Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are the most successful franchise in NBA history, and they will never let you forget it. Eighteen championships — more than any other team — hanging from the rafters of TD Garden like a permanent reminder that basketball royalty lives in Boston. Founded in 1946, the Celtics’ legacy includes Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, and the 2024 title — their first since 2008 — confirmed that the franchise’s championship DNA has not expired.

Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics won that 2024 championship behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, then backed it up with a dominant 61-21 record in 2024-25 before falling short in the playoffs. The defence of a title is always harder than winning it, and Boston’s inability to repeat was a reminder that dynasties require not just talent but the sustained hunger that made Bill Russell’s teams legendary. Still, the Celtics remain one of the premier destinations in the NBA and a perennial championship contender.

The brand of unselfish, high-IQ basketball under Mazzulla has won admirers globally. Tatum averaged 26.8 points per game in 2024-25 and has developed into one of the league’s complete players, while the team’s depth and defensive versatility make them a nightmare matchup for anyone. The Lakers rivalry remains the greatest in professional sports — a blood feud that transcends eras and players.

Club Information

Club Profile

The Celtics enter 2025-26 as championship favourites once again, because when you have Tatum, Brown, and the deepest roster in the East, anything less than a Finals appearance is a failure by Boston’s exacting standards. For Australian fans, the Celtics are regularly featured on ESPN broadcasts, and their combination of historic prestige and current excellence makes them the gold standard against which every other franchise measures itself. Eighteen banners. And counting.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com