The 2024 NBA Finals between the Celtics and Mavericks is going to make history, one way or another.
Dallas finds itself down 3-0 in the series, a deficit from which no NBA team has ever come back. Teams are 0-156 in history after losing the first three games, and only a few teams — including last year’s Celtics team — have ever forced a Game 7.
If the Mavericks can’t become the first team to do that, then the Celtics will win their 18th championship. That will break a tie between them and the Lakers for the most in NBA history.
It has been a long drought between championships for the Celtics, at least by the organization’s lofty standards. Here’s a look back at the organization’s championship history as they draw ever closer to their first title in 16 years.
NOH: The Mavericks have no answer for this Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown play
When was the last time the Celtics won the championship?
The Celtics won their 17th championship in 2008. It was the first year of the team’s “Big 3” era of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen serving as the team’s three stars, and they won 66 games during the regular season.
Boston endured tough tests from the Hawks, Cavaliers and Pistons en route to the NBA Finals. The series against Detroit was the only one that didn’t go seven games (it went six).
The Celtics met the Lakers in the NBA Finals and beat them 4-2. They defeated the Kobe Bryant-led squad in Game 6 at the TD Garden, outscoring them 131-92 in a final-game beatdown to clinch the title.
Pierce was named the series MVP after averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game on .432/.393/.830 shooting splits. The victory also spawned Garnett’s famous, “Anything is possible!” shout, which has since become a popular Internet meme.
DeCOURCY: Tatum’s critics will need to look elsewhere when he finishes off championship season
Celtics NBA Championships
The Celtics entered the 2024 NBA Finals with 17 championships to their name. That is tied for the most in history with the Lakers, one of their historic rivals.
Below is a full breakdown of the Celtics’ 17 NBA championship wins:
- 1957: Celtics defeat St. Louis Hawks, 4-3
- 1959: Celtics defeat Minneapolis Lakers, 4-0
- 1960: Celtics defeat St. Louis Hawks, 4-3
- 1961: Celtics defeat St. Louis Hawks, 4-1
- 1962: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
- 1963: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
- 1964: Celtics defeat San Francisco Warriors, 4-1
- 1965: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1
- 1966: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
- 1968: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
- 1969: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
- 1974: Celtics defeat Milwaukee Bucks, 4-3
- 1976: Celtics defeat Phoenix Suns, 4-2
- 1981: Celtics defeat Houston Rockets, 4-2
- 1984: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
- 1986: Celtics defeat Houston Rockets, 4-2
- 2008: Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
MORE: Joel Embiid takes shot at Bucks over Jrue Holiday trade
When was the last time the Celtics were in the Finals?
The Celtics were last in the NBA Finals in 2022. They played the Warriors and had a 2-1 lead in the series before dropping the final three games to lose 4-2.
Much has changed for the Celtics since then. Ime Udoka is no longer Boston’s head coach while key players Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III and Grant Williams are no longer with the team.
NBA teams with most championships
The Celtics and Lakers entered the 2024 NBA Finals tied for the most championships with 17. There are three other teams with at least five championships — the Warriors (7), Bulls (6) and Spurs (5).
Below are all the NBA teams that have won at least two championships during their franchise’s history.
| Team | Championships | Finals appearances |
| Lakers | 17 | 32 |
| Celtics | 17 | 23 |
| Warriors | 7 | 12 |
| Bulls | 6 | 6 |
| Spurs | 5 | 6 |
| 76ers | 3 | 9 |
| Pistons | 3 | 7 |
| Heat | 3 | 7 |
| Knicks | 2 | 8 |
| Rockets | 2 | 4 |
| Bucks | 2 | 3 |