It was a very good year for the Boston Celtics and their fans. So we wanted to take a moment and look back at our favorite memories from the year. Here were our responses.
Ian Inangelo
My favorite memory of the 2024 season was Payton Pritchard’s half court shot in game 5 of the NBA Finals. I was watching the game at big night live across from TD garden and the entire building erupted when he hit that shot. It made me feel like it was over. The Celtics were about to win the championship. The parade was also amazing as it was the first time I’ve ever seen a parade for championship team in Boston.
Sam LaFrance
I was fortunate enough to be able to be in the building for the Banner 18 ceremony. It’s not often that you wake up and know that you’re about to experience a day that you will literally never forget, but I got that privilege.
Steve Hooper
So many amazing memories throughout 2024. I loved seeing Jaylen and Jayson hug each other after confetti fell in game 5, and also seeing long time fan favorite Al Horford celebrate the long and winding road toward becoming an NBA champion.
But probably the best moment of the season was watching in shock and disbelief: the effort and transcendent performance of Kristaps Porzingis in his Game 1 return to action after missing 10-straight playoff games.
Following the moving tributes to the late Bill Walton pre-game, all eyes were on Kristaps, would he be okay to play? The questions marks were everywhere. But after he checked into the game, I, we, and Celtics Nation collectively knew we were heading towards Banner 18.
Jack Anderson
I was lucky enough to be able to go to Game 1 of the Finals and being in the building that night was one of the greatest experiences of my life. From wondering how Kristaps would look to him coming in and being unbelievable was incredible to see. He was so good that night it was incredible.
Jeff Clark
For me it had to be watching Al Horford celebrate winning his first championship. He had his son there with him, praising God for all the trials and tribulations that brought him and this team to the point of winning it all. Over the years other players have gotten more press and attention, but he always brought something positive to the game and put his teams in position to succeed. He’s Jayson Tatum’s favorite teammate and universally respected and loved by the league (well, except Philly fans). Seeing him finally win a ring was special to me.
Mark Aboyoun
My favorite thing from this year was finally seeing the narrative shift between the Jays. Ever since they were in the league, whenever they got eliminated from the playoffs or lost a couple of games in a row the headlines was always, “Tatum and Brown can’t win together.” Now ever since Banner 18, no one can utter that phrase again.
Mike Dynon
The Celtics have won 10 titles since I became a fan, yet I’d never gone to a duck boat parade. In the old days, those celebrations were held without much fanfare (or duck boats), and when they became bigger in the 1980s, I was always too busy at work to get away. This time, I had to go. I took a morning commuter train from Rhode Island, where I live, to Boston, and gathered with a group of Celtics diehards who, through social media, had become good friends in real life. For the next five hours, we were in nirvana.
The energy that a million-plus Celtics fans brought to the city that day was almost indescribable. You really did have to be there to appreciate the joy that washed over Celtics Nation. When the team rode by with the shiny gold trophy, that was an experience I’ll never forget.
One other reason that was my favorite memory of 2024: Throughout all 101 games of the season, I had an unshakable faith that the Celtics would win it all. I can’t explain it, but I knew it was their time to shine, that they would have good luck on their side, and they would dominate all competition. That’s exactly what happened. The parade was their destiny.
Nirav Barman
Like for many others, one of the sweetest parts of this past year was seeing Al Horford finally get his championship ring. There are few players in league history that are more deserving than him. His leadership, defense, and hard work all finally paid off, and I’m so glad that he was able to finally reach the ultimate goal with this group.
If I had to bring it down to one moment, though, it would be the end of game 5 in round 2 against the Cavaliers. Al had a huge game, with 22 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. With just under a minute left, he put a bow on the game with an electric three, and let all of his fire burst out of him with a huge celebration. His emotions were contagious, and got everyone in the crowd out of their seats, and got me up off of my couch in the same way. The feeling of pure joy in that moment is something that will forever seem impossible to replicate.
Bobby Manning
Hard to not follow the lead of others here who point to June 17. Getting the entire Garden Report cast together for a live show around 2-3 a.m. that night in the arena, going back down to the floor after to see Joe and Camai Mazzulla circling the floor repeatedly, taking in the moment, and swiping a few beers from the ice buckets there before later watching several Celtics players and staff stumble out of the connecting club onto the floor around 5 a.m. are visuals that will last forever. After some impromptu 3-on-3 games on the confetti, I left the Garden around 5 a.m. as the sun rose outside. It was a surreal sight.
Honorable mention, of course, was being able to ride in the back of a pickup truck to take in the parade. That was probably the coolest experience of my life, especially being positioned in front of the Mazzulla duck boat. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get a seat on the truck, but when I saw one open, I jumped in and the man checking off names said I could stay if whoever was in that seat didn’t. About 15 minutes later — we started moving.
Your turn! What were your favorite moments? And I encourage you to be more specific than just “the championship.”
