The Boston Celtics are living it up — and spiting doubters.
On Friday, the team took to the streets of Boston to rein in its record 18th title, which it won Monday night by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games.
Finals MVP Jaylen Brown received “MVP” chants while wearing a “State Your Source” shirt, an homage to his post on X in reference to a clip of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reporting doubts about Brown and his ego.
He was also seen partying with Chicago Sky guard Kysre Gondrezick on his duckboat.
The Celtics also sent out 18 victory cigars — a nod to their NBA-best number of titles — with inscribed messages from skeptics to be smoked up at the parade.
On the package it reads: “These are the same kinds of cigars Red [Auerbach] used to smoke. Each one of them comes with the words of all those who doubted a Celtic’s victory this year. We know how that ended. Congrats on banner number 18.”
Despite having suffered a torn meniscus in March, Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla ensured he wasn’t left out from the festivities.
The 35-year-old hopped down from the team’s duck boat and high-fived as many fans as he could, also screaming with jubilation.
Mazzulla’s shirt paid tribute to the late Bill Russell and Red Auerbach, who combined to win 11 rings in Boston.
Friday’s parade was the Celtics’ first since 2008.
The broader New England region has become accustomed to euphoria with its sports teams, though.
With their six Super Bowl titles, the Patriots have thrown parades three times since 2014.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox won the World Series in 2013 and 2018.
Boston’s basketball parade also featured some lowlights, including forward Sam Hauser vomiting after drinking too much.
Even then, the Celtics’ fun may not have been as unforgettable as recent parades.
Tom Brady was famously drunk during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2021 Super Bowl party, for instance.
After the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals, forward Draymond Green kept it brash, as usual.
Regardless, celebrations in the Boston area will continue for the next four months — until the 2024-25 NBA season kicks off in October.
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