Starting 5, June 19: Celtics celebrate their 18th title
When you’re still basking in the glow of the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
THE LINEUP
What’s inside today’s edition?
Championship Celebrations: The Celtics take their place next to other Boston greats
Best Of The Finals: The top plays, all-access content, mic’d up moments and more
Pritchard’s Heave: How Payton Pritchard’s signature shot ignited Boston
Luka’s Numbers: Doncic put up historic stats during Dallas’ run to the Finals
Through The Lens: More of our favorite images from Monday in Boston
BUT FIRST … ⏰
That’s a wrap on the 2023-24 NBA season
Cue the Duck Boats: The Celtics championship parade is set for Friday. Stay locked in on the NBA App for more information and an all-access look as Boston celebrates its first NBA title in 16 years
Celebrating Juneteenth: Today is Juneteenth. The NBA family continues to support the national dialogue on race through year-round, leaguewide efforts that promote equality and justice.
As part of those efforts, the league honors the history and heritage of the Black community.
1. CLASSIC CELTICS TITLE CELEBRATIONS
Check out this mix highlighting the History of the Boston Celtics and achieving banner No. 18!
The Celtics have made a habit out of celebrating NBA championships with their record 18th coming on Monday.
Take a look back at some of the company that Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the 2024 Celtics just joined.
1962: Bob Cousy dribbles out the clock and the crowd storms the court as the Celtics win their fourth consecutive title
1968: Bill Russell celebrates his 10th NBA championship as a player and first as a coach as he held both roles for the Celtics
1981: Robert Parish is doused in champagne after winning the first of his three Celtics championships
1986: Larry Bird, Red Auerbach, Kevin McHale and the Larry O’Brien Trophy after Boston won the Finals
2008: Overcome with emotion, Kevin Garnett screams “Anything is possible!” as he celebrates his first (and only) NBA championship
2008: “Thank you, Red” – Doc Rivers recreates the iconic Red Auerbach cigar pose after winning the Finals
2024: Jaylen Brown connects the past and present – a cigar à la Red Auerbach in one hand and the Finals MVP trophy named for Bill Russell in the other
2. BEST OF THE 2024 NBA FINALS
Take a look at the best plays from the 2024 NBA Finals!
You’ve never seen an NBA Finals like this.
Experience basketball’s biggest stage from every angle with unprecedented behind-the-scenes content you won’t find anywhere else — from the top deck of the arena to inside the winning locker room.
Chasing History: Go deep inside the final chapter in the Celtics’ historic run to banner 18
Relive the best plays from the 2024 Finals, headlined by half-court heaves, Luka dimes and JB jams.
- Strictly Celtics: The Cs top highlights of the Finals
- MVP Moments: How Jaylen Brown won Finals MVP
- Ball Movement Brilliance: The best passing possessions of the NBA Finals
- Final Call: Watch the final seconds of the Finals unfold as the Celtics make history
- JT’s Finals Mixtape: Jayson Tatum’s most iconic moments in the 2024 Finals
- Boston’s Best, In Slow-Motion: See some of the Cs’ best moments from the series in suuuuuper slow-mo
Witness the Celtics’ historic title run like never before with the best of our All-Access content.
- Celebrate With The Celtics: Join the Boston players as the confetti falls at TD Garden
- “Everything I Dreamed Of”: Jayson Tatum walks out of TD Garden as a champion
- JB Keeps His Promise: “I told you I’ll get you a ring.”
- Father-Son Special Moment: Jayson Tatum celebrates winning a title with his son, Deuce
- Mic’d Up For Game 5: Hear the Jays lead the Celtics to a championship
- Best Postgame Sounds: The Celtics’ first words as newly crowned champs
- Filling In The Blank: Six years ago, JT discussed filling in the Celtics’ blank banner
3. PRITCHARD AT THE BUZZER, KEY RUNS & BIG LEADS
With four seconds left in the 1st half, Luka Doncic hit a driving floater while drawing a foul on Jayson Tatum. As Luka went to the free-throw line looking to cut Boston’s lead to 17, the buzzer sounded.
Payton Pritchard in. Derrick White out.
Luka missed the free throw, Al Horford corralled the rebound, and got the ball to Pritchard on the move.
- Mike Breen: “Here’s Pritchard, he loves these, puts it up from half-court at the buzzer… BANG! Pritchard at the buzzer with a 3-pointer. HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!”
- It’s rare for Breen to break out his signature “BANG” in the first half – those are usually saved for clutch situations – but exceptions can be made when you make the longest shot in the Finals (since 1998)
Pritchard’s shot sent the Celtics to the locker room with a 21-point lead – their largest of the game to that point – as it capped off a 19-7 run to close the first half. | See it from every angle
All three components – the shot, the run and the 20+ point lead – were common themes of the Celtics’ season and championship run.
