BOSTON — While the Celtics had to share the lead for most NBA championships all-time for a few seasons, they’re once again back on top. After the C’s demolished the Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, they’ve once again retaken the sole lead with their 18th championship in franchise history.
The C’s, of course, pass their hated rivals in the Lakers, who also have 17 titles dating back to their Minneapolis days. But after winning a title for the first time in 16 seasons, the Celtics are back on top of the NBA world.
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The Lakers tied the Celtics after winning their 17th title with the 2020 NBA championship inside the bubble. Since then, the C’s have come painstakingly close to reaching the mountaintop, losing the 2022 NBA Finals and falling in the 2023 East Finals.
But the Celtics were finally able to get over the hump after defeating the Mavs in five games. The C’s were by far the best team in the league this season, putting together a 64-18 record. Then they dominated the NBA Playoffs, going 16-3 over the past two months. That stretch also included a franchise-best 10-game playoff winning streak as they didn’t drop a game for more than a month.
So the celebration will now begin at TD Garden. This current C’s core has been criticized for years as they’ve come so close to the top only to fall short. But the heartbreak from the past few seasons served as fuel and experience, and now, nobody can take anything away from the Celtics as they’ll live on in the history books.
Here’s a look at the all-time championships won by the Celtics and Lakers:
2023-24 — Boston Celtics def. Dallas Mavericks, 4-1
2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Miami Heat, 4-2
2009-10 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics, 4-3
2008-09 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Orlando Magic, 4-1
2007-08 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
2001-02 — Los Angeles Lakers def. New Jersey Nets, 4-0
2000-01 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Philadelphia 76ers, 4-1
1999-00 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Indiana Pacers, 4-2
1987-88 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Detroit Pistons, 4-3
1986-87 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics, 4-2
1985-86 — Boston Celtics def. Houston Rockets, 4-2
1984-85 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics, 4-2
1983-84 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1981-82 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
1980-81 — Boston Celtics def. Houston Rockets, 4-2
1979-80 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Philadelphia 76ers ,4-2
1975-76 — Boston Celtics def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2
1973-74 — Boston Celtics def. Milwaukee Bucks, 4-3
1971-72 — Los Angeles Lakers def. New York Knicks, 4-1
1968-69 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1967-68 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
1965-66 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1964-65 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1
1963-64 — Boston Celtics def. San Francisco Warriors, 4-1
1962-63 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
1961-62 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1960-61 — Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks, 4-1
1959-60 — Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks, 4-3
1958-59 — Boston Celtics def. Minneapolis Lakers, 4-0
1956-57 — Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks, 4-3
1953-54 — Minneapolis Lakers def. Syracuse Nationals, 4-3
1952-53 — Minneapolis Lakers def. New York Knicks, 4-1
1951-52 — Minneapolis Lakers def. New York Knicks, 4-1
1949-50 — Minneapolis Lakers def. Syracuse Nationals, 4-2
1948-49 — Minneapolis Lakers def. Washington Capitols, 4-2
