Boston Celtics react to winning HISTORIC 18th NBA Championship [PRESS CONFERENCE] | 2024 NBA Finals

Boston Celtics react to winning HISTORIC 18th NBA Championship [PRESS CONFERENCE] | 2024 NBA Finals

take first question from Tim on standing on your left Al uh obviously you’ve you’ve played a whole lot of games and a whole lot of years to get to this moment you’re obviously enjoying it just what have the emotions of the past I guess half an hour or so been like as you’ve kind of had this reality finally sink in for you um man I’m I’m so grateful um I know I’ve said it before but it’s it’s it’s the glory glory to the Lord for me for putting me in this position um it’s been a lot of years um I don’t think it’s sunk in yet um you know I’m going through the motions right now but I don’t I don’t feel like it’s over this is this is an unbelievable feeling yeah the confetti everything’s going on but I it just hasn’t hit me yet Dave on your right Al I think you alluded to it up on the podium but you had a meeting with Wick eight years ago and think kind of your eyes got distracted by the ring he was wearing um how’s it feel for you to to know you’re going to be getting one size for your hand as well wow it was crazy because uh during free agency meetings in 2016 um uh my agent and I Jason glan we were both sitting um in the meeting and we just kept looking at this enormous ring in Wick’s hand and we were just kind of and we both after the meeting we’re like did you notice that like like it was just that that was the attention and it’s like man um um I never forget what Danny a told me in that meeting he said you can win um championships in in many places but there’s nothing like winning in Boston and nothing like winning as a Celtic and that stuck with me from that meeting and I was like man like I’m I’m trying to be great and that’s what I want and the fact that it has come it has happened um JT JB stepping up in a big way and uh leading us it’s uh it’s special J standing in the back how did Joe impact this group and help take you to the next level and then what did he show you kind of getting through the difficulty of how last season ended and then coming back probably a better Coach uh yeah no question you know we all know Joe was thrown into the fire last year and I felt like he did the best he could but uh but I just think this year um we everything was different when we came in for uh workouts before uh training camp um he really I felt like put his Sprint on everything how he wanted it to be how he wanted us to work how he wanted us to carry ourselves how determined he wanted us to be and um and it started from there that that energy that he had translated to the assistant coaches to us to the training staff everybody and we just kind of follow suit and I feel like this type of team is is Joe Mula ball you know it’s it’s uh defending being gritty on offense being able to to everybody be a threat on the court at the same time and everything that he wanted to do he was able to accomplish he always knew when to push the buttons he you know he’s hard he can be a little wacky sometimes but that’s what we uh appreciate about him um he he truly cares about us and he cares about what it means to be a Celtic David Aldridge standing on the left Al as as a veteran who has been through a lot of Wars over a lot of years I just wonder what it’s like for you to be in this city with all of the history of this franchise and the pressure that’s on guys to hang one of those banners and how you think you guys push through that this year yeah the first thing you have to do when you come here is you have to embrace that pressure and um and and I was okay with being in that position I was okay if we were getting criticized and we weren’t getting it done because I understood what what it means playing here and uh and to your point finally overcoming that and winning and putting ourselves you know with the greates um this is this is special um you know our group we’ve we’ve we’ve had a lot of hardships the last few years uh last year Heartbreaker against Miami game seven year before Golden State um it’s been building up but this team has been resilient and we’ve continued to work I’m so proud of Jaylen I’m so proud of Jason uh those two guys continue to take step forward um people you know all year criticizing them all that expectation all that pressure you know they did it they’ve done it at a young age they LED our group um I’m just very proud of those guys and to put everything aside and focus on winning fifth row on the left Dom [Music] last question in the middle Al what went through your mind when pyton hit hit that at heave at half court man that was beautiful that was beautiful he he did that and I just you just kind of take a glance at the other team and it’s one of those that just kind of breaks your spirit you know uh and then it just kind of fueled us but Payton man like that that just sums it up he it was you know so ups and downs for him him not knowing what to expect when to play when not to play and he is the kind of guy that he is a is a big time player and it’s hard because we have a lot of guys but man him stepping up cold ready not afraid of the moment taking the shot and man as