NEWS: Boston Celtics, North American Basketball Team, History of, Boston Celtics, Uniform, Boston Celtics Logos, Celtics Awards, Rookie of the Year

Boston Celtics NBA Team

Boston Celtics is a North American basketball team whose domination of the game and the number of victories garnered by it is unmatched by any other professional basketball team. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, they play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Boston Celtics home games are based in TD Banknorth Garden. Owned by Wycliffe Groesbeck and coached by DocRivers, managed by Danny Ainge, these green and white clad players are the cream of professional basketball players.

The Boston Celtics claim to fame comes from its domination of the game in its early years and more importantly its 17 NBA Championship victories. Its string of 8 consecutive wins is a record for any professional sports team in America.

The Early Years of Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics burst into the basketball scene in 1946 as a team in the Basketball Association of America and by 1949 were a part of NBA. Inspite of the ongoing race issue, the Boston Celtics have the honor of being the first franchisee to draft an African-American player Chuck Cooper. The Boston Celtics first coach was the legendary Red Auerbach, the architect of all the victories garnered by the Boston Celtics. Red diligently and consistently drafted players to mould them into an unbeatable team. The main players of that era were Bill Russell, Tommy Heinsohn, and Bob Cousy. In 1959, Red’s team was nearly perfect and the team repaid its faith by winning its first NBA Championship. K.C. Jones was a later draft and with him in the saddle the Boston Celtics would rule for a decade and a dynasty was born. In 1957 the Boston Celtics won their second NBA Championship, and thereafter under the Red’s coaching, the Boston Celtics won another 7 Championships. By 1964 the Boston Celtics had an all African-American line-up. Red retired after the Championship win of 1966, but stayed on as the General Manager of the Boston Celtics. Bill Russell stepped into Red’s hallowed shoes as player coach, but could not recreate Red’s magic. The Boston Celtics won two more Championships in 1968 and 1969. Bill Russell retired in 1969 and by then the Celtics had accumulated 11 NBA Championships in 13 seasons, with 8 of the wins being consecutive which still a record is.

The 70’s decade was dedicated to the rebuilding of the Boston Celtics, with Red still in harness. He acquired new players like Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, and Jo-Jo White and the Boston Celtics regained some of their former magic. In 1973 the Celtics posted a 68-14 season record and in 1974 won their 12th NBA Championship. In 1976 the Boston Celtics won their 13th NBA Championship under Coach Tom Heinsohn. In 1977-78 the Boston Celtics posted a 32-50 season record and John Harlick their lead scorer retired after 16 seasons. In the 1978 draft, Red selected Larry Bird of Indiana State, who was still playing for his college. Bird made his debut in the 1979-80 seasons, new players of that season were M L Carr, Gerald Henderson, Cedric Maxwell, Tiny Archibald, and Chris Ford. Bird won the NDA Rookie of the Year honor. The Boston Celtics improved by 32, which at that time was the best single season turn in NBA history. In 1980-81 the Boston Celtics went 62-20 under a new coach Bill Fitch. The Boston Celtics won the 1981 NBA Championship and Chris Maxwell was named NBA Final MVP. After a 3-year gap the Celtics returned in 1983-84 to pick up their 15th championship. In 1985-86 the Celtics boasted of an enviable team, in 1986 the Boston Celtics won 67 games for 40-1 at their home Bird won his third MVP award and the Celtics gained their 16th NBA Championship.

The 90’s decade saw the decline of the Boston Celtics and they had to contend with one misfortune after another. An injury ridden Bird retired, his replacement Reggie Lewis collapsed with a heart attack, coach changes and even the drafting of new players did not turn around the Celtic’s luck. In 2000-01, Jim O’ Brien took over as coach and the Boston Celtics finished the season 24-24. The 2001 NBA draft, the Boston Celtics picked up Joe Johnson, Joe Foote and Kendrick Brown. 2001-02 the Boston Celtics surprised doomsayers by staging an impressive comeback but did not post any spectacular wins. In 2003 the Boston Celtics underwent a change of ownership, but their chances at the net did not improve. In the 2004 season under coach Doc Rivers, a team of young players ably complemented the veterans and led by rookie Al Jefferson, the Celtics posted a 45-37 record and won their first Atlantic Division Title.

2005, 06, 07 were dismal years for the Celtics. The demise of Red Auerbach put the Boston Celtics in a downspin. 2007-2008 with new players Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Boston Celtics started the new season by winning the first 8 games and entering 2008 with a 26-3 record. They finished the season with 66-16 record. 2008 was the Boston Celtics lucky year; they reclaimed the NBA Championship after a gap of 22 years. This was their 17th win. The Boston Celtics began the new season 2008-09 with a dominating 27-2 record.

Boston Celtics Logos and Uniform

The Boston Celtics sport a very classic logo, which depicts a Leprechaun spinning a basketball, which has been in use since 1950. This particular logo was designed by Red Auerbach’s brother Zany Auerbach. The Boston Celtics also use a white shamrock with the letters Boston Celtics s above it, wrapped in a green circle.

The Celtics uniform is a green and white jersey and shorts, combined with white socks and sneakers.

Boston Celtics Awards

In its entire history the Boston Celtics have earned several awards and record breaking wins.

Coach of the Year- 3 times
1965-Red Auerbach
1973-Tommy Heinsohn
1980-Bill Fitch

Rookie of the Year-3 times
1957-Tommy Heinsohn F
1971-Dave Cowens C
1980-Larry Bird F

6th Man -3 times
1984 Kevin McHale F
1985 Kevin McHale f
1986-Bill Walton C

Defensive Player of the Year-1
2008-Kevin Garnett F

NBA MVP-11 times
1957-Bob Cousy G
1958, 61, 62, 63, 65-Bill Russell C
1973-Dave Cowen C
1984, 85, 86- Larry Bird F

NBA Finals MVP-6 times
1974-John Havlick F
1976-Jo-Jo white G
1981- Cedric Maxwell F
1984, 86-Larry Bird F
2008-Paul Pierce F

Best Season
1972/73 (68-14)
Worst Season
1996-97 (15-67)

This year after 49 games the Celtics are 40-9.