There are several rivalries in the NBA but Celtics vs. Lakers is the rivalry that defines the league.
Boston and LA are two of the most decorated franchises in all sports and have gone head-to-head with a championship on the line a dozen times, including six meetings in the 1960s and three additional meetings in the 1980s.
With Boston on the cusp of the 2024 NBA title, the rivalry with LA is again relevant because the Celtics could again become the sole holder of the NBA's record for most championships with 18, breaking a tie with the Lakers that lasted nearly four years.
Given Boston and LA's standing as the most decorated franchises in NBA history, the Celtics' Finals appearance is a great opportunity to revisit where each team stands regarding accolades — both team and individual.
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NBA championships
The Celtics and Lakers are tied with 17 championships. Boston has a chance to break a four-year tie with LA, which won its 17th NBA championship in 2020 during the NBA Restart at the Walt Disney Resort.
Celtics | Lakers | |
Championships | 17 | 17 |
Most recent title | 2008 | 2020 |
NBA Finals appearances | 23 | 32 |
NBA Finals record | 17-5 | 17-15 |
Celtics NBA Finals wins
The Celtics have won more than half of their 17 NBA titles against the Lakers, including six head-to-head wins in the 1960s. Led by Bill Russell, Boston won 11 of its 17 championships between 1957 and 1969.
- 2008: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-2
- 1986: Celtics def. Rockets, 4-2
- 1984: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3
- 1981: Celtics def. Rockets, 4-2
- 1976: Celtics def. Suns, 4-2
- 1974: Celtics def. Bucks, 4-3
- 1969: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3
- 1968: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-2
- 1966: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3
- 1965: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-1
- 1964: Celtics def. Warriors, 4-1
- 1963: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-2
- 1962: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3
- 1961: Celtics def Hawks, 4-1
- 1960: Celtics def. Hawks, 4-0
- 1959: Celtics def. Lakers, 4-0
- 1957: Celtics def. Hawks, 4-3
Lakers NBA Finals wins
The Lakers have won three of their 17 NBA title against the Celtics, including two titles in three years during the 1980s. It is worth noting that the franchise won five championships before relocating to Los Angeles.
- 2020: Lakers def. Heat, 4-2
- 2010: Lakers def. Celtics, 4-3
- 2009: Lakers def. Magic, 4-1
- 2002: Lakers def. Nets, 4-0
- 2001: Lakers def. 76ers, 4-1
- 2000: Lakers def. Pacers, 4-2
- 1988: Lakers def. Pistons, 4-3
- 1987: Lakers def. Celtics, 4-2
- 1985: Lakers def. Celtics, 4-2
- 1982: Lakers def. 76ers, 4-2
- 1980: Lakers def. 76ers, 4-2
- 1972: Lakers def. Knicks, 4-2
- 1954: Lakers def. Nationals, 4-2*
- 1953: Lakers def. Knicks, 4-1*
- 1952: Lakers def. Knicks, 4-3*
- 1950: Lakers def. Nationals, 4-2*
- 1949: Lakers def. Capitols, 4-2*
*Titles won when franchise was located in Minneapolis.
Lakers vs. Celtics: NBA Finals head-to-head
The Celtics and Lakers have met 12 times in the NBA Finals. Boston holds a 9-3 record over LA in the Finals, though the Lakers won the most recent head-to-head meeting in 2010.
In 1969, Jerry West was named the first-ever NBA Finals MVP, doing so in a losing effort to the Celtics. West is still the only member of a losing team to earn the honor.
Year | Series | Finals MVP |
2010 | Lakers def Celtics, 4-3 | Kobe Bryant |
2008 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-2 | Paul Pierce |
1987 | Lakers def. Celtics, 4-2 | Magic Johnson |
1985 | Lakers def. Celtics, 4-2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
1984 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3 | Larry Bird |
1969 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3 | Jerry West |
1968 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-2 | — |
1966 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3 | — |
1965 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-1 | — |
1963 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-2 | — |
1962 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-3 | — |
1959 | Celtics def. Lakers, 4-0 | — |
Hall of Fame players
Celtics
38 players who have donned the Celtics uniform have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The players in bold also played for the Lakers.
