The Boston Celtics are the NBA’s gold standard, with 17 championship banners attached to the TD Garden roof and an 18th, possibly on the Celtics’ way to the 2024 NBA Finals. But roughly 90 miles to the west, locked and sealed inside the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, is The Vault, which chronicles the continued success of storied franchises through a collection of exclusive memorabilia.
Every piece of memorabilia tells a story, whether it’s Bill Russell’s jersey from the 1965 Finals or the threads of veteran Bill Walton and rookie Jayson Tatum, who made his debut just seven years ago. Together, they showcase not only the ever-evolving state of the franchise, but the League as well. The exhibit walls act as a journey through the organization’s history, showing the transition from the ultra-short shorts of past decades to today’s jerseys that are lighter and more borderline than ever, and some not-so-short shorts.
In total, the exhibit boasts 11 Boston championship rings, along with the 1981 Larry O’Brien Trophy, Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell from that year, and the defunct Walter Brown Trophy, awarded to the team that won the NBA Finals and passed it from team to team. until the 1975-76 season, when the Celtics were the last team to secure the trophy.
But ultimately, what connects these memorable items, some of which have 50 years of history between them, is the green and white that represents the New England team. If you’re a Celtics fan or just obsessed with basketball lore, The Vault inside the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame contains all the lore for a limited time.
Photos courtesy of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
