In 1980–81 the Boston Celtics went 62-20 under coach Bill Fitch. Despite losing center Dave Cowens to retirement late in training camp, the Celtics went on to capture the 1981 NBA Championship over the Houston Rockets. The highlight was that this championship was achieved just two years after Larry Bird had been drafted. Cedric Maxwell was named NBA Finals MVP.
Offseason
NBA draft
After the 1979–80 season, Auerbach completed what may be the most lopsided trade in NBA history. Auerbach had always been a fan of stockpiling draft picks, so even after the success of 1979–80 the Celtics had both the 1st and 13th picks in the 1980 NBA draft left over from the M.L. Carr trade. Auerbach saw an opportunity to improve the team immediately, sending the two picks to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for center Robert Parish and the Warriors first round pick, the 3rd overall, University of Minnesota power forward Kevin McHale. With these three future Hall of Famers on the team the Celtics had a core in place to become a dominant team in the NBA.
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Notes
z, y – division champions
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Regular season
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|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 10 | Cleveland | 130–103 | | | | Boston Garden | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 14 | @ Atlanta | 116–122 | | | | The Omni | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | October 16 | @ Milwaukee | 110–103 | | | | MECCA Arena | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 18 | @ Indiana | 99–103 | | | | Market Square Arena | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 5 | October 22 | @ New Jersey | 108–104 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | October 23 | New York | 107–109 (OT) | | | | Hartford Civic Center | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 7 | October 25 | @ Washington | 103–87 | | | | Capital Centre | 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | October 29 | @ Detroit | 103–85 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | October 31 | Kansas City | 115–110 | | | | Boston Garden | 6–3 |-
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|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 1 | @ Philadelphia | 113–117 (OT) | | | | The Spectrum | 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 5 | Atlanta | 104–87 | | | | Boston Garden | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 7 | Milwaukee | 101–102 | | | | Boston Garden | 7–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 9 | Chicago | 111–105 | | | | Boston Garden | 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 12 | Washington | 93–86 | | | | Boston Garden | 9–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | November 14 | New Jersey | 126–102 | | | | Boston Garden | 10–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 18 | @ Chicago | 113–107 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 11–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | November 19 | @ Indiana | 103–91 | | | | Market Square Arena | 12–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | November 21 | Golden State | 108–106 | | | | Boston Garden | 13–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | November 22 | @ Cleveland | 98–113 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 13–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | November 26 | Portland | 126–101 | | | | Boston Garden | 14–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | November 28 | New York | 120–106 | | | | Boston Garden | 15–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | November 30 | @ Milwaukee | 105–107 | | | | MECCA Arena | 15–7 |-