Boston Celtics honored at White House by President Biden
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics were welcomed to the White House by President Joe Biden on Thursday to celebrate the franchise's 18th NBA Championship.
President Biden praised the Celtics as not just last year's champion but "the winningest franchise in league history" during the ceremony from the South Lawn. He noted that the 1963 Celtics were the first NBA team honored at the White House by President John F. Kennedy.
Biden lauded the Celtics for their team-first mentality throughout last season's title run, plus all the work the franchise does for the community off the floor. He also shared a little fun fact about his nickname with the Secret Service.
"You may not know this, but my Secret Service name is 'Celtic.' For real, because I'm Irish. Everyone behind me is Irish in their heart," said President Biden. (You can watch the full ceremony in the video player above.)
"From this old Irish Celtic to all you Celtics, congratulations," he said.
While Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Joe Mazzulla and the rest of the Celtics team -- along with a contingency of front office members and Celtics ownership -- had the spotlight on Thursday, Biden was quick to point out the many Massachusetts politicians on hand, including Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, whom he referred to as "diehard" Celtics fans.
But you don't have to be from Boston to be a Celtics fan.
"We have half the damn congress here," Biden joked Thursday.
Celtics give President Biden a jersey, special ball
Biden had a blast honoring the Celtics, and made a joke about Joe Mazzulla being the youngest head coach to win a title since Bill Russell did so in 1969.
"I told him I used to be the youngest and now I'm the oldest. I liked being the youngest better," said President Biden.
The President made sure to praise the unselfishness and team-first mindset they carried throughout last season.
"Together you guys built one of the deepest teams of all time. Incredible players like Jayson, Jaylen, Derrick and Jrue. Big Al. I know it wasn't easy. You came close more than once. You put in the work, and clocked one of the greatest seasons ever," said President Biden. "Sixty four wins and the best record in the league last year. More Points-Per-Possession than any team in NBA history. Beating the Heat in 5, the Cavs in 5, and the Pacers in 4. Then you dominated Dallas on both ends of the floor. Now an 18th championship banner hangs in the rafters.
"But you're hungry for more. A total team effort that you show off the court as well," President Biden continued. "Working across Boston through your foundations to fight injustice, expand education, register voters, deliver healthcare to help infantas and moms. It matters."
The team gave Biden a special "No. 46, Biden" Celtics jersey, and a commemorative basketball. Biden clearly enjoyed the ball a little more than the jersey, as he played around with it as the ceremony drew to a close. He flipped an easy pass to Horford, and then went to the crowd and fired a pass to Senator Markey.
Celtics win 2023-24 NBA Championship
The Celtics were back at the White House for the first time since 2008 after winning the NBA Finals in five games over the Dallas Mavericks last June. Boston followed a dominant regular season with a dominant playoff run, going 16-3 en route to the franchise's NBA-leading 18th championship.
The Celtics are off to a 12-3 start this season as they look to be the NBA's first back-to-back champs since the Golden State Warriors won in 2017 and 2018. Boston will play the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. on Friday night.
