Sam Harris, BBC sports journalist
With the best regular season and a great playoff series, the Boston Celtics have earned the right to hang banner 18 in the rafters.
Their performance in the finals hit a hiccup in game four with a blowout loss, but they found a way to get the job done at home.
The triumph is the result of a lot of hard work from a team that has developed a strong mentality, and also the result of some bold front office decisions.
At the forefront is franchise star Jayson Tatum, who faced intense scrutiny and criticism during his attempt to end the long personal wait for a championship.
Now that criticism has died down. The 26-year-old embraced a new role in this series, showcasing his playing skills and leading the team.
You can't mention one franchise star without the other, and Jaylen Brown also deserves a lot of credit as he acts as the series' momentum controller.
The Celtics have a tendency to build huge leads and then let their opponents catch back – a habit that reared its ugly head again in this series.
However, Brown's silky handles, clutch shots and explosive drives prevented the Mavericks from overhauling them aside from game four.
The winning mentality is not only evident on the field. After the Celtics lost the 2023 Eastern Conference finals to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat, head of basketball operations Brad Stevens made big trade calls for both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, two players who have been crucial to the team's success Boston.
Throw Derrick White and Al Horford into the mix: it's a championship-winning recipe.
Gone is the element of fear that plagued previous playoff games against stars like Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
While there are habits that head coach Joe Mazzulla will look to refine to maintain this level of success and build a potential dynasty, for now Boston stands atop the NBA as champions.
The Celtics can bask in their performance knowing they've earned their place as kings of the mound.