soon as he shot it like I don’t know how you guys felt but I was like man this dude he’s about to knock it down like this is crazy so man the fact that he knocked it down like that was that was huge that that was special thank you all right oh we’ll take questions for Derek first question right here in the front on two just wait for the mic Derek yep Derek talk us through what happened with your tooth and how low on the list is that of priorities right now uh over the ball Lively landed on me and I knew right away I’ve chipped it in the past and so it’s not new but like I mean this to’s loose the other two to are wiggling but um they were trying stuff in the locker room I was like I don’t care just play Chris left side here on the third row Derek how would you explain the reality of winning a championship something you’ve obviously dreamed about for years and years what are kind of some of the emotions right now this is unreal um I don’t think it really is hit and settled in but like just a special group of guys special coaching staff that I’m just thankful to be a part of and um yeah it’s it’s unreal and I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and not get too lit second row on your right Derek when this team traded for you two years ago they were going through a rough patch at the start of the season to go from there to now I know you just reflected on being a champion but like that Journey with this group of guys like what do that process meant they’ve talked a lot about instilling confidence in you you’ve talked about it too like just that Journey what’s it been like um at the moment I got traded I was was I would say disappointed but like I mean you’re in San Antonio like that’s just that’s all I knew um but such a such a blessing to be a part of this this roster um they just drive me in so many different ways from top to bottom I’m just so thankful and grateful for each each and every one of them and um I mean they made me a better player made me a better person and the City of Boston everything has just been amazing for me Shane up front there Shane Forbes what’s it mean for you guys to see the joy and excitement out of Al and to be able to win it for him man nobody deserves him more um hell of a career so underrated career just does everything for us and doesn’t ask for anything um so I’m so happy for him and um I’m glad I could be a part of it um just an amazing career and this is just another chapter of it Derek you you talked a minute ago about the personal stuff you’ve gone through the last couple years as your own individual play getting to this point obviously two years ago you guys are in the finals last year in the series with the heat in the Conference Finals now you finally get over the top what has that process as a group been like and to feel that come to Full Circle today with winning the title like you guys have I mean everything that I’ve learned these past two years just kind of prepared us for this um I mean they were trying to say we weren’t battle test and I’m like what do you think the last two years was um did they not mean nothing but uh um just continue to work hard just continue to to learn a lot about each other and just stick together um I mean it’s easy to point fingers and try to split up but uh we stuck together JT JB I mean obviously we had a Drew and KP but uh most of the core like just stuck together and believed in one another fourth row on the aisle on your left Derek you’ve talked extensively about how Joe moula has helped you become the player that you are today today uh what was it like to share at this moment tonight with him and what can you say about the job that he did in helping lead you guys to this opportunity man I love Joe moua so much um I mean coming off the year that I had and then he gets the job and he’s like you know what I’m going to start you which I wasn’t expecting and he’s like I just believe in you and I trust in you um this is just going to give you the confidence and I mean from that moment on I think it’s changed my whole career um last question do anything for him last question the fifth row uh hey Derek Leandro s from yesp Brazil right here um we know Chris steps uh was not 100% not not even close to that uh how much did that mean to you guys for you guys to pull this off tonight he’s just a great teammate a great um competitor um I was happy for him that he was able to to go out there um I mean the crowd cheering him on like that um just got him going and he’s still 74 and can do so many different things so he’s special got OG here let’s go here all right we’ll take first question here on the left side Tim Jason uh you guys have been through a lot over the past several years obviously a lot of close calls late in the playoffs as the final couple minutes ticked off the game and you’re on the bench going through the handshake line there with everybody what was going through your mind uh it it a real feeling uh still hasn’t really kicked in yet I just trying I guess enjoy the moment I kept saying wow uh these last seven years have been a roller coaster up and down I had to listen to all the that people said about me and tonight it was worth it oh my God John on the right side second row uh John