With a payroll exceeding $200 million, it was no surprise that the Boston Celtics spared no expense to earn their 18th championship rings, which the players received before Tuesday’s NBA season opener against rivals New York Knicks.
The official price hasn’t been revealed, but these kinds of things typically cost between $10,000 and $40,000 each, and the ones being distributed Tuesday in Boston seemed to be on the higher end of that spectrum. In any case, Celtics spokespeople declined to reveal the cost of the rings when contacted by DailyMail.com.
The centerpiece of the ring is a shamrock and a ‘Celtics’ against a field of emeralds. The top can be removed to reveal a piece of the famous floor, painted green and white with the score of 106-88 in the June 17 decider against the Mavericks. An image of the championship banner is also revealed, surrounded by the engraved numbers of each player on the roster.
The outside of the ring is surrounded with the years of the franchise’s 18 NBA titles. On one side there is a representation of the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the team’s overall record of 80-21 in 2023-24; on the other, the player’s name, his number and the motto “Whatever It Takes” on a gold-engraved parquet pattern background.
The rings feature a total of 15 carats of white diamonds to represent the 15 Eastern Conference teams. There are 16 emerald-cut diamonds representing the team’s 16 playoff victories, along with the words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” on the inner bezel. There are 80 white diamonds on the ring to honor the Celtics’ regular season and postseason win total.
Celtics stars (from left) Porzingis, Tatum, Horford and Brown show off their new jewelry.
There are 80 white diamonds to honor the Celtics’ regular season and postseason win total.
The ring face peels away to reveal the team’s final banner: number 18 overall.
The outer bezel has 18 larger diamonds representing the team’s 18 titles, one more than the archrival Lakers won in Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
After the Celtics received their diamond-, emerald- and parquet-encrusted championship rings and before the franchise’s final banner was raised to the rafters, Jayson Tatum grabbed a microphone to say a few words to the excited crowd.
“Enjoy this moment together,” he told the fans who packed TD Garden for the Celtics’ first meaningful game since their Game 5 victory over Dallas in the NBA Finals clinched their unprecedented 18th title. . ‘Let’s do it again.’
The Celtics then gathered where many of their predecessors had and raised the ‘World Champions 2024′ banner to the packed rafters. Minutes later, they took the court for the season opener against the Knicks and Tatum hit a 3-pointer to begin the Celtics’ quest to become the first team to repeat since Bill Russell and John Havlicek won the franchise’s 11th title. at 13 years old in 1969.
Celtics raise 2024 championship banner before Tuesday’s opener in Boston
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum drives in Knicks forward Mikal Bridges on Tuesday
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Six-time champion Bob Cousy and 1981 NBA Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell were present at the pregame ceremony and applauded before Paul Pierce, accompanied by fellow 2008 champions Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, will take out the 2024 trophy. It was placed on a table surrounded by the championship rings.
Owner Wyc Grousbeck handed out the trinkets and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver congratulated the players as they walked among the numbers of a giant ‘golden 18’. Coach Joe Mazzulla knelt to kiss the parquet floor before receiving his ring.
The sold-out crowd arrived early to see the Celtics take the court in special gold-embellished warm-up jackets, with 18 championship trophies embroidered on the sleeve. Some of the players paused filming to watch the video chronicling their title journey, from drafting Jaylen Brown and Tatum to acquiring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Another video showed highlights of Havlicek and Russell winning titles in the 1950s and 1960s during the pandemonium of the team’s victory parade last spring.