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How many NBA championships have Celtics won? History of Boston’s NBA Finals appearances | Sporting News Australia

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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

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