This was the Celtics' first season without veteran Celtic and point guard
Marcus Smart since 2014. In June 2023, he was traded to the
Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade to acquire forward
Kristaps Porziņģis of the
Washington Wizards. On October 1, 2023, the Celtics sent guard
Malcolm Brogdon, center/forward
Robert Williams III, a protected 2024 first-round pick (acquired from the
Golden State Warriors), and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick to the
Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for two-time All-Star guard
Jrue Holiday. On March 14, 2024, the Celtics became the first team to clinch a playoff berth with their 117–107 victory over the
Phoenix Suns and the
Philadelphia 76ers' 114–105 loss to the
Milwaukee Bucks. Six days later, the Celtics won the
Atlantic 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 since
2017 after they beat the
Chicago Bulls. On April 3, 2024, the Celtics defeated the
Oklahoma 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 since
2008. It was also the first time the Celtics won 60 or more regular season games since
2009. 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, the
New York Knicks. In the playoffs, the Celtics dispatched the
Miami Heat and
Cleveland Cavaliers in five games each, and swept the
Indiana Pacers to reach their
second NBA Finals in three years, where the Celtics faced the
Dallas 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. 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 the
Golden State Warriors in
2017. == Draft ==