The Boston Celtics History: Every Award Their Players And Coaches Have Won
It wasn’t long ago that we sat down with you and laid out the history of the Los Angeles Lakers by discussing every award and accolade their players and coaches have won. It was a comprehensive journey through the history of one of the most historic franchises in NBA history, and today, we do it again.
This time, we turn our attention to the only other team with 17 NBA championships, the Boston Celtics. As any NBA fan knows, the Celtics are just as important to the story of the NBA from start to finish as any other franchise has been or will be to the legacy of NBA basketball. With their winning culture and host of legends who have graced the hardwood donning the green and white, the Boston Celtics mean more to the NBA than most, and today, we honor their legacy.
As we venture through the history of the Boston Celtics, we will honor their championship teams, Finals MVPs, MVPs, scoring leaders, and so much more. Even the legendary coaches of the franchise will get their due for their contributions to Boston. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and share this legacy-fueled piece with a Celtics fan.
This is the history of the Boston Celtics and every award their players and coaches have won over the years.
NBA Championships
17 Championship Teams
1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008
Tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in NBA history, the Boston Celtics have raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy a total of 17 times in their history. The first 11 championships in their history were centered around the presence of Bill Russell and the likes of Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, and so many others.
They captured their first NBA championship in 1957 with a series win over St. Louis Hawks in seven games. Tom Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, and Bob Cousy all averaged over 20.0 PPG for the series, while Russell grabbed over 22.0 RPG and led the defensive unit by commanding the paint with his presence like he always managed to do, even against the likes of Bob Pettit.
After a loss to the Hawks in 1958, the only Finals blemish on Russell’s Finals resume, the Celtics found their way back to championship glory. What followed was an NBA Finals record that will never be broken as they rattled off eight straight NBA championships. The first was a sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers. Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and Frank Ramsey would all average over 20.0 PPG as Russell grabbed 29.5 RPG in the sweep.
Over the next seven seasons, the Celtics would take down the Hawks twice more in the NBA Finals, the Lakers four more times in the NBA Finals, and the Warriors once in an epic battle between Russell and fellow NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain. The streak would be put to a halt by the 76ers, led by Chamberlain in 1967, as they went on to win the NBA championship that season.
The Celtics would return in 1968 to the NBA Finals once again against the Los Angeles Lakers. This time, the Celtics would win in six games behind over 27.0 PPG from John Havlicek and 21.0 PPG from Bailey Howell. Russell, even toward the end of his career, averaged 17.3 PPG and 21.8 RPG in the series as well. Boston would also win one more in the Bill Russell era in 1969 over the Lakers in seven games. In that series, Havlicek led all scorers for Boston again with 28.3 PPG and 11.0 RPG, while Russell grabbed over 21.0 RPG. Jerry West was named the inaugural Finals MVP despite the series loss.
After dealing with the retirement of Russell for a few seasons, the Celtics went back to the NBA Finals in 1974, led by the duo of John Havlicek and Dave Cowens. The series would go to seven games, with Cowens delivering the knockout blow to Kareem and the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7. Cowens would have 28 points and 14 rebounds in the deciding game, while Havlicek took home Finals MVP honors averaging 26.4 PPG and 7.7 RPG.
After a misstep in 1975, the Celtics returned to championship glory once again in 1976. This time, the series would be against the Phoenix Suns, who were being led by rookie Alvan Adams. This time, both JoJo White and Dave Cowens would be Boston’s 20.0 PPG scorers, with Cowens also adding 16.3 RPG and White taking home Finals MVP honors as the Celtics won the NBA championship in six games.
It would be a bit longer for Boston to claim their next championship as they ushered in a new era led by a kid from Indiana State who fell into their laps in the NBA Draft. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, among many others, would turn the Celtics into a dynasty during the 1980s, with their first NBA title coming in 1981 over the Houston Rockets. In that series, Bird, Parish, and Cedric Maxwell would lead the team with over 15.0 PPG each, with Bird adding over 15.0 RPG as well and leading the team in assists with 7.0 APG as they took down the Rockets in six games.
