Boston Celtics: Looking Back & Forward

The Boston Celtics, named after the ABL's original Celtic team, are arguably the most well-known and influential franchise in the league. The Celtics are built on an unchanging tradition, marked by the green and white of their jerseys and the pipe-smoking leprechaun in their official team logo. The Celtics have retired 21 jerseys, won 17 NBA championships, molded 29 Hall of Famers, and produced 8 all-star MVPs alongside 10 league MVP awards.

Home to the legendary Bill Russell, often acclaimed as the greatest player to ever wear an NBA uniform with his 11 championship rings, the Celtics have historically played in the famed Boston Garden, only recently moving to the TD Banknorth Garden. Other renowned players that have made an appearance in a Celtics jersey are Nate Archibald, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, K.C. Jones, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Bill Sharman, among very many others. Most importantly, perhaps, is the NBA's most recognizable coach: the late Red Auerbach. Red managed to coach the team to a success where winning championships was the norm, having won more titles per season than not.

The luck of the Irish has been dim for the franchise until only recently when the new Boston Celtics, headed by Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett, won their first NBA championship in their first year together. The NBA seems almost rejuvenated after boasting an NBA finals of classic winning teams in the Celtics and the Lakers, renewing a similar rivalry that the Celtics once had in Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson with the new era of players, Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant. The Boston Celtics are now as rich in talent as they are in history, and the new era Celtics are expected to win several titles within the next few years.