jaylen Brown – 2023

All-NBA Third Team

• Robert Parish – 1989
• Paul Pierce – 2002, 2003, 2008
• Rajon Rondo – 2012
• Jayson Tatum – 2020

NBA All-Rookie First Team

• John Havlicek – 1963
• Jo Jo White – 1970
• Dave Cowens – 1971
• Larry Bird – 1980
• Kevin McHale – 1981
• Dee Brown – 1991
• Antoine Walker – 1997
• Ron Mercer – 1998
• Paul Pierce – 1999
• Jayson Tatum – 2018

NBA All-Rookie Second Team

• Brian Shaw – 1989
• Rick Fox – 1992
• Dino Rađa – 1994
• Eric Montross – 1995
• J. R. Bremer – 2003
• Al Jefferson – 2005
• Ryan Gomes – 2006
• Rajon Rondo – 2007
• Kelly Olynyk – 2014
• Marcus Smart – 2015
• Jaylen Brown – 2017

NBA All-Defensive First Team

• Bill Russell – 1969
• John Havlicek – 1972–1976
• Paul Silas – 1975, 1976
• Dave Cowens – 1976
• Kevin McHale – 1986–1988
• Dennis Johnson – 1987
• Kevin Garnett – 2008, 2009, 2011
• Rajon Rondo – 2010, 2011
• Avery Bradley – 2016
• Marcus Smart – 2019, 2020, 2022

NBA All-Defensive Second Team

• Tom Sanders – 1969
• John Havlicek – 1969–1971
• Don Chaney – 1972–1975
• Dave Cowens – 1975, 1980
• Larry Bird – 1982–1984
• Kevin McHale – 1983, 1989, 1990
• Dennis Johnson – 1984–1986
• Rajon Rondo – 2009, 2012
• Kevin Garnett – 2012
• Avery Bradley – 2013
• Al Horford – 2018
• Robert Williams III – 2022
• Derrick White – 2023, 2024
• Jrue Holiday – 2024

NBA All-Star weekend

All-Star Game Selections^[12]

NBA All-Star Game head coaches

• Red Auerbach – 1957–1967
• Tom Heinsohn – 1972–1974, 1976
• Bill Fitch – 1982
• K. C. Jones – 1984–1987
• Chris Ford – 1991
• Doc Rivers – 2008, 2011
• Brad Stevens – 2017
• Joe Mazzulla – 2023^[13]

All-Star Most Valuable Player

• Ed Macauley – 1951
• Bob Cousy – 1954, 1957
• Bill Sharman – 1955
• Bill Russell – 1963
• David Cowens – 1973
• Nate Archibald – 1981
• Larry Bird - 1982
• Jayson Tatum – 2023^[14]

Slam Dunk champion

• Dee Brown – 1991^[15]
• Gerald Green – 2007^[15]

Three-Point Contest champion

• Larry Bird – 1986, 1987, 1988
• Paul Pierce – 2010^[16]

See also

• NBA records

References

1. "Championship Wins". NBA.com. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
2. "NBA introduces new lineup of postseason hardware". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
3. "NBA Season Recaps". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
4. "NBA unveils new trophies for division winners named after 6 NBA legends". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
5. "Team Index". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
6. "NBA unveils redesigned trophies for end-of-season awards". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
7. "Celtics Hall of Famers". NBA.com. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
8. "Retired Numbers - Boston Celtics History".
9. "Kevin Garnett's Number Will Be Retired". NBA.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
10. "Celtics will retire Paul Pierce's number on Feb. 11 vs. Cavs | Boston Herald". Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
11. "Award Winners – Celtics". NBA.com. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
12. "Boston Celtics All-Star Game Selections". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
13. Hurley, Michael (January 31, 2023). "Joe Mazzulla has very Joe Mazzulla response to being All-Star Game head coach". CBS News.
14. Mcmenamin, Dave (February 19, 2023). "Jayson Tatum scores All-Star record 55 points, wins MVP". ESPN.
15. Geagan, Matt (February 8, 2024). "Here's a look back at the Boston Celtics in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest". CBS News.
16. "NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest Winners". NBA.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.