The 1960-61 Boston Celtics season was a defining chapter in the franchise’s storied history. Coached by Red Auerbach, the Celtics were in the midst of building a basketball dynasty. They finished the regular season with a dominant 57-22 record, securing the top spot in the Eastern Division and affirming their status as a powerhouse in the NBA.
The Celtics’ roster was stacked with talent, featuring future Hall of Famers like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn. Bill Russell anchored the team’s defense, averaging 16.9 points and a league-leading 23.9 rebounds per game. Bob Cousy orchestrated the offense with precision, contributing 18.1 points and 7.7 assists per game. Tom Heinsohn added scoring depth, averaging 21.3 points per game.
In the postseason, the Celtics continued their dominance. They first faced the Syracuse Nationals in the Eastern Division Finals, winning the series 4-1. The Celtics then advanced to the NBA Finals, where they met the St. Louis Hawks. Boston triumphed over the Hawks in a hard-fought series, clinching the championship in five games (4-1). This victory marked the Celtics’ third consecutive NBA title, solidifying their reputation as a basketball juggernaut.
The 1960-61 season was a testament to the Celtics’ exceptional teamwork and strategic prowess under Auerbach’s leadership. It laid the groundwork for Boston’s continued success throughout the 1960s, further cementing the team’s legacy in NBA history.
- Regular Season Record: 57-22
- Playoff Result: Division Finals: 4-1, NBA Finals: 4-1
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1960-61 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Tom Heinsohn | 74 | 21.3 | 6.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 19.7 | 9.9 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Cousy | 76 | 18.1 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 16.7 | 4.3 | 9.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Russell | 78 | 16.9 | 23.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 19.1 | 29.9 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Sharman | 61 | 16.0 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 16.8 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Frank Ramsey | 79 | 15.1 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 17.1 | 6.4 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Jones | 78 | 15.0 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 13.1 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| K.C. Jones | 78 | 7.6 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gene Conley | 75 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Sanders | 69 | 5.3 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Loscutoff | 76 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gene Guarilia | 27 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Boston Celtics in the 1961 NBA Playoffs
1961 Conference Championship vs. Syracuse Nationals
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 128-115 | |
| Mar 21, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 115-98 | |
| Mar 23, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 133-110 | |
| Mar 25, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 120-107 | |
| Mar 26, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 123-101 |
1961 NBA Finals vs. St. Louis Hawks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 02, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 129-95 | |
| Apr 05, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 116-108 | |
| Apr 08, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 124-120 | |
| Apr 09, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 119-104 | |
| Apr 11, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 121-112 |
Boston Celtics 1960-61 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1960-61 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 1960 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 118-116 | |
| Oct 28, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 110-101 | |
| Oct 29, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 131-103 | |
| Nov 05, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 113-104 | |
| Nov 08, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 136-120 | |
| Nov 11, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 128-110 | |
| Nov 12, 1960 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 131-124 | |
| Nov 15, 1960 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 115-114 | |
| Nov 16, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 124-106 | |
| Nov 19, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 114-94 | |
| Nov 20, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 120-103 | |
| Nov 23, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | W 122-105 | |
| Nov 24, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 132-129 | |
| Nov 25, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 111-110 | |
| Nov 26, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 129-110 | |
| Nov 29, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 119-109 | |
| Nov 30, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 125-110 | |
| Dec 01, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | L 116-111 | |
| Dec 02, 1960 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-117 | |
| Dec 04, 1960 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-103 | |
| Dec 05, 1960 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 123-101 | |
| Dec 07, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 142-134 | |
| Dec 08, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 118-115 | |
| Dec 09, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 146-123 | |
| Dec 10, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 102-97 | |
| Dec 13, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | L 117-115 | |
| Dec 15, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 115-105 | |
| Dec 17, 1960 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 140-112 | |
| Dec 20, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 115-112 | |
| Dec 21, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 120-108 | |
| Dec 24, 1960 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 150-106 | |
| Dec 26, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 119-115 | |
| Dec 27, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 116-101 | |
| Dec 28, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 105-99 | |
| Dec 30, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 120-106 | |
| Jan 01, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 113-96 | |
| Jan 03, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 05, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 125-107 | |
| Jan 06, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 108-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 133-104 | |
| Jan 10, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 118-98 | |
| Jan 12, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 124-118 | |
| Jan 13, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 123-121 | |
| Jan 14, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 116-113 | |
| Jan 15, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 142-124 | |
| Jan 18, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 125-114 | |
| Jan 19, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-103 | |
| Jan 21, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 127-124 | |
| Jan 24, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 125-112 | |
| Jan 26, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 129-121 | |
| Jan 27, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 140-111 | |
| Jan 29, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 128-115 | |
| Jan 30, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 116-88 | |
| Jan 31, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 109-103 | |
| Feb 01, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 124-120 | |
| Feb 03, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 123-109 | |
| Feb 05, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 123-121 | |
| Feb 07, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 96-95 | |
| Feb 08, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 130-108 | |
| Feb 10, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 137-134 | |
| Feb 11, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | L 129-107 | |
| Feb 12, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 136-125 | |
| Feb 14, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-93 | |
| Feb 16, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 121-111 | |
| Feb 17, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 133-128 | |
| Feb 19, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 116-106 | |
| Feb 22, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-93 | |
| Feb 24, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 144-128 | |
| Feb 25, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 122-109 | |
| Feb 26, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 113-99 | |
| Feb 28, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 142-116 | |
| Mar 01, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 110-97 | |
| Mar 04, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-110 | |
| Mar 05, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 146-129 | |
| Mar 07, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 124-121 | |
| Mar 08, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 136-127 | |
| Mar 09, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-118 | |
| Mar 11, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 126-116 | |
| Mar 12, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 136-134 |