IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1320 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2024 Ms. Pressley (for herself, Mr. Neal , Mr. McGovern , Mrs. Trahan , Mr. Moulton , Mr. Lynch , and Mr. Keating ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability RESOLUTION Congratulating the Boston Celtics for winning the 2024 National Basketball Association championship.

Whereas, on June 17, 2024, the Boston Celtics (referred to in this preamble as the Celtics ) won the 2024 National Basketball Association (referred to in this preamble as the NBA ) Finals by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in game 5 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts; Whereas, with this victory, the Celtics made history as the first NBA team to secure an 18th NBA championship title and brought home the Larry O’Brien Trophy; Whereas the Celtics players and staff showed resilience, heart, and physical and mental toughness, compiling the NBA’s best regular season and playoffs record, defeating the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers in the first and second rounds of the playoffs, respectively, sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, and playing with love for the game and one another; Whereas the Celtics finished the season with the fourth highest point differential in NBA history, a 64–18 regular season record, and a combined regular season and playoff record of 80–21, which resulted in the second highest winning percentage in franchise history; Whereas the Celtics had the most efficient offense in NBA history, scoring 122 points per 100 possessions in the regular season; Whereas Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, a native New Englander born and raised in Johnston, Rhode Island, won his first NBA title and, at age 35, became the youngest individual to lead an NBA team to a championship since the legendary Bill Russell in 1969; Whereas the President of the Celtics, Brad Stevens, won his first NBA title after assembling one of the best Celtics teams of all time and being honored with the NBA Executive of the Year Award for his adept assembly of the 2024 Celtics team; Whereas this championship season marks the perfect end to the illustrious 43-year career of Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman, who retired in May 2024; Whereas the Celtics’ 18th championship was especially poignant following the May 27, 2024, passing of NBA legend and former Celtics 1986 champion Bill Walton; Whereas the Celtics’ championship roster was one of the deepest and most balanced in NBA history; Whereas Jaylen Brown was recognized as the 2024 Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in the Finals, scoring 30 points in game 3 of the Finals, leading the team with heart and confidence, and raising the Bill Russell trophy with his left hand; Whereas Jayson Tatum won his first NBA championship, surpassed Kobe Bryant’s record for the most playoff points ever scored by a player age 26 or younger, and led the team to victory with his steadfast commitment to excellence and his teammates; Whereas the 2 Jays worked together to defy their critics and bring home a long-awaited 18th banner, demonstrating extraordinary leadership, perseverance, character, and teamwork; Whereas Al Horford won his first NBA championship at age 38 after 17 seasons and 186 NBA playoff games, becoming the first player born in the Dominican Republic to win an NBA championship; Whereas Kristaps Porzingis returned from a month-long injury to give an explosive performance in game 1 of the NBA Finals and played through a torn medial retinaculum to become the first player born in Latvia to win an NBA championship; Whereas Jrue Holiday’s game 2 performance of 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block encapsulated his championship-caliber contributions to the Celtics all season; Whereas Derrick White will forever be remembered for his run-down steals and blocked shots and for leaving everything on the court, including a piece of his right incisor, which is now lodged forever in the Garden’s parquet floor; Whereas Payton Pritchard’s prowess at half court shots shined brightly as he made not 1, but 2 buzzer-beating half court shots during the Finals, surprising no one; Whereas Sam Hauser’s contributions during the Finals extended beyond his 3-point sharpshooting; Whereas Xavier Tillman Sr. made his NBA Finals debut and played through the loss of his father, Roosevelt, who died unexpectedly on May 19, 2024; Whereas, for the second time, the Celtics won the NBA championship on June 17, known as 617 Day , representing Boston’s 617 area code; Whereas this victory belongs to every member of the Celtics, including Oshae Brissett, Jaylen Brown, JD Davison, Sam Hauser, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Svi Mykhailiuk, Drew Peterson, Kristaps Porzingis, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Jaden Springer, Jayson Tatum, Xavier Tillman Sr., Jordan Walsh, and Derrick White; Whereas Love and Trust remain forever, and the long journey to Banner 18 would not have been possible without Number 36 and every Celtics player, coach, and staff member who laid the foundation for this historic championship; Whereas the City of Boston once again affirms its legacy as Titletown, USA and the City of Champions after winning its thirteenth major professional sports championship since the turn of the century; Whereas fans of the Celtics, all across New England, and throughout the United States come together to celebrate this monumental achievement and thank the entire Celtics organization for their victory; and Whereas anything is possible, again: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) congratulates— (A) the Boston Celtics for bringing the National Basketball Association championship title back to Boston; and (B) the players, coaches and other staff, and owners of the Boston Celtics, whose dedication, commitment, and spirit made this season a success; and (2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the owner and Governor of the Boston Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck; (B) the President of the Boston Celtics, Brad Stevens; and (C) the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics, Joe Mazzulla.