caral Boston Sports Journal I mean Jason you you’ve pictured this I’m sure as a a kid growing up probably pretending to win championships in you know on a hoop somewhere is there anything from that that compares to this moment uh I mean maybe getting drafted that’s something that you dream about uh but this is at the top of the mountain uh to be able to say we did it we came together and we won a championship Banner number 18 has been hanging over our head for so many years uh to know that we going to be engraved in history uh and it still hasn’t like registered I’m just still trying to process it all but we did it we won a championship over here on the left side Jason I’m curious to know what you said to Deuce after this but I guess I’m more curious what did Deuce say to you he told me that that was the best in the world I said you damn right out am Gary third seat there you go Jason I mean how long do you think it’ll take to hit you this is this is a career defining accomplishment mm say that again please a career defining accomplishment please say that again and you have uh and it’s been a long seven years you’re not 19 anymore I mean what’s what’s going through your your mind right now all the tough times and growing up in St Louis and coming here and just finally getting to the top that it was it was all the sacrifice was worth with it uh I’m so thankful to have been in the positions that I I was grown up um thankful for my mom thankful for my dad putting you know introducing me to basketball my grandmother who helped raise me uh all my friends and family that have supported me um every coach every teammate that I’ve had um there’s a lot of people that have had a hand in the success of Jason Tatum uh so I guess in this moment I’m just very thankful for everybody that supported me in the highest of moments and and and in the lowest of moments uh I’m very very appreciative of that Matt over here on the left second row Jason given that this is a night you’ll remember forever what does it mean to you to have had the game that you had tonight to not to not only win but to have been aggressive and to to have have played the way that you played in a championship winning game uh I mean this is this is going to be a night that I’ll remember uh for the rest of my life from the game the celebration these moments uh you know I over the last couple years we had some tough losses at home in the playoffs and we’ve lost the NBA Championship at home in front of our fans we uh had a chance to beat Miami Mii in game six a few years ago and lost that one um so to have a a a big win the biggest win that you could have in front of your home crowd um I felt like that was really important to go out there and um do everything in my power to make sure we wion this game tonight Ramona left side fifth row hey Jason Ramona sh we the ESPN um I know you you’ve talked a lot about K Bryant as one of your idols and and somebody you had in your your game after and your motivation after now that and once you finally win a championship you kind of now that you can say I know what it took right what what did it actually take was there something from Kobe that you learned was there was it just something you learned on your own throughout this journey what did it actually take to get over that hump uh it took a took being relentless it took um you know being on the other side of this and losing in the finals and being at literally the lowest point in a basketball career that you could be um to next year to the following year thinking that that was going to be the be the time and um come come up short again uh so I mean people have said it before but coming up short and having failures makes this moment that much better uh cuz you know what it feels like to lose you know what it feels like to be on the other side of this and and be in a locker room and hearing the other team celebrate and having them celebrate on your home floor like that was devastating and now uh to elevate yourself uh in a in a space that you know all your favorite players are in right everybody that they consider greats or Legends have won a championship and all the guys I looked up to won a championship multiple championships uh so now I can I can like walk in those rooms and be a part of that um is a it’s a hell of a feeling um this is this is more I dreamed about what it would be like but this is 10 times better Cassidy last question in the back Cassidy Hubbert the ESPN Jason when Jaylen won the finals MVP the first thing he did was look at you and said we did this together what did that mean to you uh first first of all congrats to him um um welld deserved extreme ex happy for him uh this was this is a hell of an accomplishment U the main goal for us was to win a championship um we weren’t we didn’t care who who got Finals MVP uh I know that I I need him through this journey and and you know he needs me uh so to you know it was great to see him have that moment and share that moment with him uh I’m I’m extremely happy for him welld deserved uh that was that was big time he he earned that thank you go John first question on the right side third row or second row Joe John caralis Boston Sports Journal congratulations thanks um I guess first