BOSTON —
After the Celtics received their diamond- and emerald-encrusted championship rings, and before the team’s 18th championship pennant was raised to the roof, Jayson Tatum grabbed a microphone to address the excited crowd.
“Enjoy this moment together,” he told the fans who packed TD Garden for the Celtics’ first meaningful game since their Game 5 victory over Dallas in the NBA Finals, which clinched their 18th title, a record unprecedented. “Let’s do it again.”
Then, the Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 132-109, and Tatum clarified that he had in no way wanted to get ahead of himself.
“I was planning to say something, but I got carried away by the moment,” he said. “I was overwhelmed, and the emotions got the best of me. “I know we shouldn’t talk about revalidating the title, but the fans were very excited.”
Once Tatum spoke, his teammates gathered where so many of their predecessors had and raised the “World Champions 2024” flag to the roof above the packed stands. Minutes later, they took the court for the season opener against the Knicks, and Tatum hit a 3-pointer to begin the Celtics’ bid to be the first Celtics team to retain a title since Bill Russell and John Havlicek won the 11th. the franchise in 13 years in 1969.
Boston tied an NBA record with 29 three-pointers. They took a 35-point lead against the team that is supposed to be their main opponent in the Eastern Conference.
“It was awesome to go from the ceremony to this game,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I’m proud of the way my players responded, from the ring ceremony to the game. Above all, I am proud of their mentality, they did not get stuck in the past.”
Six-time champion Bob Cousy and 1981 NBA Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell were present at the pregame ceremony. They were applauded before Paul Pierce — accompanied by fellow 2008 champions Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen — took out the 2024 trophy, which was placed on a table surrounded by the championship rings.
Owner Wyc Grousbeck handed out the jewelry. NBA commissioner Adam Silver congratulated the players as they walked out among the numbers of a giant, golden “18.”
Coach Joe Mazzulla knelt to kiss the hardwood floor before receiving his ring.
The central element of the ring is a clover and “the word Celtics”, on a field of emeralds. The top can be removed to reveal a piece of the famous court, painted green and white with the score of 106-88 from the June 17 decider against the Mavericks.
An image of the championship’s commemorative pennant is also revealed, surrounded by the engraved numbers of each player on the roster.
The outside of the ring is circled with the years of the franchise’s 18 NBA titles. On one side is a representation of the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the team’s overall record of 80-21 in 2023-24; on the other is the player’s name, number and the motto “Whatever it takes” on a background of the splint court pattern, engraved in gold.
The rings feature 15 total carats of white diamonds to represent the 15 Eastern Conference teams. There are 16 emerald-cut diamonds for the team’s 16 playoff victories, along with the words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” on the inner bezel.
The outer bezel has 18 larger diamonds for the team’s 18 titles, one more than the number achieved by the archrival Lakers in Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
The sold-out crowd arrived early to see the Celtics take the court in special gold-embellished warm-up jackets, with 18 championship trophies embroidered on the sleeve. Some players paused their shooting to watch the video that chronicled their journey to the title, from recruiting Jaylen Brown and Tatum to acquiring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Another video showed highlights from Havlicek and Russell, as they won titles in the ’50s and ’60s to the madness of the team’s victory parade last spring.