Their next title would come three years later as the Lakers and Celtics rivalry had been given another boost with the battles between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird taking center stage. The back-and-forth battle would last seven games, with Boston ultimately coming out on top in Game 7, 111-102. Bird led the team with 27.4 PPG and 14.0 RPG, while Robert Parish also averaged a double-double and Dennis Johnson added 17.6 PPG.
After falling to the Lakers in 1985, the Celtics would compete for their 16th NBA championship against the Rockets once more in 1986. Despite a great series from a young Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston was no match for one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Boston would seal the series in six games behind another Finals MVP performance from Bird with 24.0 PPG and over 25.0 PPG and 8.5 RPG from Kevin McHale. Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, and Robert Parish would also contribute over 12.0 PPG as well.
It would be another long 22 years until the Celtics could call themselves NBA champions once again. This time, the team was led by a Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen as they took the NBA by storm as the league’s first Big 3 in quite some time. In the 2008 Finals, the Celtics would take on the Los Angeles Lakers led by MVP Kobe Bryant. The series would last six games, with Allen, Pierce, and Garnett all capturing their first ring in the process. Pierce would be named Finals MVP while Allen averaged over 20.0 PPG and Garnett averaged a double-double with 18.2 PPG and 13.0 RPG.
Finals MVP
John Havlicek (1974), JoJo White (1976), Cedric Maxwell (1981), Larry Bird 2x (1984, 1986), Paul Pierce (2008)
With the Finals MVP award not being introduced until the 1969 season, there have only been six Finals MVP awards handed out in Boston Celtics' history to five different players. The first of these Finals MVPs came from John Havlicek in the 1974 NBA Finals win over the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 7-game series, Havlicek shot 42.9% from the field and averaged 26.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, and 1.9 SPG. In Game 7, he shot a poor 6-20 from the field and finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Despite Havlicek and Dave Cowens being the leaders of the team still in 1976, it would be a surprise as to who took home Finals MVP in their win over the Phoenix Suns. This unlikely hero was JoJo White, who had a spectacular six-game series to deliver the NBA championship back to Boston. White would average 21.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.5 SPG in the series while shooting 43.9% from the floor.
Just as it happened in 1976, another surprise player would take home the hardware in 1981. The Celtics were up against the Houston Rockets, led by Moses Malone. In the series, Boston would have five players score in double figures for the series, with Cedric Maxwell leading all scorers with 17.7 PPG. He would also add 9.5 RPG and 1.0 BPG as they sealed the series in six games for their 14th NBA championship.
The Celtics would win both the 1984 and 1986 NBA championships, which both resulted in Larry Bird being named Finals MVP. In 1984, the Celtics took down the mighty Lakers in a seven-game series led by Bird. The series would go seven games, with Bird and the Celtics prevailing in the end. Bird earned his first Finals MVP by averaging 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.1 SPG, and 1.1 BPG.
After falling to the Lakers in 1985, the Celtics found themselves back in the NBA Finals after a dominant 67-15 1986 season. Their matchup would be the Rockets once again, this time led by a young Hakeem Olajuwon. The series would be a battle that lasted just six games due to Larry Bird’s masterful performance. In the six games to seal their third NBA title of the decade, he averaged 24.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 APG, and 2.7 SPG. It was by far the greatest all-around Finals performance in his career.
The last Finals MVP in Celtics history would come 22 years after the 1986 NBA title run, and has been 15 years since. In an epic series between the Celtics and Lakers once again, there were multiple players who could have been named MVP. Ray Allen could have gotten the nod for his clutch shooting and Kevin Garnett laid claim for the award with tremendous two-way play, especially defensively. In the end, it would be Paul Pierce taking home the hardware while leading the Celtics in scoring with 21.8 PPG. Pierce would also add 4.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, and 1.2 SPG in the win.
