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 […]

Just two days after winning the 15th NBA World Championship title in franchise history, the Celtics took part in a public celebration at City Hall Plaza. M.L. Carr, Larry Bird, Red Auerbach, Robert Parish and teammates enjoyed the moment with 200,000 of their closest friends. Boston mayor (and former Celtics ball boy) Ray Flynn said, […]

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 celebrated their latest NBA World Championship title with the 1981-82 media guide. Boston had hopes for another golden season behind All-Stars Robert Parish, Tiny Archibald and Larry Bird, who was also MVP of the All-Star Game. The C’s won 18 in a row in February and March to outpace a division rival in […]

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 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. […]

For the 10th time in league history, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers franchises met in the NBA Finals in 1987. Both teams were powerhouses during the 1980s, as each had won three NBA World Championship titles from 1980 to 1986. In the 1987 NBA Finals, the Lakers stormed out to a 2-0 series […]