Boston Celtics
The most successful franchise in NBA history with 18 championships — Bill Russell's dynasty in the 1950s and 60s and the Bird-era 1980s squads remain the gold standard of team basketball.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest NBA Franchises of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Boston Celtics significantly differently across lists.
The Athletic Record
The Case For Boston Celtics
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Boston Celtics.
Often Compared To
Brooklyn Nets
#2NBA / Atlantic Division — Brooklyn, New York · 1967–present
New York-area franchise that attempted the most star-powered superteam in NBA history — KD, Kyrie, and Harden in Brooklyn — before an unsuccessful run and rebuild.
New York Knicks
#3NBA / Atlantic Division — Manhattan, New York · 1946–present
The NBA's most storied market franchise — two championships from the most passionate fanbase in basketball, playing in the world's most famous arena.