The NBA team with the best regular-season record won the championship for the first time in seven seasons.
Congrats to the Boston Celtics, which finished 80-21 this season, including the playoffs. The Celtics cruised past the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 and won the franchise’s 18th championship, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history.
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And the Celtics might not be done. The franchise is set up to keep the current group intact for the foreseeable future.
“It means the world,” Jayson Tatum said after the team received the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy from NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “It’s been a long time. And damn I’m grateful.”
The NBA Draft also occurred last week, and while it might not be the strongest class of players, the Atlanta Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher as the first overall pick with Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards) and Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets) going next.
A champion has been crowned and the next generation of players have been selected. Thanks to all the amazing photographers who documented the 2023-24 NBA season. Enjoy free agency, the NBA Summer League and the offseason. See you in the fall!
Get a copy of “Garden Party: Inside the Boston Celtics’ Run to the 2023-24 NBA Championship” The Athletic’s commemorative book about the Celtics’ 2023-24 season. Order a copy today for $39.95, plus shipping and tax. Books will ship on Aug. 2, 2024.
Game 1 of NBA Finals
Kristaps Porziņģis of the Celtics gets two points the easy way during the first half against the Mavericks at TD Garden in Boston.
Under the watchful eye of Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and his bench, Al Horford of the Celtics shoots a 3-pointer.
Derrick Jones Jr. of the Mavericks finds his path to the rim blocked by the suffocating Celtics defense of Derrick White, Kristaps Porziņģis and Jayson Tatum during the second half.
Maxi Kleber of the Mavericks isn’t interested in Jayson Tatum posing for the photographer after this slam.
Once again, Derrick Jones Jr. finds out why the Celtics were one of the top-ranked defenses during the regular season and playoffs on this rejection by Jaylen Brown in the second half.
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics couldn’t be stopped by Dereck Lively II and the Mavericks in Game 1 as Boston cruised to a 107-89 win.
Game 2
The tremendous defense by the Celtics continued in Game 2. Kristaps Porziņģis, who has large paws, gets his left one on the ball while defending Maxi Kleber of the Mavericks in the first half at TD Garden in Boston.
Derrick White of the Celtics wins this battle with Kyrie Irving of the Mavericks as White rejects this shot attempt in the first half …
but there is no blocking this shot as Dereck Lively II flushes a dunk over White in the second half.
But the block party continues as, of course, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White stop P.J. Washington of the Mavericks during this key moment late in the second half in Boston’s 105-98 victory.
Game 3
P.J. Washington of the Mavericks loses control of the ball as Derrick White and Jaylen Brown of the Celtics apply pressure during the first half in Dallas.
This result is not ideal for Xavier Tillman of the Celtics as Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks converts a slam in the first half.
Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday celebrate their Game 3 win to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Game 4
Hey, the Celtics didn’t block this shot! Maxi Kleber of the Mavericks converts this layup against Al Horford of the Celtics during the first half of Game 4 in Dallas.
Kyrie Irving of the Mavericks hits the deck after some contact with Jayson Tatum of the Celtics in the first half.
Everything went right for Luka Dončić and the Mavericks in the first half, leading 61-37 over the Celtics.
Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks and Jayson Tatum of the Celtics struggle to snare a loose ball during the second half.
Dereck Lively II and Mavericks fans cheer a late score in Dallas’ 122-84 rout of Boston.
Game 5
Payton Pritchard of the Celtics and Luka Dončić of the Mavericks watch in amazement as Pritchard hits a half-court buzzer-beater to end the first half in Boston.
In one of the few highlights for the Mavericks in Game 5, Dereck Lively II blocks Jaylen Brown’s shot in the second half.
After the Celtics dominated the Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5, Brown collected some hardware, including the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, which he holds, and the 2024 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP.
Jayson Tatum drenches his teammates and the Celtics locker room with celebratory champagne after Boston wins its 18th NBA title.
Parade
Head coach Joe Mazzulla pumps up Celtics fans with a flex and scream as he rides on a duck boat through the streets of Boston.
This could be a game of follow the leader, or it’s just fans who are thrilled to see their Celtics celebrating in downtown Boston as 2024 NBA champions.
Parting shot
It seems appropriate to end the NBA season with this image, which is one of the best. It’s the same one — just from a different angle — that leads off this month’s photo gallery. Cheers to both photographers for capturing such an iconic moment of Jayson and Deuce Tatum after the Celtics won this season’s title.
Related reading
How an NBA Getty Images photographer captures the perfect shot
Related viewing
May: Jayson Tatum, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards and more
April: LeBron James, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum and more
March: Anthony Edwards (dunks!), Jalen Johnson (dunks!) and more
February: Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis, Victor Wembanyama and more
January: Victor Wembanyama, Steph Curry, The Coyote and more
December: LeBron James, Giannis, Luka Dončić and more
November: Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Draymond Green and more
(Top photo of Jayson and Deuce Tatum: Charles Krupa) / Associated Press)
