Natasha Bose
Star-studded. That’s the only way to define TD Garden at the 2024 NBA Finals.
Many celebrities and star athletes rushed to Boston to watch the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks battle it out on Thursday night. Actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg were there to cheer for their hometown team, UFC president and New England native Dana White enjoyed the game, and many Celtics alumni, as well as well-known Patriots and Bruins figures, joined them.
READ MORE: Stephen Curry reveals major plans for second career in this Sport after NBA retirement
Here’s the full list of celebrities and athletes at Game 1
Entertainment
- Mark Wahlberg (Actor)
- Donnie Wahlberg (Actor)
- Jenny McCarthy (Actress)
READ MORE: READ MORE: Who is Jessica Campbell? All about NHL’s potential first female full-time Coach with Seattle Kraken
NBA/Celtics alumni
- Adam Silver (NBA commissioner)
- Mark Tatum (NBA deputy commissioner)
- Mark Cuban (Mavericks minority owner)
- Shaquille O’Neal (analyst/ex-NBA star)
- The family of late NBA legend Bill Walton
- Jeannine Russell (wife of late Celtics legend Bill Russell)
- Eddie House (2008 NBA champion with Celtics)
- Leon Powe (2008 NBA champion with Celtics)
- Dana Barros (Celtics alumni)
- Tacko Fall (Celtics alumni)
- Jason Terry (Celtics and Mavericks alumni)
- Kenny Anderson (Celtics alumni)
- Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat)
- Andre Drummond (Chicago Bulls)
Premier League
- Pep Guardiola (Manchester City manager)
College Basketball
- Geno Auriemma (UConn women’s basketball coach)
UFC
- Dana White (UFC president and CEO)
Patriots
- Matthew Judon (Linebacker)
- Jonathan Jones (Cornerback)
- Anfernee Jennings (Linebacker)
- Keion White (Defensive end)
Bruins
- Cam Neely (Bruins president)
- Zdeno Chara (Former Bruins defenseman)
READ MORE: When was the last time Oilers were in Stanley Cup finals? All you need to know
NFL
- Christian Wilkins (Raiders)
- Maxx Crosby (Raiders)
- Jeffrey Lurie (Eagles owner)
- Julian Lurie (Eagles owner)
- Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
- AJ Brown (Eagles)
- DeVonta Smith (Eagles)
- Brandon Graham (Eagles)
- Darius Slay (Eagles)
- Dallas Goedert (Eagles)
- Jordan Mailata (Eagles)
You will always find the Wahlberg brothers during pivotal Celtics games, but this time, the crowd was huge and more magnificent. Several Philadelphia Eagles players, UFC president Dana White, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, and famous UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma attended the game.
READ MORE: Taylor Swift slams public for her pregnancy rumors with Travis Kelce
Why are the Eagles at the NBA Finals?
The Eagles had no events in Boston on Thursday. In fact, they had a mandatory minicamp in the Philadelphia area earlier that day. This suggests several Eagles players traveled to Boston for Game 1 with owner Jeffrey Lurie.
The answer to this question is probably Lurie’s connection to the city. Lurie was born in Boston and got degrees from three Massachusetts colleges: Clark University, Boston University, and Brandeis University. Lurie even taught at Boston University before he went into business.
Despite the rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Patriots from past Super Bowl games, it is pretty crystal that he still loves the Celtics enough to make the trip to Boston and bring some ace Eagles players with him.
READ MORE: Jayson Tatum pays tribute to Kobe Bryant with iconic Celtics shirt ahead of 2024 NBA Finals
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings