The Boston Celtics celebrated their historic 18th NBA title with a duck boat parade in the city on Friday, marking the 13th championship won by one of Boston’s four major sports franchises this century.
Celtics players, coaches, and members of the ownership group proudly displayed the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The city’s sports teams—the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox—traditionally celebrate their championships with parades on duck boats, amphibious vehicles typically used for tourist sightseeing.
The parade began at TD Garden and lasted about 90 minutes. The route took the duck boats onto Causeway Street in front of the arena, then down Boylston Street, and concluded at Hynes Convention Center.
“It’s unbelievable. It still doesn’t seem true. But just trying to stay in the moment,” said five-time All-Star forward Jayson Tatum during a pre-parade rally at the Garden..
An hour before the parade, the heat didn’t slow down any C’s fans on Causeway Street. Fans had already taken to climbing on poles and streetlights, chanting “F—k Kyrie [Irving].”
Wyc Grousbeck, the Celtics’ majority owner, walked down Causeway Street with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy to the amusement of parade-goers Friday morning.
Celtics public address announcer Eddie Palladino got the festivities started by introducing Massachusetts governor Maura Healey, with Boston mayor Michelle Wu standing nearby.
“We are in love with this team,’’ Healey said. “Basketball is a team game, everybody has a role, everybody has a part … and as great as they are on the court, these men are better as human beings.”
Boston celebrated its first NBA title since 2008
The Celtics celebrated their first NBA championship since 2008.
“It’s a great day in the city of Boston. This team has solidified itself as one of the greatest in the history of the league,” Wu said. “This is a championship city; we’ve had these parades before. This one is quite special. … To all the other fans who chanted ‘We want Boston,’ I can’t blame you. Because who wouldn’t? Go Celtics. Go Boston.”
According to The Boston Globe, a couple were scheduled to get married in Boston during the parade. Justin Barnard, 29, of Cambridge, and Cailyn Masson Barnard, 25, of Somerville, were slated to get married at City Hall.
When the parade coincided with their wedding, the city offered to reschedule. However, the couple decided to embrace the celebration.
“We wanted it to be during the parade,” Barnard said, as the couple took photos near Government Center.
The couple is planning a bigger wedding in December, but their parents attended their elopement.
“We’re big Boston fans,” said Masson Barnard.
“We’re absolutely big Celtics fans now,” Barnard added, sporting a green tie for the occasion.
Additionally, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee declared that Friday is officially Joe Mazzulla Day in the Ocean State. “Coach – thank you for embodying the spirit of our state through leadership, toughness, and dedication,” McKee wrote on X.
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