MVP
Bob Cousy (1957), Bill Russell 5x (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965), Dave Cowens (1973), Larry Bird 3x (1984, 1985, 1986)
Despite their dominance as a franchise, there have only been four different players to win MVP in a Celtics uniform. To find their first MVP in team history, you will have to go back to 1957 and talk about the Houdini of the Hardwood, Bob Cousy. Ahead of his time with his handles and superior court vision, Cousy captured the 1957 MVP after averaging 20.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 7.5 APG. He led the Celtics to a 44-28 record and eventually an NBA championship later that postseason.
If you are even the most casual of NBA fans, then you know what Bill Russell not only means to the Boston Celtics but to the NBA as a whole. His five MVP awards have tied him with Michael Jordan for the second-most in NBA history. Russell won four of his MVP awards in a five-year stretch from 1961 through 1965. The 1958 season would be the only season that Russell did not win an NBA championship in the same season as he won MVP as they fell to the St. Louis Hawks in the NBA Finals.
Dave Cowens put forth one of the more peculiar MVP performances in NBA history during the 1972-73 season. Cowens was in just his third season with Boston when he was named MVP for the only time in his career. During that season, Cowens led the Celtics to a 68-14 record during the regular season. He averaged 20.5 PPG, 16.2 RPG, and 4.1 APG while playing all 82 games and 41.8 minutes per game as well. Cowens would end up winning two NBA championships with Boston in 1974 and 1976.
The last MVP in Celtics history is also the last player in NBA history to capture three MVP awards in a row. From 1984 through 1986, Larry Bird won three MVP awards consecutively while also winning two NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards. As one of the players with the highest winning percentage ever, it is no surprise that Bird had this kind of three-year peak. In those three seasons, Bird would average 26.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.7 APG, and 1.8 BPG on 50.4% shooting overall and 39.2% shooting from three on less than 2.0 attempts.
Rookie Of The Year
Tom Heinsohn (1957), Dave Cowens (1971), Larry Bird (1980)
The NBA’s Rookie of the Year award is given out each season to the best NBA newcomer from the high school, college, or international ranks. The Celtics have been able to capture three of these awards in their history due to incredible seasons from three franchise legends. The first of these Rookie of the Year winners was Tom Heinsohn out of Holy Cross back in 1957. In his first season, Heinsohn would become an All-Star, NBA champion, and Rookie of the Year with 16.2 PPG and 9.8 RPG on 39.7% shooting from the field.
The next time a Celtics player would win Rookie of the Year would be in 1971, courtesy of Dave Cowens. As the fourth overall pick from Florida State, Cowens would beat out Geoff Petrie, Pete Maravich, Calvin Murphy, and Bob Lanier for the honor. Cowens would not be an All-Star, but his 17.0 PPG and 15.0 RPG were good enough to help Boston win 44 games under coach Tom Heinsohn.
In 1980, all eyes were on two players for the Rookie of the Year award just as they had been for the previous three years as they battled in college. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s rivalry carried over to the NBA and ended with Bird drawing first blood as Rookie of the Year. In his 1979-80 season, Bird would average 21.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 1.7 SPG while becoming an All-Star and All-NBA First Team selection. Magic would have the last laugh as an NBA champion and Finals MVP later that season.
Defensive Player Of The Year
Kevin Garnett (2008), Marcus Smart (2022)
With how much Boston has prided itself on defense over the last 76 years, it comes as a bit of a surprise that only two players have been named Defensive Player of the Year in their history. The first player to accomplish this was Kevin Garnett in his first season with the Celtics back in 2008. Garnett would average 9.2 RPG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.3 BPG on the season for 2008 while also recording 12.9 Defensive Win Shares.
The Defensive Player of the Year has been an award historically dominated by frontcourt big men over the years. In 2022, Celtics point guard Marcus Smart would become just the second point guard in NBA history to take home the award. Smart led the Celtics’ number-one-ranked defense with 1.7 SPG and a career-high 3.7 Defensive Win Shares on the season. Coincidentally, both teams would advance to the NBA Finals, but only Garnett’s 2008 squad would become NBA champions.