of all you’ve been so intense throughout this whole thing what does it feel like to accomplish the goal h um it feels good uh I think the most important thing something that’s really been really going through my mind throughout this process is you can’t lose sight uh of the people that came before us and um I want to make sure every person that’s worked for the Celtics that’s played for the Celtics that didn’t win uh knows that their work and what they’ve done hasn’t gone unnoticed or it doesn’t play a part in where we’re at today it can be so easy when you work for this organization and you don’t win that the work that people put in uh just gets brushed over or gets ignored and um when I first got here the staff you know Brad’s coaching the staff that they had the the foundation that they built with these guys when they were young the foundation of what we have is one of the reasons why we’re here today um so I think that that’s one of the first things that came to mind was just because we won this doesn’t mean what the people have done before us isn’t just as important F row wh Fox Sports um the pay in sha what did that mean for you guys and put him in specifically for that yes um Payton’s one of the best competitors he one of my favorite people in the in the world um just the way he competes the professionalism and uh just for his ability to take pride and stuff like that um he’s really grown as a player this year to becoming a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor and he won US games and uh I think he won US moments and you know as the playoffs go on obviously subpatterns change and things change but like those guys have to win moments of games for you and and Payton did that twice for us and um that is just as important as any other plays that happened throughout the series and in the playoffs alone and uh you know I got a huge heart for him standing on your left Tim Joe you so much of what you believe in is sort of sticking with what you guys do and consistently doing it over and over again what what do it meant to you to see your group do that throughout the course of the season and come back from the way last year ended and c cap it off the way you guys have tonight yeah I mean it’s really starts with them I mean you can’t have a philosophy or a way of playing if don’t have a group of guys that are willing to buy into it and really to be disciplined for it and quite honestly like this group of guys has been through so much in the league uh They Know What It Takes and um and so just it’s more about that when you have a group of guys that have an understanding of what it takes using the experiences that you’ve been through and um that that to me is is more than anything so it was a joy watching the guys uh just grow as a team throughout the year but also like really work at it you know like there’s a group of guys in that locker room that decided they wanted to win on day one and uh they worked at it every single day and credit credit to them and what did it mean to you guys to have Chris STS fight to get on the court the way he did and give you guys the minutes he was able to that was awesome uh it’s a it’s a huge credit to him like I said I know he’s been in and out in the playoffs but he’s worked his ass off trying to get it to play as much as he could and for it just says about the team like everyone’s going to do whatever it takes to win and even though he wasn’t 100% uh he he said he wanted to play and he uh he knew he could give us something and I thought the minutes that he gave us were valuable so it just speaks to who he is and it speaks to the locker room we’re going to go Jay fourth row on the right I mean John then Jay in the back and then Chris ABS is going to come up uh coach as you guys were putting up historical numbers in the regular season as far as Point differential efficiency top two on both ends of the floor I wonder how important was that to you as an an analytical person in regards to sort of checking boxes and you know building towards towards where you are now um I mean those were actual numbers we live in an expected world so um we didn’t pay much attention to the actual numbers but to me it was just paying attention more to the process of what we were doing and uh there were obviously some things that we had to improve upon from last year analytically to you know to make up for some of the stuff that uh we lost and uh the guys bought into that so uh to me it was just more of the process to making sure uh we’re playing the right way making sure um you know we’re we’re attacking the game analytically in the right way but also having the the open mindness and the discipline to kind of do some of the other stuff so I thought it was a good balance Jay standing in the back left you got the job under pretty crazy circumstances last season um you faced criticism you had calls for your job even at times last year so H how have these two seasons challenged you how have they changed you and how have they rewarded you um I mean I feel like it’s going to be like that for the rest of my career um as it should be you know I think uh just having an understanding that um praise and criticism are both just as is dangerous uh if you don’t