Larry Bird on the pride he feels when wearing the Celtics uniform: “There should be a level you’re supposed to play once you put on a Celtics uniform”

The Boston Celtics have arguably the most significant history out of any NBA team, headlined by a league-leading 17 championships, tied with rival Los Angeles Lakers . Every Celtics player carries the weight of this history, and it’s up to them to step up when their number is called.

One player who embraced being a Celtic is the legendary Larry Bird . He knew the responsibility of playing for this organization, which meant being proud of wearing that jersey and doing his best to lead the team to further glory every time he hit the hardwood .

“It’s very important. There should be a level you’re supposed to play once you put on a Celtics uniform. The Celtics now that I know their history, are the only team that I know that can win championships 10, 11, 12 times in a row. It’ll never be done again,” Bird said in a 1991 uncut interview.

“They’re the greatest sports franchise ever put together in basketball. They’ve done something that won’t ever be topped again. When you put that uniform, there’s a lot of pride in that uniform.”

Living up to the history of the Celtics

Living up to the Celtics' storied history presents a formidable task, as players donning the iconic uniform are expected to deliver success time after time. Larry Legend was a true example of how to meet these sometimes-difficult expectations, guiding Boston to three championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986.

After his time in Boston, the Celtics didn’t win a championship until 2008, when the Big Three of Paul Pierce , Kevin Garnett , and Ray Allen won the title their first year together. Unfortunately for Bean Town fans, that has been the only Larry O'Brien they’ve won in the 21st century.

The Celtics' challenging period opened the door for Lakers' supremacy, with six titles since the turn of the century. With that, Boston's West Coast rivals caught up and are now tied for the most NBA championships.

The current Celtics can usher in a new great era

The current Celtics team has a good chance of becoming champions this season due to its excellence. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown serve as the roster’s foundational pieces. The two wing players are All-NBA-level talents, along with a superb supporting cast akin to Bird’s teams in the 1980s.

With the quality of this roster, the Boston organization has a good chance of becoming the new dynasty in the NBA. Of course, the league has become competitive enough to field multiple contenders, which would make the Celtics’ goal more challenging.

Related: "We had the same goals in mind, we wanted to help rebuild the Celtics organization" - Antoine Walker on playing with Paul Pierce