WASHINGTON DC — The Celtics are ready to turn the page on their 2024 NBA championship. But, on Thursday afternoon, they experienced their final championship celebration, a staple tradition of U.S. professional sports: a trip to the White House.
“We had not been focused on this,” Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck admitted after the day’s events. “We got through the banner and Opening Night, and then it was all business, led by Joe [Mazzulla]. Joe really doesn’t want us to dwell too much on the past. He wants us to move forward. Having said that, everybody here — including Joe — really seemed to have a great time.”
Grousbeck’s summary of events matched the impression Mazzulla and the coaches had given off all week; when Mazzulla was asked if he had any thoughts on the visit on Monday, he simply said, “no, sir.”
So, what did a day at the White House entail?
The 2024 championship team — including now former Celtic and free agent Oshae Brissett — enjoyed a tour of the Oval Office. Brissett was also finally gifted his championship ring.
“That was a neat moment,” said Celtics assistant general manager Mike Zarren, noting Brissett hasn’t been around this year.
The former Syracuse standout is one of only two players from last year’s championship team not on the current roster, with Svi Mykhailiuk (now playing for the Utah Jazz) being the other.
“It was really cool to see Brissy, and have him be a part of it,” said Derrick White when asked about which parts of the day stood out. “He was a big member of our team last year, so it was great to have him here, get the whole gang back together.”
Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
At the Oval Office, Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca joked that it appeared to him that White wanted to sit in the President’s chair.
“He was eyeing President Biden’s chair in the Oval Office, and I thought he was going to sit in it,” said Pagliuca. “But he just stood behind it. We had a White in the White House.”
Jaylen Brown, meanwhile, was busy absorbing history, White revealed.
“One of the Secret Service [members] was giving JB a history lesson, and I walked over there and listened to the stories — all the different pictures, why they’re up there, how they got there,” White shared. “Just hearing different stories, that was really cool.”
Grousbeck said the 2008 Celtics did not get the chance to tour the Oval Office when celebrating their championship, so the experience was unique. They also got to attend a reception inside the White House, in which they finally met President Joe Biden.
“It was just cool to see him,” said White, noting he was more excited than he thought he was going to be. “I’ve never seen a president in person, so that was really cool.”
President Biden congratulates the Celtics
Given the high level of attendance, the official ceremony took place outside, in the world-famous Rose Garden. Attendees included dozens of Massachusetts lawmakers, Members of Congress, players’ families, and members of the media, among others. Joe Biden spoke for nearly five minutes, and Wyc Grousbeck followed him. No other players or team personnel spoke at the ceremony.
Biden emphasized his Irish background early in his remarks.
“All of you may not know this, but my Secret Service name is Celtic, for real,” Biden said. “Because I’m Irish. Everybody behind me is Irish in their heart.”
The President also reflected on the Celtics’ historic greatness, pointing out that the team set a new record for points per possession, and they were the winningest franchise in WNBA history. The President also congratulated Joe Mazzulla for becoming the youngest coach since Bill Russell to lead an NBA team to a championship.
“I told him I used to be the youngest, now I’m the oldest,” said Biden to a chuckling room. “I like being the youngest better.”
Biden recounted the Celtics’ path to an NBA title.
“You beat the Heat in 5 (games), the Cavs in 5, the Pacers in 4,” Biden said. “And then you dominated Dallas on both ends of the floor. And now, an 18th championship banner hangs in the rafters.”
“You all know what the great Red Auerbach said — ‘the Celtics are not just a basketball team, they’re a way of life,’” Biden said.
At the ceremony’s conclusion, Jayson Tatum gifted Biden his own No. 46 Celtics jersey to commemorate him being the 46th President.
Grousbeck gushed about the experience after the fact.
“We really got to know him and spend time,” he said. “It was just a meaningful day. We all thought his remarks about the Celtics really were amazing, and we took them to heart and appreciated them. The whole thing, it was a very special day.”
Members of the Celtics organization advocated for priority causes
After the celebrations concluded, Celtics general manager Brad Stevens, co-owner Steve Pagliuca, and vice president of team operations and organizational growth Allison Feaster went to work. Stevens, Pagliuca, and Feaster met with White House policy staff to discuss two initiatives that are key to the Celtics Shamrock Foundation: Raise the Age and the Curbside Care Program.
Raise the Age is an initiative to keep 18-to 20-year-olds in the juvenile system, rather than the much more harsh adult criminal system. Jaylen Brown has long advocated for such legislation to become law in Massachusetts, and team officials spent the afternoon advocating for similar initiatives to be included at the federal level.
The Curbside Care Program, meanwhile, is a health equity initiative between Boston Medical Center and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation. Curbside Care is a mobile unit that provides comprehensive, high-touch, dyadic care to mothers and infants during the first six weeks of life, right outside of patients’ homes.
Derrick White, who has been involved with the program in Boston, said it was cool to see representatives from the program there, and to get a chance to catch up with them.
Mike Zarren said that several members of the Celtics are meeting with members of the White House to discuss two issues key to the Shamrock Foundation — including Raise the Age pic.twitter.com/NJYvPs73IB
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) November 21, 2024
With the White House visit in the rearview mirror, the Celtics have officially concluded their 2024 championship celebrations. On Friday, they’ll return to the court after two days off, taking on the Washington Wizards, and they’ll hope to improve their regular season record to 13-3.
