Boston Celtics NBA Finals history: record, titles, Finals MVPs, appearances

For the 23rd time in its history, the Boston Celtics are in the NBA Finals — the place their fans, and the franchise itself, expect to be.

The Celtics are one of the grand and most historic franchises in the NBA, a history littered with the great names of the game: Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Kevin McHale, Paul Pierce — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s look at the Boston Celtics NBA Finals history.

How many NBA titles do the Boston Celtics have?

Boston has 17 NBA titles, tied for the most in league history with its rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. If Boston can beat Dallas this year, it will put the Celtics alone in first place and ahead of their West Coast nemesis.

How many times have the Celtics lost the finals?

Five times. That includes their most recent trip to the NBA Finals in 2022 when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown learned some hard lessons in their first trip to the league’s biggest stage, falling at the hands of the more experienced Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

When did the Celtics last win a championship?

Boston last won a title in 2008, when Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen — along with young upstart point guard Rajon Rondo — knocked off the Kobe Bryant Lakers in six games.

When was the last time the Celtics were in the NBA Finals?

Boston was in the NBA Finals just two years ago, 2022, but lost to the Golden State Warriors. That was a very different Boston team. While Tatum and Brown were still the leaders, that roster leaned on players no longer with the team, including Marcus Smart, Robert Williams (who was battling knee issues even then), and Grant Williams.

How many titles does Jayson Tatum have?

Zero. That’s the next step in Tatum’s legacy, as great a player as he has been — five-time All-Star, four-times All-NBA, 2022 Eastern Conference Finals MVP — in Boston legacies are measured in rings. If Tatum wants to ascend to become one of the Celtics’ all-time greats, he needs a title (or titles). That can start this year.

Who has won Finals MVP for the Boston Celtics?

Five Celtics have been named NBA Finals MVP. Larry Bird did…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/boston-celtics-nba-finals-history-000522964.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-05 00:05:22

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