How Celtics Feel After Being Honored At White House As Champions

The Boston Celtics visited the White House on Thursday, meeting United States President Joe Biden to make their final celebratory lap as the NBA’s reigning champions.

Biden congratulated Boston on capturing its record 18th Larry O’Brien Trophy, the team reunited with ex-Celtics reserve Oshae Brissett and the team presented Biden with a custom No. 46 jersey. It was the first time anyone on last season’s roster — besides Jrue Holiday — had attended the White House for a championship trip, making the once-in-a-lifetime experience even more special for a handful of Celtics.

Here’s what Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White thought of the trip:

Jayson Tatum
“It was cool,” Tatum told reporters at Friday’s practice, per CLNS Media. “It was my first time being there. It’s an honor to be in the White House and obviously meet the President and have that memory together. You know, I’ve always watched those ceremonies growing up, of other champions. So to be a part of that tradition was special.”

Tatum said of entering the Oval Office: “It was a surreal feeling. You’ve seen a bunch of pictures and videos and to go in there, maybe something I never thought I would do. So it was a cool experience.”

Jaylen Brown
“We were there to be celebrated with our guys so that’s what it was,” Brown said Friday, per CLNS Media. “It’s a lot. It’s hard to win a championship and it’s very special. The last time we won here in Boston was 16 years ago so you just celebrate and embrace that. All the other stuff is important but that’s what we were there for and to cherish that moment with my teammates, my brothers, with my guys, that’s all I was focused on.”

During the visit, Brown bounced questions around to a few Secret Service agents, asking about the White House’s history throughout the team’s tour.

“Well, I love history,” Brown said, per CLNS Media. “That’s my favorite subject so I’m always asking questions and chiming in. That was pretty fun, getting some updates on my American history.”

Derrick White
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” White said following the visit Thursday, per CLNS Media. “I was just kind of looking forward to it and then I walk in, I was like, ‘I’m a little bit more excited than I thought I was going to be.’ I think it was just a lot of excitement just to be in the White House and all the decisions that go on in there and we were able to go into the Oval Office which is pretty cool. So just being where all the decisions, all the big things happen was the coolest part.”

Boston could add a cherry on top of its stay in the nation’s capital with a victory over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on Friday night.