Boston Celtics

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Lore & Background

The 1985–86 season marked the 40th year for the Boston Celtics in the NBA, culminating in a franchise-best regular season performance that many consider the greatest team ever assembled. Anchored by the 'Big Three' frontcourt of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, the squad posted a staggering 67–15 record. This included a dominant 40–1 home mark (37–1 at the Boston Garden, 3–0 at the Hartford Civic Center), setting an NBA record for home wins that stood until the San Antonio Spurs matched it in 2016. The roster was bolstered by Bill Walton, who, despite a career plagued by knee, ankle, and foot injuries, won the Sixth Man of the Year Award after joining via trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. Walton appeared in a career-high 80 games, a feat secured when Boston traded Cedric Maxwell based solely on Walton's word that he was healthy enough to play.

In Their Own Story

The team's path to their 16th championship began with a sweep of the Chicago Bulls in three games during the First Round. They then defeated the Atlanta Hawks in five games and swept the Milwaukee Bucks in four to reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive season. In the Finals, they faced the Houston Rockets, defeating them in six games to win every home game in the playoffs. This victory secured a combined total of 82 regular season and playoff wins, a record that stood until the Chicago Bulls achieved 87 wins en route to their title in 1996. Larry Bird led the charge, winning his third consecutive MVP award and the NBA Finals MVP Award. The squad also featured defensive stopper Dennis Johnson and former Toronto Blue Jays player Danny Ainge in the backcourt. The season concluded with the release of a documentary titled 'Sweet Sixteen,' narrated by David Perry.

Reader's Guide

Key to this season's success was the acquisition of Bill Walton, who replaced Cedric Maxwell after a trade negotiation where Boston bypassed the Lakers' requirement for a team doctor clearance. The team finished one win shy of tying their franchise record of 68 wins set in 1973 but still tied for fifth all-time in total wins. In the playoffs, they faced a relatively weak Chicago Bulls team (who had a 30–52 record), leading HoopsHype to later rank this squad as having the 17th easiest path to the NBA Finals in 2024. Larry Bird was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year and led the league in three-point field goals while also winning the NBA 3-Point Shootout. The season ended with a final victory over Houston, marking the last championship for Boston until 28 years later.

Did You Know?

• Bill Walton won the Sixth Man of the Year Award despite missing essentially the previous two seasons due to injuries.
• The Celtics' 40 home wins in a single season set an NBA record that was not matched until 2016 by the San Antonio Spurs.
• Danny Ainge, a key backcourt player for the Celtics, was formerly a baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Larry Bird won his third consecutive MVP award and also led the league in three-point field goals during this season.
• The 1985 NBA draft was the first of the 'Lottery' era, implemented to prevent teams from intentionally losing games for the number one pick.