The Original Celtics Team Inducted in 2005
The Orignal Celtics
The Original Celtics founded in 1914-30 were a barnstorming professional team. The team played in the American Basketball League, the Eastern Basketball League, and the Metropolitan Basketball League. The team is no relation to the NBA Boston Celtics. The franchise as a whole was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.
The Orginal Celtics were comprised of young players from Manhattan’s West Side, Frank McCormack created the team as the New York Celtics in 1914. Following World War I, promoter James Furey re-formed the team as the Original Celtics. Playing home games at Madison Square Garden, the team featured several future Hall of Famers, Dutch Dehnert, Nat Holman, John Beckman, and Joe Lapchick. The Original Celtics are credited with creating the post-play, zone defenses, and switching man-to-man defenses.
The Orginal Celtics were comprised of young players from Manhattan’s West Side, Frank McCormack created the team as the New York Celtics in 1914. Following World War I, promoter James Furey re-formed the team as the Original Celtics. Playing home games at Madison Square Garden, the team featured several future Hall of Famers, Dutch Dehnert, Nat Holman, John Beckman, and Joe Lapchick. The Original Celtics are credited with creating the post-play, zone defenses, and switching man-to-man defenses.