| 2023–24 Boston Celtics season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
NBA champions | |||
Conference champions | |||
Division champions | |||
| Head coach | Joe Mazzulla | ||
| General manager | Brad Stevens | ||
| Owners | Wyc Grousbeck | ||
| Arena | TD Garden | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 64–18 (.780) | ||
| Place | Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern) | ||
| Playoff finish | NBA champions (defeatedMavericks 4–1) | ||
Stats atBasketball Reference | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | NBC Sports Boston | ||
| Radio | WBZ-FM | ||
| |||
The2023–24 Boston Celtics season was the franchise's 78th season in theNational Basketball Association (NBA).
The Celtics had thebest record (64–18) in the NBA and proceeded through the playoffs in dominant fashion. They defeated theDallas Mavericks in five games during theNBA Finals, winning the franchise's first championship since2008, and 18th championship in team history, breaking a tie with theLos Angeles Lakers to hold the NBA record for most championships. The result was the most dominant Celtics championship run since1965, with only three losses in the playoffs and a season total of 80 wins, the second-best mark in franchise history.[1]
Following their championship victory, multiple commentators considered the 2023–24 Celtics to be among the greatest teams in NBA history.[2][3][4][5] With a playoff record of 16–3, the Celtics were second only to the2016–17 Golden State Warriors for the best postseason record since all four NBA playoff rounds became best-of-seven contests in 2003.[6]
The Celtics drew an average home attendance of 19,156 in 41 home games in the 2023–24 NBA season.[7]
This was the Celtics' first season without veteran Celtic and point guardMarcus Smart since 2014. In June 2023, he was traded to theMemphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade to acquire forwardKristaps Porziņģis of theWashington Wizards. On October 1, 2023, the Celtics sent guardMalcolm Brogdon, center/forwardRobert Williams III, a protected 2024 first-round pick (acquired from theGolden State Warriors), and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick to thePortland Trail Blazers in exchange for two-time All-Star guardJrue Holiday.[8] On March 14, 2024, the Celtics became the first team to clinch a playoff berth with their 117–107 victory over thePhoenix Suns and thePhiladelphia 76ers' 114–105 loss to theMilwaukee Bucks. Six days later, the Celtics won theAtlantic Division championship for the third consecutive season, following a 122–119 victory over the Bucks during a 7-game winning streak. On March 23, the Celtics clinched the #1-seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since2017 after they beat theChicago Bulls.
On April 3, 2024, the Celtics defeated theOklahoma City Thunder with a 135–100 victory, clinching the best record in the NBA and securing a home-court advantage throughout the entire playoffs for the first time since2008. It was also the first time the Celtics won 60 or more regular season games since2009. The Celtics finished the season with a 64–18 record, 14 games higher than the second-place team in the Atlantic Division and the entire Eastern Conference, theNew York Knicks.
In the playoffs, the Celtics dispatched theMiami Heat andCleveland Cavaliers in five games each, and swept theIndiana Pacers to reach theirsecond NBA Finals in three years, where the Celtics faced theDallas Mavericks. Upon reaching the Finals, Porziņģis returned to action after missing nearly the entire playoffs up until that point. However, he suffered what was described as a "rare" ankle injury in Game 2 and missed the next two games.[9] The Celtics raced out to a second consecutive 3–0 series lead. After a 122–84 blowout loss in Game 4, they returned to Boston and won Game 5 to win their first title since 2008. The Celtics held the Mavericks to under 100 points in all four wins, an NBA Finals first. The Celtics are also the first team to have the best regular-season record and win the title since theGolden State Warriors in2017.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 35 | Julian Phillips | Small forward |  United States | Tennessee(Fr.) |
The Celtics had a second-round pick in the2023 NBA draft; the pick originally belonged to thePortland Trail Blazers.[10] The team traded their first-round pick (29th overall) to theIndiana Pacers as part of a deal to acquireMalcolm Brogdon.[11] The Celtics used their only pick to selectJulian Phillips, subsequently trading his rights to theWashington Wizards as part of the three-team trade forKristaps Porziņģis. Phillips was then traded again on draft night to theChicago Bulls.
