The History of the Boston Celtics

Every March, Boston erupts in green spirit for St. Patrick’s Day, celebrating the city’s Irish roots. Nearly a quarter of Boston’s population has Irish ancestry, underscoring the importance of the holiday. The Boston Celtics, current No. 2 in the NBA Eastern Conference, feel particularly at home on Mar. 17, as their name and origins arose from this deep Irish heritage. So, how do they ensure this important cultural tie to history is maintained and honoured?  

The influence of Irish culture in Boston’s sports scene dates back to the 1880s—the immigrant experience during the 19th century influenced the development of Boston’s sporting culture. In fact, the Boston Athletic Association was partly founded by famous Irish rebel John Boyle O’Reilly in Jan. 1887. Traditional sports such as Gaelic football, hurling, and boxing became prominent East Coast sports during this period, retaining Irish heritage, whilst many immigrants from Ireland experienced the new and different culture of America.  

Sport has long served as a way of preserving history in America, with Irish heritage remaining strongly rooted across different competitions and teams. Gaelic sports such as hurling, football, and camogie enriched Irish culture in Boston further in the early 20th Century. These sports are centered around the Boston GAA (Northeastern Division), and host competitive matches and leagues. Youth programs are also run by the Irish Youth Sports League, therefore showing a clear intent for Gaelic sporting culture to expand and thrive across Massachusetts. The relationship between Irish heritage and sport runs deep in Boston, acting as one of the special ways this history is maintained and celebrated. 

This connection of Irish history in Boston is strongly reinforced and revered through the Boston Celtics franchise. For sports lovers, the NBA is a talented and widely followed league that is followed by millions across the world. The Celtics are known for their long-standing history of success as a record 18-time champion franchise, making them the most successful NBA team in history. Based at TD Garden in Boston, they typically compete in front of approximately 19,000 fans from October to April each year. The team’s main rivals are the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Whilst the Boston Celtics’ success carries their name across the global stage, they also carry a significant history. Founded by Walter Brown in 1946, the timing of the club’s establishment coincided with the postwar proliferation of television in the United States, allowing the Celtics to capture media attention. Many players over the years have become iconic figures as the franchise’s profile has grown.

The Celtics’ unique name stems from a large, rich Irish diaspora in the United States. When Brown was choosing the team’s name, he wanted to officially acknowledge the Irish roots grounded in Boston, as well as his own Irish descent. During the 19th century, a mass migration of Irish immigrants to the United States from Ireland following the devastating Great Famine from 1845-59, the “Celtics” became an obvious choice. The Boston Celtics name also holds strong basketball tradition from the older team, the Original Celtics, in New York during the 1920s. 

The Celtics are recognized by the iconic four-leaf clover symbol on their uniform—a historic beacon of luck derived from Irish culture. The team’s mascot is Lucky the Leprechaun, further representing Irish mythology.

The team plays in green, white, and black; while these colors riff on the team’s heritage, one has a deeper meaning. There’s no doubt the green of the Celtics’ jerseys is associated with longstanding athletic class and success. The team’s early years during the 1950s and 60s saw the “Dynasty Era,” led by Bill Russell, who won 11 championships during a 13-season period. The team featured stellar players such as Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, and Sam Jones. The 1970s and 80s featured the memorable trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, who together secured three titles during the decade. Breaking into the 2000s, the iconic players such as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen brought home a championship in 2008, with the team’s shape transitioning into the present-day stars of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. 

So far, the Celtics hold a 42-21 record for the 25-26 season, with more games still to come. The team currently sits first in the Atlantic Division, with the New York Knicks close on their heels in second. Tatum’s return from a severe Achilles injury has sparked speculation from the basketball world, naming the Celtics as the league’s most dangerous team. Brown’s class has continued to shine through this season, averaging 28.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 58 games. 

This year, for St. Patrick’s Day festivities, what better way to celebrate than by cheering on the Celtics against the Detroit Pistons on Mar. 18? The streets of Cambridge and the rest of Boston will be filled with green coloured parades, Tatum jerseys, and maybe some leprechauns—if you’re lucky. This tradition is celebrated every day by the Celtics, as their name, badge, and mascot are a consistent reminder of the special Irish history within Boston. 

Tilly Butterworth ’28 (mbutterworth@college.harvard.edu) enjoys going to watch the Celtics play.