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sports Saturday 22 June 2024
Cue the duck boats:

Boston salutes Celtics'

record 18th NBA

championship with parade

By KYLE HIGHTOWER Center. Along the way, there
AP Sports Writer were plenty of moments for
BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics the city to salute a franchise
entered the season vowing that just broke a tie with the
to turn recent playoff heart- rival Los Angeles Lakers for the
breaks into happiness. most titles in league history.
Eight months later, they Fans marked the moment
toasted the franchise's 18th by hanging on light posts,
championship in what has flashing homemade signs
become the signature Bos- or standing on subway en-
ton celebration, joined Friday trances.
by a huge crowd for a duck "It's unbelievable. It still doesn't
boat parade to mark the seem true. But just trying to
13th championship won this stay in the moment," All-Star Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum celebrates the team's NBA basketball championship during a duck
century by one of the city's Jayson Tatum said during a boat parade Friday, June 21, 2024, in Boston.
franchises in the four biggest pre-parade rally at the Gar- Associated Press
U.S. sports leagues. den. Michelle Wu. interacted with fans. which he said also belonged
The Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox Celtics owner Wyc Grous- After celebrating in the locker The Celtics broke every to his "partner in crime."
and Bruins have all com- beck gave fans an early treat room Monday night by spray- huddle this season by say- While the city had to wait
memorated championships about 90 minutes before the ing Champagne and posing ing, "Together." nearly two decades for this
by jumping aboard the duck trade began. for pictures with the trophy, Jaylen Brown said Friday the celebration, the Celtics are
boats — amphibious vehicles He was attempting to drive the team flew to Miami for theme for this year's team was in a solid position to try to be-
usually ridden by sightseeing to the arena with the Larry a private party. unity. come the NBA's first back-to-
tourists. O'Brien Trophy and newly When the Celtics returned "Whatever it took for us to back champions since the
In Boston, firing up the boats made 2024 championship Wednesday, coach Joe Maz- win, that's what I was willing Warriors in 2018.
for a slow cruise down city banner along with his wife, zulla took the party back to to do," Brown said. All five starters — Tatum,
streets has become synony- Emilia Fazzalari, and their people, allowing fans to see As much as the day was a Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick
mous with its feeling of sports daughter. the trophy up close — and in celebration of that team- White and Kristaps Porzingis —
supremacy. Friday's parade They couldn't get through some cases touch it — while first mantra that Mazzulla are under contract for next
was the latest component because of traffic and bar- he carried it through Boston's championed this season, it season. After having secured
of what has been a rolling ricades. So they walked a famed North End. was also the culmination of long-term extensions with
salute to the Celtics since half-mile down Causeway "I drove all the way from Ohio mission that stars Brown and Brown, Holiday and Porzingis,
they finished off the Dallas Street, passing by a sea of (Wednesday) because we Tatum began after each the Celtics are expected to
Mavericks in five games in the fans while carrying the trophy were coming for the parade," was drafted third overall — do the same with Tatum and
NBA Finals on Monday night. and banner. Celtics fan Jason Hawkins told Brown in 2016 and Tatum a White this summer.
Starting at TD Garden, the Inside the Garden, the rally Boston's ABC affiliate, WCVB- year later. Reserve Luke Kornet didn't let
procession lasted about 90 included players and their TV. "I touched trophy, man. The duo made it to four con- fans forget the Celtics' history
minutes, turning first onto family members, members I got video of it." ference finals and one NBA of titles, leading fans on a
Causeway Street in front of of the Celtics organization, The golden basketball was Finals — a loss to the Gold- count from one to 18 at the
the arena, past City Hall, arena staff, season ticket on display for all to see Friday en State Warriors in 2022 — end of the parade route.
through Boston Common, holders and guests including as players, flanked by Celt- before finally reaching the Their message to the city is
down Boylston Street and Massachusetts Gov. Maura ics personnel and members league pinnacle. Brown clear: Keep the duck boats
ending at Hynes Convention Healey and Boston Mayor of their families, waved and earned Finals MVP honors, gassed up.q

A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark lead WNBA All-Star fan vote

By DOUG FEINBERG last season, but that total The All-Star Game will be
AP Basketball Writer was only 95,860. played on July 20 in Phoenix
NEW YORK (AP) — A'ja Wil- New York's Breanna Stew- and will pit WNBA All-Stars
son leads Caitlin Clark by art is fourth and Dallas' against the U.S. Olympic
just over a thousand votes Arike Ogunbowale is fifth. team.
in early fan voting for the Chicago's Angel Reese is All-Stars are picked by a
WNBA All-Star Game, the seventh in the voting and is combination of fan vote
league announced Friday. the only other rookie in the (50%), current WNBA play-
Clark's Indiana teammate top 10. Fellow first-year play- ers (25%) and media (25%).
Aliyah Boston is third, about ers Cameron Brink and Kate After voting closes, the
40,000 votes behind the Martin were just outside the top 10 vote-getters will be
leaders. top 10 in 11th and 12th. named as All-Star Game Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts after scoring against
Wilson is having an incred- Sabrina Ionescu of New participants, with any play- the Seattle Storm during the first half of a WNBA basketball
ible season, averaging 27.9 York (sixth), Kelsey Plum of ers competing for the U.S. on game, May 30, 2024, in Indianapolis.
points and 11.3 rebounds. Las Vegas (eighth), Na- the Olympic team staying Associated Press
She has 217,773 votes. Clark pheesa Collier of Minnesota on their team. The remain- next 36 highest vote-getters, vote for their own players.
is right behind with 216,427. (ninth) and Dearica Hamby der of the WNBA team will which must include 15 post The final WNBA All-Star
The Las Vegas Aces star re- of Los Angeles (10th) round be chosen by the league's players and nine guards. Game rosters will be an-
ceived the most fan votes out the first 10. coaches from a pool of the Coaches aren't allowed to nounced on July 2.q