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach Assistant(s) Legend
Roster |
| Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z –Boston Celtics | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 37–4 | 27–14 | 15–2 | 82 |
| x –New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 14.0 | 27–14 | 23–18 | 12–5 | 82 |
| x –Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 25–16 | 22–19 | 8–8 | 82 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 32 | 50 | .390 | 32.0 | 20–21 | 12–29 | 5–11 | 82 |
| Toronto Raptors | 25 | 57 | .305 | 39.0 | 14–27 | 11–30 | 1–15 | 82 |
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z –Boston Celtics * | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 82 |
| 2 | x –New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 14.0 | 82 |
| 3 | y –Milwaukee Bucks * | 49 | 33 | .598 | 15.0 | 82 |
| 4 | x –Cleveland Cavaliers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 16.0 | 82 |
| 5 | y –Orlando Magic * | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x –Indiana Pacers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x –Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x –Miami Heat | 46 | 36 | .561 | 18.0 | 82 |
| 9 | pi –Chicago Bulls | 39 | 43 | .476 | 25.0 | 82 |
| 10 | pi –Atlanta Hawks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Brooklyn Nets | 32 | 50 | .390 | 32.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Toronto Raptors | 25 | 57 | .305 | 39.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Charlotte Hornets | 21 | 61 | .256 | 43.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Washington Wizards | 15 | 67 | .183 | 49.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Detroit Pistons | 14 | 68 | .171 | 50.0 | 82 |
| 2023 preseason game log Total: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preseason: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–24 preseason schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This became the first regular season where all the NBA teams competed in a mid-season tournament setting due to the implementation of the2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.[12][13]
| 2023–24 game log Total: 64–18 (Home: 37–4; Road: 27–14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October: 3–0 (home: 1–0; road: 2–0)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November: 11–4 (home: 7–0; road: 4–4)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December: 12–2 (home: 8–0; road: 4–2)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January: 11–5 (home: 6–2; road: 5–3)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 9–1 (home: 5–1; road: 4–0)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 12–4 (home: 5–0; road: 7–4)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April: 6–2 (home: 5–1; road: 1–1)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–24 season schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 playoff game log Total: 16–3 (home: 9–2; road: 7–1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Round: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NBA Finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 playoff schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This was the first regular season where all NBA teams competed in a mid-season tournament setting with the implementation of the2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.[12][13] During the in-season tournament period, the Celtics played in Group C of the Eastern Conference with theBrooklyn Nets,Toronto Raptors,Chicago Bulls, andOrlando Magic.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification | BOS | ORL | BKN | TOR | CHI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 4 | 3[a] | 1 | 449 | 422 | +27 | Advance toknockout stage | — | 96–113 | 121–107 | 108–105 | 124–97 | |
