Banner Years commentary: Respecting the Russell-era Celtics

During the CelticsBlog History Month, I ‘ve had the enjoyable assignment of writing about the 11 NBA championships won by Boston during Bill Russell’s career. The Celtics of 1957-69 achieved so much, set unbreakable records, and overcame obstacles time after time, yet they are often underappreciated by today’s basketball fans and observers.

Bill Russell, left, and Red Auerbach hug as Russell is introduced and during his tribute in Boston in 1999. Russell and Auerbach forged the most successful coach/player partnership in NBA history. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

| Boston Globe via Getty Images

That sentiment came across in some of the comments posted to the series, with some readers saying those long-ago teams should get more credit than they do.

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The accusation that non-Celtics fans like to make is that too many of Boston’s 18 total titles were won when there was no competition. Anything that happened decades ago can’t possibly be as good as what the doubters see with their own eyes now. The grainy highlight videos from decades ago are easily mocked.

So let’s take this opportunity to provide some facts and context for common misconceptions about a) the Celtics dynasty and b) NBA basketball in general before the Eighties. Some readers might form a new opinion, but most won’t. If you’re a hardcore Wilt fan or a Celtics hater who happened upon this commentary, you may regret reading past the words “Celtics dynasty,” but here we go.

“It was too easy to win in a league with only eight teams.”

Can’t deny math. Four is more than two. Winning four series in one postseason is more difficult than winning two. However, let’s compare the longest streaks from the NBA, MLB and NHL, and see how many postseason series they won.

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NBA (eight or nine teams), eight straight titles: 1959-66 Boston Celtics, won 17 consecutive series (16 best-of-seven, one best-of-five).

NHL (six teams), five straight titles: 1956–1960 Montreal Canadiens, won 10 series.

MLB/American League (eight teams), five straight titles: New York Yankees (1949–1953), won five World Series, best-of-seven, no…

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Publish date : 2026-08-17 11:11:00

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