Boston Celtics
Eighteen banners, the most ever. The Boston Celtics own 18 NBA titles, the most of any franchise, from Bill Russell's 11 rings to Larry Bird's 1980s teams and the 2024 champions.
Celtics banners: Paul Keleher from Mass, US, CC BY 2.0
Red, Russell and the first dynasty
The Celtics joined the Basketball Association of America in 1946. Their story turned in 1956, when coach and executive Red Auerbach traded for the draft rights to Bill Russell. With Russell anchoring the defense and Bob Cousy running the break, Boston won 11 championships in 13 seasons from 1957 to 1969, including eight in a row.
Auerbach lit a victory cigar on the bench when a win was sealed, and the habit became part of Celtics lore. In 1966 Russell became the first Black head coach in major American pro sports, and he won two titles as a player-coach.
Bob Cousy's no-look passes and Sam Jones' bank shots were as famous as Russell's blocks. The Celtics also drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950, the first Black player drafted by an NBA team.
Bird and the parquet
The Celtics added titles in 1974 and 1976 with John Havlicek and Dave Cowens. Then Larry Bird arrived and, with Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, won in 1981, 1984 and 1986. The Celtics and Lakers rivalry of that decade saved the league's TV ratings.
The team's parquet floor, built from wooden panels, became a symbol of the franchise and the tradition moved with the team from the old Boston Garden to the current arena in 1995.
Bird won three straight MVP awards from 1984 to 1986, and the 1985-86 Celtics, who went 40-1 at home, are often ranked among the best teams ever.
Big Three to the record 18
In 2008 Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen won title number 17. Boston and the Lakers were then tied at 17 until 2024, when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics past Dallas in five games for number 18, breaking the tie.
In 2025 the franchise was sold to a group led by Bill Chisholm, ending the long ownership of the group that had bought the team in 2002.
The 2008 title followed a busy summer in which executive Danny Ainge traded for Garnett and Allen to join Pierce, a lesson in how fast a bold front office can turn a team around.
The Celtics way
Boston has retired more jersey numbers than almost any team in sports, so many that the rafters are crowded with them. Its culture is built on defense, toughness and the idea that the banner matters more than the individual.
For Fly Baller, the Celtics are the dynasty blueprint: draft smart, trade bold, defend hard, and hang another banner.
Text written by Fly Baller.