| 2 | Orlando Magic | 4 | 3[a] | 1 | 446 | 424 | +22 | 113–96 | — | 104–124 | 126–107 | 103–97 | ||
| 3 | Brooklyn Nets | 4 | 3[a] | 1 | 455 | 435 | +20 | 107–121 | 124–104 | — | 115–103 | 109–107 | ||
| 4 | Toronto Raptors | 4 | 1 | 3 | 436 | 457 | −21 | 105–108 | 107–126 | 103–115 | — | 121–108 | ||
| 5 | Chicago Bulls | 4 | 0 | 4 | 409 | 457 | −48 | 97–124 | 97–103 | 107–109 | 108–121 | — |
| 2023–24 game log Total: 3–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In-Season Tournament: 3–2 (home: 2–0; road: 1–2)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalano Banton† | 24 | 1 | 7.1 | .373 | .125 | .800 | 1.5 | .8 | .2 | .1 | 2.3 |
| Oshae Brissett | 55 | 1 | 11.5 | .444 | .273 | .602 | 2.9 | .8 | .3 | .1 | 3.7 |
| Jaylen Brown | 70 | 70 | 33.5 | .499 | .354 | .703 | 5.5 | 3.6 | 1.2 | .5 | 23.0 |
| JD Davison | 8 | 0 | 4.9 | .417 | .429 | .750 | 1.3 | 1.3 | .1 | .1 | 2.0 |
| Sam Hauser | 79 | 13 | 22.0 | .446 | .424 | .895 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .5 | .3 | 9.0 |
| Jrue Holiday | 69 | 69 | 32.8 | .480 | .429 | .833 | 5.4 | 4.8 | .9 | .8 | 12.5 |
| Al Horford | 65 | 33 | 26.8 | .511 | .419 | .867 | 6.4 | 2.6 | .6 | 1.0 | 8.6 |
| Luke Kornet | 63 | 7 | 15.6 | .700 | 1.000 | .907 | 4.1 | 1.1 | .4 | 1.0 | 5.3 |
| Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk | 41 | 2 | 10.1 | .416 | .389 | .667 | 1.2 | .9 | .3 | .0 | 4.0 |
| Drew Peterson | 3 | 0 | 7.7 | .667 | .600 | .3 | .3 | .7 | .0 | 3.7 | |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | 57 | 57 | 29.6 | .516 | .375 | .858 | 7.2 | 2.0 | .7 | 1.9 | 20.1 |
| Payton Pritchard | 82 | 5 | 22.3 | .468 | .385 | .821 | 3.2 | 3.4 | .5 | .1 | 9.6 |
| Neemias Queta | 28 | 0 | 11.9 | .644 | .714 | 4.4 | .7 | .5 | .8 | 5.5 | |
| Jaden Springer† | 17 | 1 | 7.6 | .433 | .182 | .875 | 1.2 | .5 | .6 | .2 | 2.1 |
| Lamar Stevens† | 19 | 1 | 6.4 | .467 | .375 | .727 | 1.6 | .4 | .3 | .3 | 2.8 |
| Jayson Tatum | 74 | 74 | 35.7 | .471 | .376 | .833 | 8.1 | 4.9 | 1.0 | .6 | 26.9 |
| Xavier Tillman† | 20 | 2 | 13.7 | .515 | .286 | .571 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .5 | .5 | 4.0 |
| Jordan Walsh | 9 | 1 | 9.2 | .400 | .222 | .500 | 2.2 | .6 | .6 | .1 | 1.7 |
| Derrick White | 73 | 73 | 32.6 | .461 | .396 | .901 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 15.2 |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshae Brissett | 10 | 0 | 5.5 | .545 | 1.000 | .500 | 1.4 | .0 | .3 | .2 | 1.6 |
| Jaylen Brown | 19 | 19 | 37.2 | .516 | .327 | .660 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 1.2 | .6 | 23.9 |
| Sam Hauser | 19 | 0 | 14.9 | .429 | .380 | 1.000 | 2.2 | .6 | .3 | .2 | 5.4 |
| Jrue Holiday | 19 | 19 | 37.9 | .503 | .402 | .955 | 6.1 | 4.4 | 1.1 | .6 | 13.2 |
| Al Horford | 19 | 15 | 30.3 | .478 | .368 | .636 | 7.0 | 2.1 | .8 | .8 | 9.2 |
| Luke Kornet | 13 | 0 | 10.2 | .667 | .846 | 3.2 | .5 | .1 | .4 | 3.0 | |
| Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk | 8 | 0 | 4.0 | .250 | .222 | .6 | .1 | .1 | .0 | 1.0 | |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | 7 | 4 | 23.6 | .467 | .345 | .909 | 4.4 | 1.1 | .7 | 1.6 | 12.3 |
