How many championships do the Celtics have? Boston can break all-time record with 2024 NBA Finals win

Edward Sutelan

How many championships do the Celtics have? Boston can break all-time record with 2024 NBA Finals win image

The Celtics have moved to a win away from another title.

Boston has handled the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals to date, moving up to a commanding 3-0 lead. In the long history of the NBA playoffs, no team has come back from a 3-0 deficit in any round, let alone the finals.

That is certainly not to say the Celtics are guaranteed to win it all. There's a first time for everything, after all, but it's clear Boston is an overwhelming favorite to secure another championship and add to its long list of franchise accomplishments.

With a win, where would the Celtics rank among all-time NBA franchises in titles? Here's what you need to know.

How many NBA championships have the Celtics won?

The Celtics have won 17 NBA titles, most recently claiming a title in the 2007-08 season with a victory over the Lakers.

Boston has gone through several dynastic periods. Red Auerbach's Celtics won 11 championships between 1957 and 1969, including winning eight consecutive NBA Finals matchups from 1959-66.

Then, from 1980-81 through 1985-86, the Celtics won three titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986. 

The Celtics have gone 17-5 in their 22 appearances. The Lakers, who share the distinction of having 17 NBA titles, have gone 17-15 in Finals' series

SeasonOpponentGamesRecordNBA Finals MVP
1956-57Hawks7W, 4-3N/A
1957-58Hawks6L, 4-2N/A
1958-59Lakers4W, 4-0N/A
1959-60Hawks7W, 4-3N/A
1960-61Hawks5W, 4-1N/A
1961-62Lakers7W, 4-3N/A
1962-63Lakers6W, 4-2N/A
1963-64Warriors5W, 4-1N/A
1964-65Lakers5W, 4-1N/A
1965-66Lakers7W, 4-3N/A
1967-68Lakers6W, 4-2N/A
1968-69Lakers7W, 4-3Jerry West, Lakers
1973-74Bucks7W, 4-3John Havlicek, Celtics
1975-76Suns6W, 4-2Joe White, Celtics
1980-81Rockets6W, 4-2Cedric Maxwell, Celtics
1983-84Lakers7W, 4-3Larry Bird, Celtics
1984-85Lakers6L, 4-2Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lakers
1985-86Rockets6W, 4-2Larry Bird, Celtics
1986-87Lakers6L, 4-2Magic Johnson, Lakers
2007-08Lakers6W, 4-2Paul Pierce, Celtics
2009-10Lakers7L, 4-3Kobe Bryant, Lakers
2021-22Warriors6L, 4-2Stephen Curry, Warriors
2023-24MavericksTBDTBDTBD

NBA Finals wins by franchise

The Celtics and Lakers are tied for the most NBA Finals titles in league history with 17 each. The gap between the two historic franchises and the next closest, the Warriors, is significant, as the Philadelphia/Golden State franchise has won just seven titles.

Boston has won championships in five different decades, and the Lakers have claimed titles in seven different decades. 

Here's a look at the franchises with the most wins.

FranchiseWinsYears
Celtics171957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008
Lakers171949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020
Warriors71947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
Bulls61991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
Spurs51999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014
Heat32006, 2012, 2013
Pistons31989, 1990, 2004
76ers31955, 1967, 1983
Bucks21971, 2021
Rockets21994, 1995
Knicks21970, 1973
Nuggets12023
Raptors12019
Cavaliers12016
Mavericks12011
Thunder*11979
Wizards11978
Trail Blazers11977
Hawks**11958
Kings***11951
Bullets11948

* - Won as the Seattle Supersonics
** - Won as the St. Louis Hawks
*** - Won as the Rochester Royals

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.