The Celtics received official locker room hats after winning the 1986 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets. We’re guessing the hats worn by Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, Red Auerbach and others had more champagne stains than this one!

Many respected sportswriters believe the 1985-86 Boston Celtics were the best team in NBA history. Others will argue that point, but a few things are undisputed. Five future Hall-of-Famers suited up for the team, including Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish and Bill Walton – plus Head Coach K.C. Jones, whose team lost […]

The NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary season in 1996-97. As part of the festivities, the Association announced its list of the “50 Greatest Players” which included 13 Celtics, featuring franchise stalwarts Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Tiny Archibald, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. That season’s team […]

Take a look at this shot! Larry Bird hit a jumper in Boston’s Game 5 win in the 1987 NBA Finals to keep the team’s championship hopes alive. One reason the Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers rivalry thrilled audiences was the lineup of great players on both sides. Celtics legends Bird, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson and […]

The Celtics dominated the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the 1986 NBA Finals, winning the franchise’s 16th NBA World Championship title. Boston impressed with a 114-97 victory in front of a full house at Boston Garden, the 270th consecutive sellout at home. A scorer’s report documented the production of the C’s starting five, who […]

The Celtics barely got to celebrate their 16th NBA World Championship title when Len Bias, the No. 2 overall pick, passed away just two days after the 1986 NBA Draft and 11 days after the end of the NBA Finals. Flush with a veteran roster, the Celtics were still primed for another title run in […]

The Celtics set their sights on avenging the loss in the 1985 NBA Finals by addressing one of their biggest needs: another big man to come off the bench. A September 6, 1985, trade with the Los Angeles Clippers brought them former MVP and future Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton. Liberated from the Clippers, Walton would be […]

Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird and Coaches Jimmy Rodgers, K.C. Jones and Chris Ford all participated in the 1986 All-Star Game in Dallas. Bird was a starter and scored 23 points, McHale contributed eight points and 10 rebounds, and Parish recorded a blocked shot as the East All-Stars won, 139-132.

The Celtics returned to the NBA Playoffs in 1983, facing a powerful Milwaukee Bucks team in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Coached by former Celtics standout Don Nelson, Milwaukee swept Boston in four games – the first time the Celtics had been swept in a best-of-seven-games playoff series. “This is a very special feeling,” Nelson said. […]

The Celtics didn’t rest on their laurels after securing their 15th NBA World Championship title. During the 1984-85 season, Boston won 63 games and their second straight Atlantic Division title while Larry Bird won his second consecutive NBA MVP award. On March 3, Kevin McHale broke Bird’s franchise single-game scoring record with 56 points against […]