Throughout the Boston Celtics’ storied history, they have long stood for equality and respect, including drafting the first African American player, hiring the first African American coach, and playing the first all-black starting five. The Celtics have won a record 17 NBA Championships spanning five (5) decades, including eight (8) in a row from 1959-1966, and winning their most recent in 2008. In addition, forty-one (41) former Celtics players, management, coaches, or staff have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In December 2002 the team returned to local ownership for the first time since 1963.
