The Boston Celtics, founded in 1946, are an American professional basketball team widely recognized as the most successful franchise in NBA history, holding the record for 18 championships and the most recorded wins. Their legendary dominance began in the late 1950s, spearheaded by coach Red Auerbach and star Bill Russell, who led the team to an astounding 11 titles—including eight consecutive—between 1957 and 1969. Subsequent eras saw "Big Three" lineups, with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish securing multiple championships in the 1980s, often battling their iconic rival, the Los Angeles Lakers.

After another "Big Three" featuring Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett brought a title in 2008, the modern Celtics, led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, clinched their record-extending 18th NBA championship in 2024. The team's "Celtics" nickname and "Lucky the Leprechaun" mascot pay homage to Boston's Irish heritage. Throughout their storied history, 41 Hall of Famers have played for the franchise, and Celtics players have collectively won an NBA-record 10 MVP awards.