The unsung hero of the Celtics' 18th NBA championship

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White. 

These are likely the first names that come to mind when fans think of who deserves credit for winning the 2024 NBA Finals, but there is one man who deserves recognition for bringing the Celtics their 18th championship.

President of basketball operations Brad Stevens might not have been able to deliver Boston a championship while on the sidelines, but in the front office, he made key moves to complete its championship roster. 

The biggest and most notable will be the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis. While the big man struggled to stay healthy in the postseason, he averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. 

Porzingis brought some much-needed size to Boston's roster while being able to spread the floor with his shooting ability. The center had a regular-season field goal percentage of 51.6 and a three-point field goal percentage of 37.5. 

While Celtics fans had to say goodbye to Marcus Smart, the three-team trade that brought Porzingis to Boston was a massive success. 

Stevens also made another trade that paid dividends. The C's acquired Jrue Holiday in a trade that saw another fan favorite, Robert Williams, traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Holiday added a veteran presence who knew what it took to win a championship. While his stats won't jump off the page, his leadership on and off the court makes up for it. 

Still, the guard had some quality performances during their championship run. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Holiday tallied 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Then, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the guard racked up 26 points and 11 rebounds.

However, Stevens did a good job of retaining talent. Brown signed a massive extension that had some fans questioning if Boston overpaid. 

It is safe to say that Stevens made the right decision. Brown averaged 23 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season and was named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. 

So, while the players deserve credit for winning a championship, Stevens was the man behind the magic. He put all the puzzle pieces in place and crafted a championship-winning roster.