Payton Pritchard’s Best Career Buzzer Beating Heaves
The Shot: Pritchard’s developed a rep as somebody with a knack for closing quarters — from anywhere on the court.
- “That’s what I do!” – Pritchard after beating the 3rd-quarter buzzer in Game 2 of the Finals
- “He’s been hitting those shots all season long.” – Jaylen Brown
- Pritchard made 170 total 3s between the regular season and Playoffs – eight were from 30+ feet from the basket, two were from 48+ feet at the buzzer.
Look familiar? Pritchard hit a 50-footer to beat the buzzer against Washington on Feb. 9
The Run: Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla preached the importance of closing quarters strong all season long. And it paid off in the Finals.
- Game 1: After Dallas’ 35-14 run cut Boston’s lead to eight, the Celtics responded with a 14-2 run over the final 4:28 of the 3rd quarter to push the lead back to 20
- Game 3: After Dallas made it a six-point game in the 3rd, Boston closed the period on a 14-5 run to push its lead to 15 and extended the run to 20-5 and the lead to 21 in the opening minute of the 4th.
- Dallas rallied again to make it a one-point game, but Boston ended the game on a 13-6 run to secure the win
- Game 5: Boston used a 7-0 spurt in exactly one minute of game time to turn a one-point lead into 10 at the end of the 1st quarter. The Celtics followed that with the 19-7 run to close the 1st half capped by Pritchard’s buzzer-beater
The Lead: Game 5 of the Finals marked the 50th game out of 101 total games played between the regular season and Playoffs that Boston led by 20+ points – the second most of the play-by-play era.
- The Top 5: 2016-17 Warriors (53), 2023-24 Celtics (50), 2015-16 Warriors (44), 2007-08 Celtics (43), 2014-15 Warriors (42)
4. LUKA’S LEGENDARY PLAYOFF NUMBERS
In the 2024 playoffs, Luka Doncic became the first player in NBA history to record 450+ points, 150+ rebounds, 150+ assists and 50+ made 3-pointers in a single postseason.
And he shattered the mark before even stepping on a Finals floor.
Despite falling short of his ultimate goal, in just 50 career Playoff games, Doncic hasn’t just taken a seat among some of the greatest postseason performers ever — he’s set himself apart.
- 1 And Only: Luka is the only player in NBA history to eclipse 1,500+ points (1,546) and 100+ made 3s (166) through his first 50 career Playoff games
- Luka Jordan: Doncic (30.9 PPG) has the second-highest career Playoff scoring average in NBA history, behind only Michael Jordan (33.4) (min. three games)
- Luka, LeBron, KD, & Kobe: Luka (27 games) only trails LeBron James (35), Kevin Durant (33) and Kobe Bryant (32) for the most 30+ point Playoff games at the age of 25 or younger
- ️ Kyrie Irving on Luka: “Watching him ascend into becoming an all-time great is amazing, and I don’t take it for granted.”
This spring, Luka became the first player in the NBA to lead a single postseason in total points (635), rebounds (208), assists (178) and steals (41) since steals were first tracked in 1973-74.
And his statistical dominance didn’t stop there.
Remove steals, and Luka is just the second player ever to lead a Playoffs in total points, rebounds and assists, joining Nikola Jokic (2023).
Doncic also led the Playoffs in 30+ point games (10), points created by assists (446), clutch assists (10), double-doubles (16) & triple-doubles (7).
- Triple-Doubles: Luka’s seven triple-doubles tie Wilt Chamberlain (1967) for the second-most in a single Playoff run, trailing only Nikola Jokic’s 10 in 2023
- The Leaders: Only five players have more career Playoff triple-doubles than Doncic (10); Jason Kidd (11), Russell Westbrook (12), Jokic (18), LeBron (28) and Magic Johnson (30)
- Rapid Rate: Their number of career Playoff games played? Kidd (158), Westbrook (122), Jokic (80), LeBron (287) and Magic (190). Luka’s? 50.
Still Hungry: And after a postseason that saw Doncic pass Dirk Nowitzki (620 PTS in 2006) for the most points by a Maverick in a single Playoff run while leading Dallas to just its third ever Finals appearance, Doncic isn’t satisfied.
- ️ Luka After The Finals: “I’m sad we lost … We didn’t win (the) Finals, but we did have a hell of a season … We can learn from that, and we gotta fight next season.”
- ️ Dirk Via X: “Great run Mavericks. Heads up!! We will be back!!!”
5. FINALS FRAMES, PART 2: A FEW MORE FAVES FROM BOSTON’S 18TH TITLE