Sixth Man Of The Year
Kevin McHale 2x (1984, 1985), Bill Walton (1986), Malcolm Brogdon (2023)
Kevin McHale has a case to be called the greatest Sixth Man in NBA history with his two Sixth Man of the Year awards in back-to-back seasons in 1984 and 1985. McHale first won the award in Boston’s 1984 championship season. He was an All-Star that season while making just 10 starts, as he averaged 18.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.5 BPG. The following season, there would be no championship for McHale but he took home his second straight award with 19.8 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 1.5 BPG.
In 1986, McHale would become a starter leaving room for Bill Walton to keep the streak alive for Boston with their third straight Sixth Man of the Year. In 78 games off the bench, Walton provided the Celtics with solid defending and rebounding. He averaged 7.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.3 BPG on the season as the Celtics went on to win the NBA championship over the Rockets later in the year.
It had been 37 years since a Celtics player won Sixth Man of the Year in 2023. Malcolm Brogdon, in his first season with the team, would break the streak as Boston earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference. In 67 games off the bench, he averaged 14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG on 48.4% shooting overall and 44.4% shooting from three on 4.4 attempts. The high was short-lived for Brogdon in Boston, as he was sent to Washington earlier this offseason in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.
Coach Of The Year
Red Auerbach (1965), Tom Heinsohn (1973), Bill Fitch (1980)
With all the legendary coaches that have paced the sidelines for the Celtics during their history, only three have ever been honored with the Coach of the Year award. Of course, one of those coaches was the legendary Red Auerbach, who is one of the greatest coaches and basketball minds ever. Auerbach won the award in 1965 after leading the Celtics to a 62-18 record.
The next time a Celtics coach would win would be former Boston player Tom Heinsohn in 1973. Heinsohn would win the award after leading Boston to a 68-14 record. The final Coach of the Year winner in Celtics history would be Bill Fitch in 1980. Fitch had won the award previously with the Cleveland Cavaliers a few years prior. In 1980, Fitch led the Celtics to a 61-21 record but also failed to win an NBA championship. Auerbach is the only one to win the award and an NBA title in the same season.
All-Star Game MVP
Bob Cousy 2x (1954, 1957), Bill Sharman (1955), Bill Russell (1963), Dave Cowens (1973), Nate Archibald (1981), Larry Bird (1982), Jayson Tatum (2023)
The All-Star Game MVP, although the least important of all individual accolades in the NBA, is given to the NBA player who stands out the most with his performance during the NBA All-Star Game festivities. In Celtics history, only seven players have taken home the award, with some interesting trends that come with it. Bob Cousy is the only player in Celtics history to win multiple All-Star MVP awards in 1954 and 1957.
Dave Cowens and Bob Cousy are also the only two players to win the All-Star Game MVP and MVP award in the same season as well. Cousy, Bill Russell, and Nate Archibald are the only three players in Celtics history to win All-Star Game MVP in the same year they went on to win the championship in 1957, 1963, and 1981. Jayson Tatum became the most recent winner of the award with a record 55 points in the 2023 All-Star Game.
Scoring Titles
None
Assists Titles
Bob Cousy 8x (1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960), Rajon Rondo 2x (2012, 2013)
There have been just two players in Celtics history to win the NBA assists title in their NBA careers. Bob Cousy held the NBA record for nearly 40 years before John Stockton came in and won his ninth assists title in 1996. Cousy won all eight of his assists titles consecutively from 1953 through 1960 as he also claimed an MVP and helped Boston win three NBA championships during that stretch of time.
The other time a player won an assists title for the Celtics came 52 years after Cousy’s final title in 1960. Rajon Rondo would lead the NBA in assists in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013 when he averaged 11.7 APG and 11.1 APG, respectively. Both of Rondo’s assists titles amounted to more APG than Cousy ever recorded in his career, as did two other seasons Rondo recorded without winning the assists title that season.
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