‘Celtics City’ Review: The Celtics Deserve Better TV

The Boston Celtics are a legendary basketball team — from the 1950s to today, they have dominated the game. They are the NBA’s winningest franchise, boast the most players in the NBA Hall of Fame, and constantly define what greatness represents in the modern basketball era. In light of their recent championship, HBO Max has dedicated a documentary, called “Celtics City,” to the history of the NBA’s most iconic team, covering the franchise’s story from the beginning to today.

However, even amid all this distinction, “Celtics City” is a basic documentary series and does not creatively push the boundaries of the genre. While the story of the Celtics itself is iconic, “Celtics City” is a disappointing testament to the franchise’s lasting legacy.

The primary problem with “Celtics City” is that the energy it brings to the production is lackluster in comparison to the groundbreaking legacy of the Celtics. The show never moves past the basics of sports documentaries: talking heads, archived game footage, and simple title cards. When the edits aren’t nonexistent, they are downright baffling or amusing. For example, when a person is speaking to the camera, the editing often cuts to a shot of them stone-faced and staring at the viewer — sadly, Jayson Tatum and Larry Bird are both subjected to this bizarre stylistic choice. The recurring edit is obviously meant to be reflective, but instead, it is so bad that it is funny. These types of stylistic blunders abound in the documentary. The series lacks graphics, creative camera work, interviews from unexpected people, or interesting voice-overs. Without any formal flourishes, the documentary occasionally drags, as the episodes are basically hour-long blocks of people lecturing to the camera. It feels unacceptable that the creators of the documentary did not try to use exceptional techniques to accentuate the franchise’s story.

Furthermore, the show cannot seem to decide how it wants to frame the entire season, leaving the connection between each episode feeling awkward. At the beginning of the season, it seems like the show wants to suggest that there are parallels between every era of the Celtics franchise and the modern Celtics team, as shots and quotes from current superstars Tatum and Jaylen Brown are cut into the episodes focused on the early years of the Celtics. However, the show then abandons this device in the middle of the series, which makes the use of the framing in the first couple of episodes appear hastily done. Consistency is one of the cornerstones of the Celtics organization, so the lack of this quality in the show feels especially egregious.

While these formal blunders make the documentary feel somewhat lifeless, don’t be mistaken — the story of the Boston Celtics is never bland. The strength of this series is its exclusive access to the basketball stars who have defined sports history, from Kevin Garnett to Bob Cousy to Bird. By giving each era of the Celtics its own episode, the series allows every player to expand upon their memories at length, which will be sure to delight fans. The show also transitions from one era to another with ease, which never leaves each episode feeling as if it stands alone.

Additionally, “Celtics City” doesn’t shy away from shedding light on every part of Celtics history, even if certain parts of that story are not positive— which makes the progress and success of the team feel even more satisfying. In the first few episodes, the show highlights the racism that Bill Russell endured as both the superstar of the Celtics and the first Black head coach in the NBA. The hype that surrounded Bird’s rise is contextualized with the city of Boston’s racism toward Black players. The early deaths that plagued the Celtics are also given time, including the tragic passings of Reggie Lewis and Len Bias. Some documentaries have a tendency to romanticize their subjects, but this show is levelheaded in its approach to all aspects of the Celtics’ history.

In sum, “Celtics City” has its moments of greatness due to the excitement inherently connected to the team’s history. However, the show is visually bland and confusing in its framing strategy. The Celtics are essential to the NBA; they deserve better TV.

—Staff writer Hannah E. Gadway can be reached at hannah.gadway@thecrimson.com.