Player | Tenure | Inducted |
Ed Macauley | 1950-56 | 1960 |
Andy Phillip | 1956-58 | 1961 |
Bob Cousy | 1950-1963 | 1971 |
Bill Russell | 1956-1969 | 1975 |
Bill Sharman | 1951-1961 | 1976 |
Frank Ramsey | 1954-1964 | 1982 |
John Havlicek | 1962-1978 | 1984 |
Sam Jones | 1957-1969 | 1984 |
Tom Heinsohn | 1956-1965 | 1986 |
Bob Houbregs | 1954 | 1987 |
Pete Maravich | 1980 | 1987 |
Clyde Lovellette | 1962-64 | 1988 |
K.C. Jones | 1958-1967 | 1989 |
Dave Bing | 1977-78 | 1990 |
Dave Cowens | 1970-1980 | 1991 |
Nate Archibald | 1978-1983 | 1991 |
Bill Walton | 1985-88 | 1993 |
Bailey Howell | 1966-1970 | 1997 |
Larry Bird | 1979-1992 | 1998 |
Arnie Risen | 1955-58 | 1998 |
Kevin McHale | 1980-1993 | 1999 |
Bob McAdoo | 1979 | 2000 |
Robert Parish | 1980-1994 | 2003 |
Dominique Wilkins | 1995-96 | 2006 |
Dennis Johnson | 1983-1990 | 2010 |
Artis Gilmore | 1988 | 2011 |
Gary Payton | 2004-05 | 2013 |
Jo Jo White | 1969-1979 | 2015 |
Shaquille O'Neal | 2010-11 | 2016 |
Ray Allen | 2007-2012 | 2018 |
Dino Radja | 1994-97 | 2018 |
Charlie Scott | 1975-77 | 2018 |
Carl Braun | 1961-62 | 2019 |
Chuck Cooper | 1950-54 | 2019 |
Paul Westphal | 1972-75 | 2019 |
Kevin Garnett | 2007-2013 | 2020 |
Paul Pierce | 1998-2013 | 2021 |
Chauncey Billups | 1997-98 | 2024 |
Lakers
31 different Lakers players have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The players in bold also played for the Celtics.
Player | Tenure | Inducted |
George Mikan | 1948-54, 1955-56 | 1959 |
Elgin Baylor | 1958-71 | 1977 |
Jim Pollard | 1948-55 | 1978 |
Wilt Chamberlain | 1968-73 | 1979 |
Jerry West | 1960-74 | 1980 |
Slater Martin | 1949-56 | 1982 |
Clyde Lovellette | 1953-57 | 1988 |
Connie Hawkins | 1973-75 | 1992 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1975-89 | 1995 |
Vern Mikkelsen | 1949-59 | 1995 |
Gail Goodrich | 1965-68, 1970-76 | 1996 |
Bob McAdoo | 1981-85 | 2000 |
Magic Johnson | 1979-91, 1996 | 2002 |
James Worthy | 1982-94 | 2003 |
Adrian Dantley | 1977-79 | 2008 |
Karl Malone | 2003-04 | 2010 |
Dennis Rodman | 1998-99 | 2011 |
Jamaal Wilkes | 1977-85 | 2012 |
Gary Payton | 2003-04 | 2013 |
Mitch Richmond | 2001-02 | 2014 |
Spencer Haywood | 1979-80 | 2015 |
Zelmo Beaty | 1974-75 | 2016 |
Shaquille O'Neal | 1996-2004 | 2016 |
Charlie Scott | 1977-78 | 2018 |
Steve Nash | 2012-15 | 2018 |
Vlade Divac | 1989-96, 2004-05 | 2019 |
Kobe Bryant | 1996-2016 | 2020 |
Lou Hudson | 1997-79 | 2022 |
Pau Gasol | 2008-14 | 2023 |
Dick Barnett | 1962-65 | 2024 |
Michael Cooper | 1978-90 | 2024 |
NBA MVP award winners
Both teams have had four different MVP award winners, though Boston's players won a combined 10 times. Bill Russell earned the honor five times and Larry Bird was named MVP three consecutive years in the 1980s.
