About This Quiz
The Boston Celtics have set records, produced all-world players, and won multiple championships over the course of their storied history. Do you know all about that history, though? Could you ace a quiz on this franchise? Here's your chance to try!
Few franchises in the NBA have the prestige and honors of the Boston Celtics, a team that has been with the league since it was founded. Since then, the Celtics have pushed the boundaries of the league, becoming both innovators and teachers, as they have risen to the top of the NBA. To stay at the top, the team has drafted and traded for star players, gone after the best coaches and executives, and reinvented itself and its identity. All of this has helped the Celtics position themselves to compete in the biggest events and conquer some of the most glorious moments in NBA history, showing that, for the Celtics, mediocrity was never an option.
Are you a basketball historian with knowledge on all of the greatest franchises? Are you just simply a huge fan of the Celtics? Do you know all of the statistics from the best players or the championships won? If you think you do, then here's your chance to challenge yourself and prove you're a true NBA fan!
In 1949, the Basketball Association of America absorbed the National Basketball League. After the merger, the new league was known as the National Basketball Association.
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Bill Russell played college basketball at the University of San Francisco. He won two NCAA championships while playing there.
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Bob Cousy was originally drafted by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. After a complicated move to Chicago, he eventually ended up with the Celtics.
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It's a good thing Cousy ended up with the Celtics because he turned into one of their greatest players of all time. By the end of his career, he had spent 13 seasons with the franchise.
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Red Auerbach began coaching in the NBA when it was founded in 1946. He coached his final season with the Boston Celtics in 1966.
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Bill Russell's legacy extends off the court. Not only did he win 11 rings, but he was also the first African-American coach in the NBA.
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The Boston Celtics have more titles than any other franchise in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers trail them by one.
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TD Garden was opened in 1995. The arena is named after TD Bank.
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The Lakers and the Celtics first met in the NBA Finals in 1959. Including that matchup, the two teams have met 12 times in the Finals.
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The Boston Celtics were one of the original members of the NBA, which started in 1946. Back then, however, the NBA was called the Basketball Association of America.
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The Boston Celtic franchise chose their mascot to honor the city's Irish population. It is one of the largest Irish-American populations in the nation.
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Bill Russell left the Celtics in 1969 as a coach and retired as a player. He would later coach at the Sacramento Kings and the Seattle Supersonics.
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Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has more MVP awards than Bill Russell with six. Michael Jordan is tied with Russell at five.
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Dave Cowens was a center out of Florida State. At 6 feet, 9 inches, many scouts considered him too small to play the position.
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Despite Cowens' small size, he exploded into the NBA. His first season he averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds.
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In the 1970s, the Celtics were trying to overcome the absence of Bill Russell. Though they didn't have quite the same success, two titles were still pretty impressive.
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Bob Cousy was named to 13 NBA All-Star teams. His jersey was retired in 1971.
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Larry Bird was drafted a year before he left college. This demonstrated just how much faith the Celtics had in their future star.
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Bird played 13 seasons for the Boston Celtics. He was known for his tough play and scoring ability.
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Larry Bird won three consecutive NBA MVP awards. His final award was in 1986.
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The rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson dates back to their college days. The two met in the NCAA Championship in 1979 which Johnson won while playing at Michigan State.
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John Havlicek played his entire NBA career with the Boston Celtics. He was a centerpiece for many of their titles throughout the '60s and '70s.
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Kevin McHale was key for the Celtics as they won three titles in the '80s. He was particularly respected for his defensive ability, as he earned three NBA All-Defensive First Team honors.
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The Sixth Man of the Year award is given annually to the greatest player who doesn't start. McHale earned the award in 1984 and 1985.
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Robert Parish was a dominant force underneath the basket while playing center for the Boston Celtics. During his career, he averaged nine rebounds and nearly 15 points per game.
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Larry Bird's physical style of play put significant wear and tear on his body. With an ailing back, he was forced to retired early.
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K.C. Jones was both a player and a coach for the Boston Celtics, though at different times in his career. Between the two jobs, he won 11 NBA championships with the Celtics.
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Reggie Lewis was supposed to be the next star player for the Celtics after the Bird era came to a close. However, his life was cut short by a heart ailment.
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Chauncey Billups was taken by the Celtics as the third overall pick out of Colorado. Though he was traded from the Celtics, Billups had a successful career, winning the NBA championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons.
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Paul Pierce was drafted 10th overall by the Boston Celtics in 1998. Pierce never looked the part of an athlete, but according to Shaquille O'Neal, he was indeed "The Truth."
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Kevin Garnett was one of the most dominant big men ever to play in the NBA. He even won NBA MVP in 2004 while still with the Timberwolves.
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Boston's "Big Three" was an early example of star players coming together for a united cause. This would become much more popular after LeBron James left Cleveland to go to Miami, starting an era of Super Teams.
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The Celtics went back to the Finals in 2010, where they faced Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost the series in seven games.
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Paul Pierce had a decorated career with the Boston Celtics. For his achievements, his number 34 was retired by the franchise.
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Kyrie Irving is one of the best ball handlers the game of basketball has ever seen. After going to three straight Finals, he surprised the world when he demanded a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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