Boston’s phenomenal – and phenomenally popular – basketball dynasty is getting its close-up with the HBO/MAX “Celtics City” series.

Director Lauren Stowell, with seven Sports Emmys, noted that this definitive, extended epic (new episodes stream weekly) has been in the works since 2020.

“At the time we were discussing this, the team had 17 championships but its story never had been told comprehensively from end to end, from beginning to current day.

“Being from New England (I grew up in Connecticut), I obviously had seen the storied success the Celtics have had through the years and thought I knew the story.

“But I really didn’t. I don’t think I fully understood the depth of the characters, the iconic moments, the tradition that (legendary manager) Red Auerbach and (legendary player) Bill Russell started. What they built is still being carried on today through this current team.

“Once we started to unpack the layers, we then thought about the context in which these iconic moments happened in American history and in the city of Boston. It was such a unique opportunity with nine parts and nine hours to tell the full story.”

The issue of race – how it plays in the stands, in the press, in the city and on the court – is an essential element.

“It begins with Red Auerbach, taking the job in 1950. With that comes drafting the first Black player in the NBA, Chuck Cooper.

“What followed not long after was Auerbach having the first Black player in the starting 5 in the NBA, the first Black player coach in Bill Russell, the NBA’s first Black superstar in Bill Russell who was so outspoken throughout history – and is in all nine episodes.

“You can trace that lineage from Bill Russell as the first Black superstar to Jaylen Brown signing the biggest NBA contract in NBA history (which you see in Episode 2) and hearing him reflect on the path in which he walked, that Bill Russell had walked.

“So when we started, it was really important for our entire team to think about the foundation of how the Celtics organization was built.

“It really starts with these founding fathers: Auerbach, Russell and Bob Cousy” – the local hero, an Irish Catholic player who became the Celtics first superstar.

“We explore a team that in the context of the 1960s achieved 11 championships in 13 years and ask: What was going on in the city of Boston? What was going on in America?

“That was our very natural connection to start. Then, as you trace the through line, the context of history is always present. The city is such a present figure in the Celtics history.”

 “Celtics City” is streaming on MAX