Readers Say

“We were just the best team all along. Sorry you had to find out the hard way.”

The 2024 NBA Finals were one to celebrate in Boston.

The Celtics excitedly brought home the Larry O’Brien trophy Monday night, raising a record-clinching 18th banner into the TD Garden rafters in the process. The city celebrated the team’s historic win as it always does: loudly and proudly.

Friday’s victory parade saw over 1 million Celtics fans swarm into the city to celebrate their favorite players and team after both a dominant regular season and postseason. From iconic player moments to watching the Celtics seal the deal in Boston, here’s what parade attendees said about their favorite moments from the NBA Finals.

Some quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.

“Payton Pritchard. I mean, that dude just came in, hit a half-court shot, said that’s why I’m here, and then left, and I appreciate that.”

— Arefin Mohiuddin

“Definitely Pritchard’s 3, his half-court shot.”

— Mike

“Probably when [Payton Pritchard] made the half-court shot in Game 5. Oh my God. I was at the house, and I was like, ‘Damn, that’s crazy.’ Like, I found it so surprising.”

— Jeronimo Builes

“Honestly, hot take, losing Game 4 so we could win at home was kind of sweet. And then also the adventures at the Garden after Game 5 was a lot of fun.”

— Matt Smith

“Honestly, watching them lose was rough, when we thought it was going to be a complete blowout. But in my mind, I was like, I know that they want to win it on home turf. And so I was hoping that they were going to bring it back home, and they did. I think honestly, that moment of like, after feeling down, the win felt so much better.”

— Bridget Schofield

“We got disrespected all year long. Everyone was like, ‘The Celtics aren’t going to be good competition,’ and it’s like, ‘Oh no, we were just the best team all along. Sorry you had to find out the hard way.’ It was fun, it was really fun to watch.”

— Dillon Mackenzie

“Got a couple of ’em. I’d say number one, Derrick White. Way to take one, a chip on the tooth, I dig it. And love to see Porziņģis make it back. Nothing like defying the odds, defying the doctors to bring home a championship, I love to see it.”

— Katie Kiehl

“The best part of the finals was them winning it in Boston. Keeping it here, winning in Boston.”

— Norah Affanato

“Everyone coming together to celebrate it, like 617, I feel like that’s so special. 617!”

— Sarah Grace Chave