handle them well and I think we talked about that as a team this year like winning is just as dangerous as losing if you don’t handle it well and I think our guys uh handled winning the right way by you know whether we won or lost we just moved on to the next game so you know and it’s Boston like we wouldn’t want it any other way and um I think the ownership and the responsibility to to uh give back to the franchise give back to the city give back to it is that’s just part of it um and so I think it but you need it like you need that you need criticism uh you need praise you need expectations all those things go into making who you are as a person making who you are as people as an organization so just have an understanding that they’re never going to go away if someone tells you good job that that’s just as dangerous as someone telling you you suck uh but you need both of them uh in order to get to where you want to get to and uh there’s no place I’d rather be thank you coach thanks we’ll go first question here in the third row on your left hey christops uh what did it take for you to to get out there tonight what was your desire to do so and and what does this Championship mean to you yeah um man like from day one when I came in I just my mindset was I’m going to give everything to this team and to this city uh to try to win a championship here because I knew uh these guys have already been so close and um and yeah and once I got hurt it was a heartbreaking moment for me I didn’t even like want to accept the truth like you know it was kind of like like no way it happened right but um yeah tonight was the night I was like listen I’m going to give everything I have and uh and yeah I’m just super happy to be a part of this and and and to give something to the team and man I’m super thankful for the support I’ve gotten from the from the fans and and tonight the arena was was electric and it’s uh yeah it’s it’s it’s been unbelievable to play in front of these fans Tim standing on the left christops what what was sort of the process today in particular of getting yourself on the court and sort of when did you realize or decide that you were going to make sure you were out there today uh you know what like since last game I I’ve been thinking about like how can I get my body ready for next game like no matter how it is and uh and today I was like I’m gonna try to everything possible to to get out there H so from this morning I Was preparing myself that I will go out there like and um and yeah the medical staff was was like unbelievable support for me and and got me back out there somehow and man I’m super thankful for them and um yeah I gave everything I could I gave everything I could and and man it feels it feels it feels great to be a champion standing on your right CHR steps over here wall yes um the reputation of this team is that it scores shoots spreads the floor you could make the argument though that you won this series with defense and toughness can you talk about toughness and you know obviously you watched a lot of games here the last couple of months on the on the bench can you talk about how toughness really mattered yeah we have like a we have a super like composed team we don’t have any like loud like guys and like we’re super confident but also like down to earth um people in this organization and and in this roster and uh and man we we were going to everybody had the mindset of like we we’re going to do whatever it takes each of us individually to get the job done like we want to win a championship for this city back right Adam and everything you know we did everything possible for that and now we have we we we get the fruits from our labor back right Adam um throughout this whole this whole year with us it seems like with you guys two Joe was always focused on don’t look past the next day don’t look past the next day I’m just curious now that kind of there is no next day how he reacted and just your thoughts on his General um you know the job he did with this team getting them to this point there is no what no next day like next day yeah it’s over you guys won champ right yeah finally finally man like it was a long road to get here to be honest you know and to be the last team standing it feels it feels amazing like all that work paid off uh when as I said like when I was still on the stage and stuff like it still felt surreal like I couldn’t and and us as a team I think we couldn’t really like settle into that uh but then once we got back to the locker room and started celebrating I think that’s when everybody realized like yo we actually did it we did it and um and uh and yeah and Joe’s a Joe’s an animal in the front and center christops all year you guys have talked about the importance of Al and how much he means to you guys what was it like to see him finally raise that trophy yeah I know great question Al’s a Al’s an unbelievable teammate unbelievable person um everybody loves him he’s a great leader and uh uh and you know knowing how he has been chasing this for so long in his career and finally get it done and and and playing at a high high level at his age uh man he’s he’s I don’t I don’t even know what like words I could use to describe him you know everybody