‘Finally’: Celtics fans share their feelings post NBA championship - The Boston Globe (2024)

Below are just some of the messages that were sent in:

“It’s a sense of relief, a sense of ‘it’s about time’ and ‘finally!’” -George Cleveland, El Sobrante, Calif., fan since 1976

“This one is huge. Went to an uncountable number of C’s games growing up, and the 2008 title is etched in my memory. Now I’m living far away from home, but watching this team and the grit and the determination they played with is awe-inspiring and helps connect me with my people back in Mass.” -Charlie St. Pierre, Kyiv, Ukraine, fan since 1996

“This is one of the three most meaningful championships in my lifetime. I was only eight when they won in 2008, so I don’t remember it that well. Seeing this team win a championship and experiencing it in real time means SO much to me — I’m on the moon!” -Chuck Decker, Washington, D.C., fan since 2000

“I thank God every day for allowing me to be from Boston. As I get older and my family continues to grow, I make sure to instill the passion and culture of Boston sports into my nieces and nephews until I can do so with my own children one day. Winning banner 18 made my job a lot more easier. Look at the tears in my nieces eyes! There’s nothing like being a Boston sports fan!” -Mario Latorre, Roxbury, Mass., fan since 2004

“The reward for outstanding ownership, management and players. Something to deeply appreciate and treasure.” -Richard Reddy, Marana, Ariz., fan since 1954

“A culmination of seven years of promise. Shrewd front office dealings and a young coach who believed in his players and himself. A team of players who truly embraced the concept of Celtic Pride.” -Kevin Delaney, Wakefield, R.I., fan since 1956

“To me, it means my mother-in-law and I are together again in pure joy. It means tears, as I sat in my living room last night, with goosebumps racing through my body and crying at the same time that she couldn’t be here to see #18 happen. It means remembering how special it was to sit here with her in 2008, watching the Celtics win #17, and feeling all the emotions again that we both felt that night. But mum, we’re on top again, and I just wish you here to see it! Love ya mum!” -Joe Judd, Shelburne, Mass., fan since 1967

“I’m just wowed by this. To think that my family has now had 4 generations live to see this team win all these championships is amazing!” -Jason Henningson, Abington, Mass., fan since 1986

“This championship is extra special to me because of my mom. She passed earlier this year after an extended battle with lung cancer. She was perhaps the biggest Celtics fan I’ve never known; she was buried in her casket with a Celtics necklace! She was eternal sunshine and optimism when it came to this team, and in her final days was cheered by their run to the title. This win by the Celtics may not bring her back, but I’d like to this she’s somewhere celebrating and probably saying, as she always did to me whenever I doubted a Boston team that went on to win, ‘I told you!’” -Charles Surette, New York, N.Y., fan since childhood

“I watched almost every game this year on television. I felt like this team was truly a team, that different players stepped up at different times, that playing together and playing great defense was how championships can be won. They couldn’t be perfect every time out, but the effort was there most of the nights. Maybe great individuals can win a few games on their own, but it takes a great team to consistently win and go on and make it all the way through the playoffs. Basketball is most enjoyed when its played as the ultimate team sport and this team proved that.” -Larry Goldberg, Framingham, Mass., fan since Tiny Archibald days

“I’m elated for the team, because I know how difficult it is to win an NBA title, and most of these players (especially Al Horford!) have been chasing one for a while. And while it would be great to think that more titles are in the future (and maybe they will be), injuries and other things happen, so let’s enjoy this one for the moment.” -Jonathan Evans, Amherst, Mass., fan for 30 years

“I barely remember the championship in 2008 so finally watching them after a lot of shortcomings that I saw as a Celtics fan... it’s incredible. I am living in Poland, never been to Boston, and still memories of this joy after the last whistle of Game 5 will be one of the most cheerful memories of my life. Though living thousand of miles away, I’m feeling as a part of that journey, and thought about as Jayson, Jaylen and Al, as my comrades. I dreamt about it my whole life! This photo is of me and my older brother from my first communion in 2013 when I received as a gift two Celtics jerseys from my family in US. What a ride it has been!” -Igor Bogusz, Inowrocław, Poland, fan since 2009

“It’s the culmination of years of hard work, persistence, tenacity, grueling post seasons, and most of all, growing up with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as they came into the league. This championship is so fulfilling after all he criticism they had received since day one due to their status in the premier franchise of the NBA.” -Yatharth P., Sydney, Australia, fan since 2011

“It means that Joe Mazzulla’s philosophy of ‘team’ was spot on. Selfless play, making each teammate better. It means that Al Horford is finally recognized as a champion (even though he has been a champion for decades.) It means that another Celtics dynasty is quite likely. I am thrilled that Jaylen Brown win both MVP’s and recognize that pretty much every starter could have been selected.” -Emily Shamieh, Jamaica Plain, Mass., fan since 1960

“I have been a Celtics since my early childhood and I love this team. I have been blessed to witness championships and have remained with this team even in the down times. Loyalty is hard to come by, but I will forever be a Celtics fan and bleed green!” -Joshua Jackson, Windsor, Vt., fan since childhood

“It’s a special title. It took a while for this team to get over the hump, and they did just that last night. Now in typical Boston fashion, it’s onto Banner 19 next year!” -Ryan Fantasia, Fort Myers, Fla., fan since 1979

“I remember Mama. She took us to Celtics games many times over the years. She joked (or was she serious) that she loved basketball because the uniforms showed off lots of fit men sweating. But she was the true sports fan in the family. We had tickets for the game with the Lakers right after the Kennedy Assassination. It was not a somber affair; from the opening tip, the fans were as loud and as excited as I ever recall. It was a blow out; Mom was yelling for ‘more’ even well into the 4th quarter. I might put a pennant by her grave- right next to Dad’s veteran marker. Keep cheering Mamacita.” -Henry Goodhue, Hingham, Mass., fan since 1956

“Finally. It feels so long ago that the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett for that huge draft haul. We thought we had something with Kyrie, Gordon, and Al but it just didn’t work. Tatum and Brown have been slowly building up. They have been sniffing that championship for so long now and we finally got it. Feels like a culmination of a long rebuild and hopefully we are looking at a few more.” -Alex Hindmarsh, Jackson, Wyo., fan for 34 years

If you’d like to share what this championship means to you, leave a comment or fill out the form below.

Jenna Reyes can be reached at jenna.reyes@globe.com. Follow her @jennaelaney and Instagram @jennaelaney.