Joe Mazzulla shares what he was most proud of about the Celtics' opening win

During the special pregame ceremony on Tuesday, the Boston Celtics raised their 2024 NBA Championship banner into the rafters and received championship rings. On the way to his ring, head coach Joe Mazzulla kissed the hardwood floor of TD Garden.

According to Boston Celtics On SI, Mazzulla's gesture was made to honor the Celtics' storied history.

“The blood, sweat and tears of the greats flow there. It was a way to express the passion and gratitude I have for our team, the people before it and what it means to be a Celtic. There is no better place than this city.”

The Celtics ended the opening game of the 2024-2025 NBA season with a dominant 132-109 victory over the New York Knicks. Mazzulla acknowledged the importance of the ring ceremony.

“The ring ceremony and the game are the same because they're intangibles and details, the execution and the rigor… From there we were able to take the details further, and that's the goal.”

Mazzulla was most proud of his team's approach to its first regular-season game since becoming NBA champions.

“The biggest thing I’m proud of is the mindset of the guys. We weren't stuck in the past… We were physical on defense and together on offense. It’s a great start.”