loves him and and and he gave everything to this team and and uh he deserves it more than anybody John third row on the right Chris thops now now that it’s over can you be honest about how bad the injury was no no obviously like what was put out it was the truth you know it was uh it was like a something torn and then the the my attendant is just out of place and and it like pretty much hurts on every step like I would take a walk in Dallas and my leg would swell up like so I was like I don’t know how I’m going to play if I’m going to play but my mind was always like I’m going to try to find a way how I can manage this and and uh and yeah somehow got it going for this game and uh a lot of it was for sure like the adrenaline from just playing at the Garden and playing in front of our fans and and and having that opportunity to to close it out and uh and man I got it going last one front left here christs I’m sure you’ve played This Moment over in your head a 100 times thousand times in your life how is this moment different from what you were anticipating good question I don’t know how to answer it yet to be honest I think I’m going to need a little bit of time and then I can kind of reflect um because right now I’m just SE in a moment and and enjoying this um man this this this team like you know it’s it’s just a special team and like everybody gave whatever they could for us to get here and uh and right now we’re just so in a moment and I think once I’m you know back home and and and settles everything settles I’ll be able to compared better thank you thanks guys so Chris third row on the left side here for first on two JW how would you describe you know the dominance of this run 16 and three this is the highest win percentage of Celtics uh championship team has ever had surpassing the 86 team um how impressive was the Run um yeah I think it was impressive uh I feel like um what people expected us to do or even doubted us to do we did so um shout out to this team and this organization we did it together and that was the only way that we could do was together front row here left Drew and Nick Alli field L media first of all congratulations you guys have a lot of history in those Rafters you added some more tonight or eventually will once the banner goes up what do you want people to remember about this team you know 50 60 years from now when they look back on this run man that that we did it together uh I hope that when people watch us play um they see the joy that we play with um that we love playing together and uh we we got it we got it done together and I feel like that’s the most important thing Drew what does it mean to you to see Al Horford become an NBA champion and to help make that happen yeah uh it’s just crazy to kind of look back um before I was trying not to make that happen and then obviously once I I became his teammate it was like one of the ultimate goals of of this season um knowing the type of person that I’ll is knowing the leader that he is um even off the court the father that he is is just a allaround great person and great human um you I’d run through a brick wall for him so uh I’m I’m so happy that he got one Tanya fourth row Drew Tanya ganguli New York Times does this one feel different than the other one no it doesn’t winning is also always great uh when you do it with people that you love to do it with it feels great and when you see your teammates celebrating and jumping on each other and throwing champagne um there’s there’s nothing like it front right Drew when you joined this team you spoke about being a part of a championship caliber organization you said I’m a Boston Celtic now that you are one of the Boston Celtics who has Rose a banner or risen a banner in the Raptors like how does that feel like reflecting on where you were at when you got traded to Portland and then two days later got to here and excited about being here yeah it’s been a it’s been a journey you know um and I think just being able to I don’t know maybe reflect on it right now um it’s crazy it seemed like it was yesterday uh sitting up there with Wick and them introducing me and and and kind of just handing me the jersey and everything um and then fast forward to now it’s like in in insane uh but I’m I’m blessed I’m blessed to be here and I’m so happy that uh Brad Brad gave me gave me that call to to come through and JT Text me hit me up um talking about come on champ so it’s it’s been um it’s been a hell of a journey Shane you you got one front right Shan fors um you’ve been on the other side of the Jason and Jaylen connection for many years and now winning a championship with them and for them uh what’s what’s it like seeing that connection that Brotherhood it’s great um I think I’ve spoken on this plenty of times but they get scrutinized so much and they get so much pressure put on them from uh for not winning or making to the Eastern Comin finals eight years in a row or uh even making it to the finals and not getting over that hunt but I feel like people finally see the relationship that they have um they see that from the beginning they’ve always done it together they’ve never compared against each other they’ve always been joyful and happy for each other so it’s