Seventeen-time winners of the NBA Championships, Boston's green dream team has a long history of historical firsts and memorable moments.

1946 - Celtics are formed with as a Basketball Association of America team. It becomes part of the NBA in 1949.

1950 - "Red" Auerbach joins the Boston Celtics as coach. He goes on to lead the Celtics to nine NBA championships - eight of which are consecutive wins - and retires as coach in 1967. He remains with the Celtics until 2006 as GM, president, and vice-chairman. In 1966 he becomes the first coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games.

1950 - The Celtics draft Chuck Cooper. Cooper is the first African-American player in NBA history.

1957 - Celtics win their first championship. The team is coached by Red Auerbach, and its roster includes Bill Russell and Bob Cousey.

1967 - Celtics hire Bill Russell to be head coach, making him the first African-American head coach in an American professional sport.

1978 - Celtics draft college player Larry Bird, who joins the team a year later. Bird is an essential part of the team that would win three championships during his tenure, which lasts until 1992. After retirement, Bird becomes coach of the Indiana Pacers.

2008 - Celtics win their 17th championship with a roster that includes Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.