Last Updated on July 18, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

Here’s a timeline of notable events between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks:

  1. Early Years (1940s-1950s):
    • Both teams were founding members of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA in 1949.
    • During this era, they played against each other regularly in the BAA and early NBA seasons.
  2. 1950s-1960s:
    • The Celtics, led by players like Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, emerged as a dominant force in the NBA, winning multiple championships.
    • The Hawks, originally based in St. Louis, featured stars like Bob Pettit.
  3. 1970s-1980s:
    • The Celtics continued their success with players like Larry Bird, winning several championships.
    • The Hawks moved to Atlanta in 1968 and had competitive teams throughout these decades, though they did not win a championship.
  4. 1990s-2000s:
    • Both teams had ups and downs in terms of performance, with occasional playoff appearances and roster changes.
  5. 2008 NBA Playoffs:
    • Notably, in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics faced the Hawks. The Celtics, with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, defeated the Hawks in seven games.
  6. 2012 NBA Playoffs:
    • The teams met again in the playoffs, this time in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics, again led by their Big Three (Pierce, Garnett, Allen), defeated the Hawks in six games.
  7. Recent Years:
    • Both teams have continued to compete in the Eastern Conference, with varying degrees of success in regular seasons and occasional playoff appearances.
  8. 2020-2021 Season:
    • The teams faced each other in regular-season matchups as part of the NBA schedule, reflecting the ongoing rivalry between the two franchises.

Throughout their history, the Celtics and Hawks have had a competitive relationship on the court, often meeting in key playoff moments that have added to the rivalry between the two teams.