| Payton Pritchard | 19 | 0 | 18.7 | .419 | .383 | .917 | 1.9 | 2.1 | .2 | .0 | 6.4 |
| Neemias Queta | 3 | 0 | 4.3 | .667 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .3 | 1.3 | ||
| Jaden Springer | 4 | 0 | 5.5 | .667 | .8 | .3 | .0 | .3 | 1.0 | ||
| Jayson Tatum | 19 | 19 | 40.4 | .427 | .283 | .861 | 9.7 | 6.3 | 1.1 | .7 | 25.0 |
| Xavier Tillman | 8 | 0 | 8.6 | .625 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.8 | .4 | .4 | .4 | 1.5 |
| Jordan Walsh | 3 | 0 | 3.7 | .333 | .000 | .7 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .7 | |
| Derrick White | 19 | 19 | 35.6 | .452 | .404 | .921 | 4.3 | 4.1 | .9 | 1.2 | 16.7 |
| June 22, 2023[14] | ToBoston Celtics Kristaps Porziņģis (from Washington) Draft rights toMarcus Sasser (No. 25) (from Memphis) 2024 GSW first-round pick (from Memphis) | ToMemphis Grizzlies Marcus Smart (from Boston) |
| ToWashington Wizards Tyus Jones (from Memphis) Danilo Gallinari (from Boston) Mike Muscala (from Boston) Draft rights toJulian Phillips (No. 35) (from Boston) | ||
| June 22, 2023[15] | ToBoston Celtics Draft rights toJames Nnaji (No. 31) 2025 second round pick[a] 2027 second-round pick[b] | ToDetroit Pistons Draft rights toMarcus Sasser (No. 25) |
| June 22, 2023[15] | ToBoston Celtics Draft rights toColby Jones (No. 34) Draft rights toMouhamed Gueye (No. 39) | ToCharlotte Hornets Draft rights toJames Nnaji (No. 31) |
| June 22, 2023[15] | ToBoston Celtics Draft rights toJordan Walsh (No. 38) 2024 DAL second-round-pick | ToSacramento Kings Draft rights toColby Jones (No. 34) |
| June 22, 2023[15] | ToBoston Celtics 2027 ATL second-round-pick | ToAtlanta Hawks Draft rights toMouhamed Gueye (No. 39) |
| July 5, 2023[16] | ToBoston Celtics 2024 second-round pick (from San Antonio)[c] 2025 DAL second-round pick swap (from Dallas) 2030 DAL second-round pick (from Dallas) | ToDallas Mavericks Grant Williams (from Boston) 2025 TOR second-round pick (From San Antonio) 2028 MIA second-round pick (From San Antonio) |
| ToSan Antonio Spurs Reggie Bullock (from Dallas) 2030 DAL first-round pick swap (from Dallas) | ||
| October 1, 2023[17] | ToBoston Celtics Jrue Holiday | ToPortland Trail Blazers Malcolm Brogdon Robert Williams III 2024 GSW first-round pick 2029 BOS first-round pick |
| February 7, 2024[18][19] | ToBoston Celtics | ToMemphis Grizzlies Lamar Stevens |
| February 8, 2024[20] | ToBoston Celtics | ToPhiladelphia 76ers 2024 second-round pick[c] |
| February 8, 2024[21] | ToBoston Celtics 2027 protected second-round pick[d] | ToPortland Trail Blazers |
| Player | Signed |
|---|---|
| JD Davison[22] | July 9 |
| Player | Signed | Former Team |
|---|---|---|
| Oshae Brissett[22] | June 30 | Indiana Pacers |
| Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk[22] | August 31 | Charlotte Hornets |
| Neemias Queta[22] | September 19 | Sacramento Kings |
| Drew Peterson[22] | December 13 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| Player | Reason | New Team |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Knight | Waived | Motor City Cruise |
| Wenyen Gabriel | Waived | Wisconsin Herd |
| Dalano Banton | Traded | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Lamar Stevens | Traded | Memphis Grizzlies |
| |
| Franchise | |
| Arenas | |
| Personnel |
|
| G League affiliate | |
| Retired numbers | |
| NBA championships | |
| Rivalries | |
| Culture and lore |
|
