The Celtics have grown increasingly used to winning.
Boston is one of the NBA's true heavyweights, the rare powerhouse that has adapted to basketball's ever-changing environment in real-time. They have a gaggle of ornaments in their trophy cabinet at a result.
The Celtics blitzed past Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, adding another ring and banner to their collection in the process. Here's where they now stack up among all-time NBA franchises in titles.
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How many NBA championships have the Celtics won?
The Celtics have won 18 NBA titles. They claimed their most recent championship in the 2023-24 season after dispatching the Mavericks in five games.
Boston has gone through several dynastic periods. Red Auerbach's Celtics won 11 championships between 1957 and 1969, including winning eight consecutive NBA Finals matchups from 1959-66.
Then, from 1980-81 through 1985-86, the Celtics won three titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
The Celtics have gone 18-5 in their 23 appearances. The Lakers, who share the distinction of having 17 NBA titles, have gone 17-15 in Finals series
| Season | Opponent | Games | Record | NBA Finals MVP |
| 1956-57 | Hawks | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1957-58 | Hawks | 6 | L, 4-2 | N/A |
| 1958-59 | Lakers | 4 | W, 4-0 | N/A |
| 1959-60 | Hawks | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1960-61 | Hawks | 5 | W, 4-1 | N/A |
| 1961-62 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1962-63 | Lakers | 6 | W, 4-2 | N/A |
| 1963-64 | Warriors | 5 | W, 4-1 | N/A |
| 1964-65 | Lakers | 5 | W, 4-1 | N/A |
| 1965-66 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | N/A |
| 1967-68 | Lakers | 6 | W, 4-2 | N/A |
| 1968-69 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | Jerry West, Lakers |
| 1973-74 | Bucks | 7 | W, 4-3 | John Havlicek, Celtics |
| 1975-76 | Suns | 6 | W, 4-2 | Joe White, Celtics |
| 1980-81 | Rockets | 6 | W, 4-2 | Cedric Maxwell, Celtics |
| 1983-84 | Lakers | 7 | W, 4-3 | Larry Bird, Celtics |
| 1984-85 | Lakers | 6 | L, 4-2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lakers |
| 1985-86 | Rockets | 6 | W, 4-2 | Larry Bird, Celtics |
| 1986-87 | Lakers | 6 | L, 4-2 | Magic Johnson, Lakers |
| 2007-08 | Lakers | 6 | W, 4-2 | Paul Pierce, Celtics |
| 2009-10 | Lakers | 7 | L, 4-3 | Kobe Bryant, Lakers |
| 2021-22 | Warriors | 6 | L, 4-2 | Stephen Curry, Warriors |
| 2023-24 | Mavericks | 5 | W, 4-1 | Jaylen Brown, Celtics |
POSITIONAL RANKINGS: PG | SG | SF | PF | C
NBA Finals wins by franchise
With their victory in the 2024 NBA Finals, the Celtics broke a tie with the Lakers for the most titles in league history. The gap between the two historic franchises and the next closest, the Warriors, is significant, as the Philadelphia/Golden State franchise has won just seven titles.
Boston has won championships in six different decades, and the Lakers have claimed titles in seven different decades.
Here's a look at the franchises with the most wins:
| Franchise | Wins | Years |
| Celtics | 18 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024 |
| Lakers | 17 | 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020 |
| Warriors | 7 | 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
| Bulls | 6 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Spurs | 5 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 |
| Heat | 3 | 2006, 2012, 2013 |
| Pistons | 3 | 1989, 1990, 2004 |
| 76ers | 3 | 1955, 1967, 1983 |
| Bucks | 2 | 1971, 2021 |
| Rockets | 2 | 1994, 1995 |
| Knicks | 2 | 1970, 1973 |
| Nuggets | 1 | 2023 |
| Raptors | 1 | 2019 |
| Cavaliers | 1 | 2016 |
| Mavericks | 1 | 2011 |
| Thunder* | 1 | 1979 |
| Wizards | 1 | 1978 |
| Trail Blazers | 1 | 1977 |
| Hawks** | 1 | 1958 |
| Kings*** | 1 | 1951 |
| Bullets | 1 | 1948 |
* - Won as the Seattle Supersonics
** - Won as the St. Louis Hawks
*** - Won as the Rochester Royals