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Five highlights from Celtics’ championship ring, banner ceremony
"I can honestly say — to the best fans in the world: Let’s do it again.”
Four months after green and white confetti rained down onto TD Garden’s parquet floor, the Boston Celtics crowned their 18th championship by raising another banner into the rafters.
Ahead of tip-off for their title defense during the 2024-25 season, the Celtics celebrated their latest title with a banner-raising and championship ring ceremony in front of a raucous home crowd.
Be it multiple video tributes, Celtics legends making appearances on the parquet and, of course, Boston’s flashy hardware, there were several noteworthy moments from Tuesday’s ceremony.
Here are five highlights:
A re-telling of Boston’s title run
After the Celtics — donning gold-accented jackets — took to the parquet floor for warmups as Drake and Future’s “Big Rings” blared over the Garden speakers, the video board above the hardwood retold the tale of how the 2023-24 Celtics established themselves as world champions.
Starting with the trade of the “Big 3” grouping of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen in 2013 and the subsequent hiring of Brad Stevens as head coach, the video mapped out how the entire championship roster was assembled.
From the drafting of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in back-to-back years to the offseason trades of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in 2023, the hype video mapped out how Boston developed an elite roster that won 64 games last season.
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After the video shifted toward previous Celtics’ titles won over the last few decades, it moved back toward Boston’s most-recent conquest, ending with the team’s lopsided Game 5 victory over the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.
With each player and coach showcased on the videoboard drawing plenty of cheers, it was just the start of a rowdy night on Causeway Street.
Celtics legends return
Before relishing in their latest championship, the Celtics looked back on the past as part of Tuesday’s ceremony.
Five Celtics legends took to the hardwood ahead of the banner ceremony, headlined by six-time champion Bob Cousy. The 96-year-old Cousy was followed by two-time champion (and 1981 NBA Finals MVP) Cedric Maxwell, along with 2008 NBA champions Kevin Garnett, 2008 Finals MVP Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s game, Joe Mazzulla reflected on the importance of honoring the past, especially given Boston’s history of raising banners.
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“We’ve been entrusted with the tradition of this organization by the players, by other staff, by the front office, and have a responsibility and an ownership to the city and to the people that came before us,” Mazzulla said. “This job isn’t what it is if the people before us didn’t put the time and the effort into making it what it was. Because of them, we’re able to kind of go after stuff and be a part of this.
“It’s a sense of gratitude. Not only to the city and to the people that came before us. I think that moment is cooler than anything else instead of just watching what you’re a part of. It’s something so much bigger than one year or two years. It’s a lifestyle. I think the quote that Red (Auerbach) said, ‘The Celtics are a way of life,’ is true. And that’s something I don’t take lightly.”
Celtics get their rings
After keeping details of their new championship rings under wraps, the Celtics finally unveiled their new hardware. Each ring includes 15 carats of diamonds, a removable top, and a piece of Boston’s parquet floor.
Each Celtics coach and player had their own moment under the bright lights as part of the ceremony, walking out to center court to receive their ring from team owner Wyc Grousbeck.
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When it was Joe Mazzulla’s turn to receive his ring, he knelt down and kissed the parquet floor. Al Horford received thunderous cheers after securing his first championship following his 16th NBA season, while Jaylen Brown received “M-V-P!” chants as he made his way to center court.
Jayson Tatum drew the loudest cheer to close out the ring ceremony, raising his hands in triumph as the decibel level exploded at TD Garden.
Tatum, Grousbeck take the mic
There were two short speeches delivered as part of Tuesday’s ceremony, with the first by Wyc Grousbeck.
“The statistics do not lie,” Grousbeck said. “You’re looking at one of the finest teams ever assembled in the history of the NBA.”
After recapping Boston’s dominant run through the 2024 playoffs (16-3 record), Grousbeck — who is in the process of selling the Celtics — praised the leadership group of the team.
“You had an amazing team, you had an amazing coaching staff led by Joe [Mazzulla], an amazing front office led by Brad [Stevens], and you,” Grousbeck said. “The best fans in Boston — the best fans in sports.”
Once the ring ceremony wrapped up, Tatum delivered a few words of thanks to a packed Garden.
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“This is special. On behalf of me, my teammates, the organization … we couldn’t have done it without you last year,” Tatum said. “Let’s enjoy this moment together.”
After a brief pause to build up anticipation, Tatum delivered a pledge toward securing Banner 19 in June.
“I can honestly say — to the best fans in the world: Let’s do it again.”
Banner 18 reaches the rafters
At long last, the Celtics capped off the ceremony by raising Banner 18 up into the rafters.
Celtics fans watching TNT’s broadcast were rightfully steamed after the TV feed cut to a commercial in the middle of the banner raising. You can watch a full video of the banner raising below.
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