The first professional basketball league was formed in 1946. The creators, who were mostly owners of hockey teams and/or large arenas dubbed, the league the Basketball Association of America, or BAA. The Celtics were primarily started by Walter Brown, owner of Boston Gardens and part of the Boston Bruins. The first ever home game was played at Boston Gardens on November 5, 1946. The Celtics suffered a loss, but it marked the first step of the most successful franchise in basketball history.      For the first four years, the Celtics had awful seasons, usually finishing in last place or being eliminated quickly in post season. However, before the 1949 season, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League, forming the National Basketball Association, or NBA. The Celtics remained a team, however their luck did not improve, that year. However, there was much Luck of the Irish for the Celtics during the next season.Before the 1950 season, the NBA underwent a major overhaul. The 17 teams were cut down to only 11, the other teams’ players were split up amoung the remaining 11. This change gave the Celtics advantages none had dreamed of. By pure luck, the Celtics aquired Ed Macauley, but more importantly, a young rookie who no one wanted, and his name was literally drawn out of a hat, the rookie was Bob Cousy. In addition to the soon to be superstar of Cousy, the all time great coach, Red Auerbach took over as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. Although Auerbach originally had doubts about Cousy, they soon disappeared as Cousy brought incredibly new moves to the game. The behind the back dribble and no look passes were aspects unheard of at the time. However, in the following season, the Celtics were fabulous during the regular season, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs by New York.

In the 1951 season important players were added, but the Celtics were again eliminated in the playoffs. The Celtics had an explosive offense, but lacked a lot on defense, they were continually eliminated from the playoffs early and not until 1956, did Boston get the break it had really been looking for. It came in the form of a 6-10 center named Bill Russell. Russell had brought consecutive unbeaten seasons to the University of San Francisco. The Celtics traded Macauley and a few other players to the Hawks for Russell. Russell’s ability to jump, rebound, and block shots gave the Celtics the defensive edge they needed. Bill Russell aided Cousy in fast breaks as well by making quick outlet passes after getting a defensive stop. This defensive power turned the Celtics into a dynamo team and soon they were the dominating force in the NBA. That year’s playoffs brought some of the most fantastic finishes in Celtics history, especially the Game Seven double overtime win over the St. Louis Hawks to give the Celtics their first championship ever, and began a dynasty.

From 1958 to 1969, the Celtics reigned over the NBA behind Russell and Cousy. Russell, after winning 11 championships in 13 years may be the single most dominant player in basketball, and sports history for that matter. Russell finally retired in 1969, and that marked the end of the Celtic dynasty. The team had a completely new look. A new head coach, Tom Heinsohn, a new center to fill the vacancy Russell had left was 6-9 Dave Cowens, and John Havlicek occupied a forward position.

It took until 1974, however, for the Celtics to bring the crown back to Boston, but they did so by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar in game seven to win their first title in 5 years. Game 7 was a thriller in which Cowens scored 28 points and gave the win to Boston. In the next season, however, the Celtics fell in the Eastern Conference finals to the Wasthington Bullets. The 1976 finals featured the longest and possibly most exciting finals game ever played. The Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns in 3 overtimes 128-126 to get a 3-2 game lead on the Suns. Boston went on to capture the 13th championship in franchise history two nights later.

Then, until 1979, the Celtics entered bad times. Misfortunes and missed opportunities handed the Celtics their worst season since the 1949-1950 season in 1977-78. In 1978, they had another dismal season, but did get the rights to the soon to be super star Larry Bird. His arch-rival Magic Johnson went to the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1979, the Celtics regular season had a great turn around, they rose to first place in the East, but lost in the playoffs to Philadelphia. Before the 1980 season, a few things of great importance occurred to the club. Dave Cowens retired in a shocking announcement, but Robert Parish and Kevin McHale were added to the roster. That year, the Celtics went on to beat the Houston Rockets and take their 14th championship banner. In the 1984 finals, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in another game 7 victory and they took their 15 championship. Finally, however the Lakers came away with a win against the Celtics in the finals and the Celtics fell for the first time to the Lakers in the finals of 1985.

The next year, however, the Celtics, boosted by awesome play by Bird, took home their 16th NBA Title in 6 games in 1986. The next years marked a period of distress and let downs for the Celtics, and finally, in 1992, another super star of the Celtics, Larry Bird, announed his retirement. Larry Bird was a member of the last championship Celtics team in 1986, and the Celtics are still in trying times.

In 1995, the Celtics moved their home to the new Fleet Center, yet, their luck did not improve. They did not win another title, but in 1999, they signed Paul Pierce and this rookie led the team to phenomenal years, yet still without a title. Then Antoine Walker was signed and these two giants carried the Celtics for the next few years under the new coach, Dave O’Brien. However, Walker has been recently traded in the 2003-04 season, and the Celtics are still looking for their 17th title.

The Celtics have had so many great players wear the Celtic Green and White, and the retired numbers from the Celtics are:

00 Robert Parish
1   Walter Brown
2   Arnold “Red” Auerbach
3   Dennis Johnson
6   Bill Russell
10 Jo Jo White
14 Bob Cousy
15 Tom Heinsohn
16 Satch Sanders
17 John Havlicek
18 Dave Cowens
19 Don Nelson
21 Bill Sharman
22 Ed Macauley
23 Frank Ramsey
24 Sam Jones
25 K.C. Jones
32 Kevin McHale
33 Larry Bird
35 Reggie Lewis
… Jim Loscutoff (# 18 was retired in honor of Dave Cowens)
… Johnny Most (broadcaster)

Celtics in the Naismith Hall of Fame are:

“Easy” Ed Macauley
Andy Phillip
John “Honey” Russell
Walter Brown
Bill Mokray
Alvin “Doggie” Julian
Arnold “Red” Auerbach
Bob Cousy
Bill Russell
Bill Sharman
Frank Ramsey
John Havlicek
Sam Jones
Tom Heinsohn
Bob Houbregs
“Pistol” Pete Maravich
Clyde Lovellette
K.C. Jones
Dave Bing
Nate “Tiny” Archibald
Dave Cowens
Bill Walton
Bailey Howell
Larry Bird
Arnie Risen

With 16 championships, the Celtics place 3rd all time behind the New York Yankees and Montreal Canadiens. However, their story and past is still probably the best in NBA history. The Celtics have shown that they have faith and although their dynasty years are said to be over, who knows what the future could bring to the Celtic Green?