been uh great to experience um on this side and to get this win man it’s just hopefully it’s a it’s a burden off of their shoulders but another burden is doing it again so last question in the front Drew you’ve talked all year about how different Joe is compared to coaches you’ve had in the past how much did he help shape your success this year uh he’s done a great job he’s definitely elevated my game uh had me look kind of outside of myself and um bring something different you know um on previous teams where maybe I had to score more or I handled the ball more here was more about uh being available and knocking down Corner threes and and rebounding and um doing things that help this team because of the talent that we have and uh you know he really opened my eyes to that and from the beginning uh really just made it known that uh whatever it takes as long as it takes we got to get it done and I’m not the only one sacrificing everybody on this team sacrifice something thank you we going to go first question here on the second row on the left Jaylen knowing what uh Bill Russell meant to you and for and to have the this moment in your life in your career tied to him in that way what what does that mean to be honest I can’t even put it into word to words um just Bill Russell and what he’s meant for me through my Boston Journey um and uh his Spirit you know everything that he stood for just for this to be the Bill Russell MVP award and and it just I got nothing man I don’t even know what to say if it is unreal standing on your right Jaylen billbert Eagle Tribune over here um a year ago against Miami you you sort of lost a series that was played this way it was this was a gritty tough series Le less three-point shots and all the offensive Glory can you talk about the difference in why you were you guys were built and ready for this run as opposed to a year ago I think we learned I think we learned from all our mistakes all of our adversity I think has made us stronger made us tougher and all season you can see it you know we we started from the jump we made all the sacrifices we played both ends of the ball at a high level we didn’t skip any steps and and this was the result um but all of those experiences like led to here like all of those moments where we we came up short we felt like we let the city down we feel like we let ourselves down all of that compiled is how we get to this moment so you know and it makes it feel even that much better that we had to go through all the the journey the Heartbreak the embarrassment the loss to get to this to get to the Mountaintop so um it’s great and shout out to all the supporters and the City of Boston bill on the right second row Jaylen uh congratulations um uh after you were named uh MVP in Indiana you said you were surprised uh how did you feel this time were you even I don’t know if there’s a word Beyond surprise but how’ you feel I I can’t even put into words the emotions you know it’s just it’s just I’m I’m I’m blessed and I’m grateful um this was a full team effort we had a great team my teammates were great allowed me to to lead us on both ends of the ball um and we came out and just performed um on our home floor it was just amazing um and you know it could have gone anybody it could have gone to Jason um Jason like I can’t talk enough about his selflessness you know I can’t talk enough about his his attitude and is just how he approached not just this series or the finals but just the playoffs in general um and we did it together as a team um and and that was the most important thing Chris here on the left side third row jayen you’re very intentional both now and earlier in making sure that um you acknowledged JT why is that important to you and also you reflected a lot during the playoffs about your journey and you know what you heard from people and what does this mean to you in that context as well just our growth together um we’ve been through a lot you know we’ve been playing together for seven years now we’ve been through a lot you know the losses the expectations the media you know have said all different types of things things you know we can’t play together we were never going to win we hurt it all um you know but we just blocked it out and we just kept going uh I trusted him he trusted me um and we we did it together so um you know to get to this point you know and share that experience with JT is is just awesome I can’t you know what I mean it’s just amazing and it feels great same row next seat over go ahead Jaylen how does it feel to uh silence doubters after last year um against the Miami Heat the way you guys lost um there was a lot of doubt about the team um maybe even about um your game you didn’t make an all NBA team this year and now you win the Eastern Conference Final MVP you’re an NBA champion you’re an MVP of the finals do you feel at all Vindicated uh I mean if you would have asked me that maybe a year ago I probably would say yeah but just at the point that I got to right now like yeah it feels great but you know any any of the personal Awards you know it is what it is you know um yeah the doubters they may be quieted now but they’ll be back you know they’ll probably be back next year with something else