Ah, the Boston Celtics. The most decorated franchise in NBA history—or the most insufferable, depending on who you ask. While Celtics fans will proudly remind you of their 17 (sorry, 18—they definitely counted last year’s before it happened) championships, the rest of the NBA world mostly just rolls their eyes.
So, why does everyone seem to love hating the Celtics? Let’s break it down.
1. The Whole “We Have the Most Rings” Thing
Yes, we get it. 18 titles. Banners in the rafters. More history than the Library of Congress. Celtics fans never shut up about it, even when most of those championships happened when there were only eight teams in the league, and half the players were also working side jobs.
2. That Annoying “Team Basketball” Purity Complex
Somehow, every Celtics fan thinks their team is the only one that plays “the right way.” They love to tell you how Boston is built on selfless, hardworking, team-first basketball—unlike your team, which is clearly full of selfish, me-first stat padders. Even when their star players put up 40 shots a game, it’s still good basketball, because it’s Boston.
3. The Never-Ending Larry Bird Worship
Larry Legend was great, no doubt. But Celtics fans act like he was dropped straight from basketball heaven and that no one will ever be on his level. Every time a player today does literally anything, a Boston fan will remind you that Bird did it better.
4. Boston Sports Fans in General
Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins—it doesn’t matter. If you’ve ever met a Boston sports fan, you know they have the unique ability to be both incredibly passionate and absolutely unbearable. They’ll tell you how hard it is to be a fan, despite their teams winning championships every other year.
5. Paul Pierce Thinking He’s Better Than LeBron
Look, Paul Pierce was a fantastic player. But the man really sat on ESPN and said, with a straight face, that he had a better career than LeBron James. That level of delusion is why Celtics fans will defend him to the grave while the rest of us just laugh.
6. That One Time They Wheelchaired Paul Pierce Off the Court for Cramps
Speaking of Pierce, we can’t forget the most dramatic exit in NBA history. The man got wheeled off the court like he had just been shot, only to come sprinting back minutes later. And to this day, Celtics fans act like it was an all-time warrior moment instead of the most over-the-top moment in NBA Finals history.
7. Bill Russell’s Championship Count (That Nobody Cares About)
Yes, Bill Russell won 11 rings. But let’s be real—he did it in an era where there were eight teams and the average NBA center was 6’7”. Celtics fans will still throw this stat in your face like it’s the ultimate mic drop moment, ignoring the fact that basketball has changed just a little since the 1960s.
8. The Boston Media Overhyping Every Player
Every year, there’s a new Celtics player who gets overhyped into oblivion by Boston media. Jayson Tatum? MVP in waiting. Jaylen Brown? Underrated superstar. Payton Pritchard? Secretly the second coming of Steve Nash. Doesn’t matter who—if they wear green, Boston fans will act like they’re untouchable.
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9. The “Almost Trades” for Every Superstar Ever
Did you hear the Celtics almost traded for Kevin Durant? Anthony Davis? Kawhi Leonard? Yeah, they almost get everyone. Somehow, Boston is always in the mix for every superstar—except they never actually land them. But hey, those rumors count for something, right?
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10. The Never-Ending Comparisons to the Lakers
Celtics fans will remind you that they are not obsessed with the Lakers, yet they can’t go two seconds without mentioning them. Whether it’s arguing about all-time greats, banner counts, or which fanbase is worse, Boston fans live rent-free in every Lakers debate—and act like they don’t care.
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