WASHINGTON– President Joe Biden welcomed the Boston Celtics to the White House to celebrate their 18th NBA Championship Thursday afternoon.
The storied basketball team had the best record in the NBA last season and ripped through their conference foes in the playoffs before clinching a victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, taking the best-of-seven series 4-1.
In 1963, the Celtics were the first club to visit the President’s House after beating the Los Angeles Lakers, their long-time rival, 4-2. That team was led by Hall of Famers Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and John Havlicek on the court, and coach Red Auerbach on the sideline.
On the White House South Lawn, Biden delivered brief remarks in which he congratulated the team and joked about Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla becoming the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 1970 at age 35. “I told him I used to be the youngest; now I’m the oldest. I liked being the youngest better,” Biden said.
This visit was Biden’s third and final celebration of an NBA champion. President-elect Donald Trump did not host any NBA teams at the White House in his first term, and notably disinvited the Golden State Warriors in 2017 after two-time MVP Stephen Curry said he would not attend due to opposition to Trump.