to say um so we just all Embrace that moment the same and get after it yet again on your right Gary third row Jaylen Gary Wasson Boston Globe uh from the night you were drafted in a lot of Celtic fans had not heard of you coming out of cow like they just hadn’t I mean you got there was kind of this unknown go Bears yeah go Bears and um from that journey to being doubted and all of what they said coming out of college and then the transformation of your game then signing the contract this summer and all of what you heard can you kind of capsulate winning Eastern Conference and finals MVP and top of the world I can’t I absolutely can’t man just the the story and the journey is is awesome you know just being drafted here in Boston um like a lot of the people probably didn’t watch me play up in the in the Pack 12 at Cal so you know it led to a lot of people you know feeling away about that and you know I just came in and kept my head down and and told myself I’m going just keep working and and you know to be here in this moment now through all the years you know through all the the doubt through all of the ups and downs through all the adversity through all of the everything you know it just makes the story that much sweeter um but I I can’t even put it into words [Applause] like it just feels great front on your right Dave Jen over here uh you know how long it’s felt for you to go through eight years for this moment double it and add one and that’s what Al Horford had to go through to get to this moment how do you feel for him as a teammate and just how can you sum up what his role was uh on your guys’s Journey yeah nobody deserve it more than al man Al’s just been a great not just leader on the court but off the court as well like just a mentor somebody I know I can talk to about life and it’s going to give me great advice about family about you know finances about just life adversity whatever the case is just Alice just been that guy um for me and for us and like just his performance all season long like I was 37 38 years old and we leaned on WE leaned on him so much probably too much for you know his age and where he’s at um and he just delivered you know so consistent so disciplined with his body never complains you know what I mean the only thing he does is adds a winning so um for him like um great teammate it’s been an honor to be by his side and you know Al Horford is is is a is a real life Legend and hero so um it’s been great to be as teammate second row over here on your left hey Jaylen uh Karen ggan from Mass life hi um I was wondering if you felt that the collection of the group that you have is built for sustained success going forward or is that just too hard to predict uh I think we have a opportunity I think we definitely have a window um we take it one game at we take it one day at a time you know we definitely got to make sure we stay healthy um but you know we we enjoy the summer enjoy the moment and then we get right back to it next year second row on your right in all season you’ve been pretty adamant on jobs not done we’re going to keep going next game like last game didn’t matter the the job’s done there’s nothing left to do I guess other guys have said it’s hasn’t really sunk in yet but like how does that feel knowing there is nothing else to prepare for and you did it I mean it still kind of feels unreal it feels like it’s another game or something like tomorrow um but you know um I can’t tell you enough about our group and our our coaching staff they were great all season long they prepared us for these moments we had an excellent game plan in the finals and then all of the guyss contributed like like how like for example like pton Pritcher like unreal right unreal like just comes in the game ain’t been in the game and just drains one from half court that dude’s a he’s a he’s a Legend man shout out to Pon pritch last question here in the front left Jaylen yeah yesterday you had your grandma on your shirt had a big hug with Mom on stage were brothers here you’re building juice with your cousins and your family I mean and your friends what does it mean to do all this with family by your side um it means a lot you know I wish my grandmother was here with me to see this moment um but it’s I woke up from a uh pregame nap and I had a dream and my grandma was in the dream and she gave me a hug this afternoon and I I just knew everything was going to be all right um but I wish you could be here um but but um she was so important and pivotal in my life and uh it’s just it’s just awesome I know she would be proud of me so Grandma I know she was watching um so and I love you so much thank you congratulations J say spell her name um Diane vernardo spell it d i a n NE e um Varnado v a r n a d o thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

The Boston Celtics speak postgame after taking down the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals to win the series, 4-1, and secure their 18th franchise NBA Championship.

0:00 Al Horford
6:59 Derrick White
11:36 Jayson Tatum
19:05 Joe Mazzulla
24:53 Kristaps Porzingis
31:25 Jrue Holiday
36:10 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown

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