Contained in the Celtics' “emotional and uplifting” visit to the White House

Celtics

WASHINGTON, DC – There was a moment in the course of the Celtics' tour of the White House when Derrick White was maintaining a tally of President Joe Biden's chair within the Oval Office, said team co-owner Steve Pagliuca.

Pagliuca thought White might attempt to get in, however the Celtics guard just stayed behind.

The visit to the White House, commemorating the Celtics' record 18th NBA championship, was much more exciting than White imagined.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” White said. “I was kind of looking forward to it, and then when we walked in I was a little more excited than I thought I would be.

“I think it's just been a lot of excitement being in the White House with all the decisions and things that are going on there,” White added. “We got to go into the Oval Office, which was pretty cool. The coolest part was being there where all the decisions are made and the big things happen.”

The Celtics met at their team hotel and took three buses to the White House. They conducted a rehearsal for the ceremony, practicing where everyone was standing. Afterwards there was a reception attended by Biden.

“The president came in and was very warm and engaging,” Celtics Gov. Wyc Grousbeck said. “We spoke to him at length and really felt like we got to know him. And then he joined some of our small groups, said hello and actually took a selfie with me, Amelia and Joe Mazzulla. We have a selfie with Joe Biden that he took, so just an amazing, warm encounter with a great man, a great person.”

According to Pagliuca, Biden had one in all his grandchildren with him and put a Celtics championship ring on the kid's finger.

Meeting Biden and learning the history of the White House were highlights for White.

“Someone from the Secret Service gave JB a history lesson,” White said. “And I kind of walked up there and listened to the stories and all the different pictures and why they were up there.

“It was really cool to hear such different stories. The cider was amazing. When President Biden came, it was really cool to see him. I had never seen a president in person, so that was pretty cool.”

Biden was well prepared for the looks, said Pagliuca. The president mentioned among the Celtics' stats.

“I saw (vice president of basketball operations) Mike Zarren, our statistician, stand up and start cheering when Biden was talking about points per possession,” Pagliuca said. “Mike thought this would never happen in his career.”

There were significantly more people present on Thursday than last time Celtics visited the White House in 2008, Pagliuca said.

“Well, it was a very emotional day,” Pagliuca said. “I think this is one of the largest groups ever to come to the White House to celebrate a championship, even far larger than 2008. So all the senators, congressmen, Massachusetts officials, the president and our players, just a very emotional one and uplifting day.”

This Celtics group had barely won the title for years. They have reached six of the last seven Eastern Conference Finals. They lost to the Golden State Warriors within the 2022 NBA Finals.

But this time the Celtics got here out on top and were honored as champions that day.

“It's funny. I talked to a Secret Service agent from Massachusetts inside and apparently he was here about the Warriors two years ago,” Zarren said. “He told them it was a bittersweet moment because he wished the Celtics were here, and they told him, don't worry, they'll be there soon. So it was a good moment for him to see us show up in there.”