The Lakers have had a pair of three-time winners in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson while Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal each won the award once.
Celtics
Player | MVP year(s) |
Bob Cousy | 1957 |
Bill Russell | 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965 |
Dave Cowens | 1973 |
Larry Bird | 1984, 1985, 1986 |
Lakers
Player | MVP year(s) |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1976, 1977, 1980 |
Magic Johnson | 1987, 1989, 1990 |
Shaquille O'Neal | 2000 |
Kobe Bryant | 2008 |
All-NBA First Team selections
11 different Lakers players have earned All-NBA First Team honors compared to nine for the Celtics.
Boston has a total of 35 All-NBA First Team selections among nine players while Lakers players have combined to earn All-NBA First Team honors 63 times, including 40 selections between Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Jerry West.
Celtics
Player | Selections |
Bob Cousy | 10 |
Larry Bird | 9 |
John Havlicek | 4 |
Jayson Tatum | 3 |
Bill Russell | 3 |
Ed Macauley | 3 |
Kevin Garnett | 1 |
Kevin McHale | 1 |
Ed Sadowski | 1 |
Lakers
Player | Selections |
Kobe Bryant | 11 |
Jerry West | 10 |
Elgin Baylor | 10 |
Magic Johnson | 9 |
Shaquille O'Neal | 6 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6 |
George Mikan | 6 |
Jim Pollard | 2 |
Anthony Davis | 1 |
LeBron James | 1 |
Gail Goodrich | 1 |
NBA All-Star selections
John Havlicek and Bob Cousy are Boston's most decorated All-Stars with 13 selections apiece. Kobe Bryant's 18 All-Star selections are the third-most all-time and Jerry West is not far behind with 14 selections.
Celtics
Player | Selections |
John Havlicek | 13 |
Bob Cousy | 13 |
Larry Bird | 12 |
Bill Russell | 12 |
Paul Pierce | 10 |
Robert Parish | 9 |
Dave Cowens | 8 |
Bill Sharman | 8 |
Kevin McHale | 7 |
Jo Jo White | 7 |
Tom Heinsohn | 6 |
Ed Macauley | 6 |
Jayson Tatum | 5 |
Kevin Garnett | 5 |
Sam Jones | 5 |
Rajon Rondo | 4 |
Jaylen Brown | 3 |
Ray Allen | 3 |
Antoine Walker | 3 |
Nate Archibald | 3 |
Kyrie Irving | 2 |
Isaiah Thomas | 2 |
Kemba Walker | 1 |
Al Horford | 1 |
Reggie Lewis | 1 |
Danny Ainge | 1 |
Dennis Johnson | 1 |
Paul Silas | 1 |
Bailey Howell | 1 |
Lakers
Player | Selections |
Kobe Bryant | 18 |
Jerry West | 14 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 13 |
Magic Johnson | 12 |
Elgin Baylor | 11 |
Shaquille O'Neal | 7 |
James Worthy | 7 |
LeBron James | 6 |
Vern Mikkelsen | 6 |
Slater Martin | 4 |
Gail Goodrich | 4 |
Wilt Chamberlain | 4 |
Dick Garmaker | 4 |
Jim Pollard | 4 |
George Mikan | 4 |
Anthony Davis | 3 |
Pau Gasol | 3 |
Rudy LaRusso | 3 |
Eddie Jones | 2 |
Jamaal Wilkes | 2 |
Rod Hundley | 2 |
Larry Foust | 2 |
Clyde Lovellette | 2 |
Dwight Howard | 1 |
Andrew Bynum | 1 |
Nick Van Exel | 1 |
Cedric Ceballos | 1 |
A.C. Green | 1 |
Norm Nixon | 1 |
Archie Clark | 1 |
Darrall Imhoff | 1 |
Frank Selvy | 1 |