Yes, it had already been a year since the Celtics won their 18th championship.
Time flies by.
OTD: Celtics win 18th title
Coincidentally, the Celtics won both their 17th and 18th championships on their home court, on the date June 17th.
Jaylen Brown took home NBA Finals MVP, and he and Jayson Tatum finally ended a 16-year drought of no titles for the Celtics.
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The roster from that night could look a whole lot different than it will in a few months.
Kristaps Porzingis played through a foot injury, notably having an electric performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavs.
Jrue Holiday was playing all-star-level basketball and was one of the best corner three-point shooters in the league.
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The Celtics had arguably the best depth in the league, with impactful bench players that could easily come in a serve their role well.
Who doesn’t remember the iconic Game 5 Payton Pritchard half-court buzzer beater to end the first half?
I think most fans knew they had the title clinched when a shot like that fell. Goosebumps.
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Al Horford finally got a well-deserved ring after 17 years of trying.
The Celtics unfortunately fell short in the second round of the playoffs in 2025, and Jayson Tatum tore his achilles, but I think the Celtics are confident they’ll be back in the Finals in the next few years.
Boston has always been a winning city, and with Brad Stevens as your General Manager, there’s always hope.
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