When the Boston Celtics received their 2024 championship rings and raised Banner 18 on Opening Night, former forward Oshae Brissett wasn’t amongst those in attendance for the festivities, but not because the 26-year-old wasn’t invited.
Brissett, following a one-year stay in Boston, elected to opt out of his two-year contract to become a free agent, which he’s remained nearly a quarter into the season. He got the chance to reunite with former Celtics teammates during their championship trip to the White House in Washington, D.C. There, Brissett fully addressed his Banner Night no-show.
“I’ve been asked this a lot,” Brissett said on his latest “BrissyTV” YouTube vlog. “Full transparency, guys. As much fun as it would’ve been, it would’ve hurt leaving the next day as my guys got ready to go back to work. Obviously, I wanted to be there. Obviously, I wanted to see the fans. That is a moment that we shared together — we won together. But it just wouldn’t feel right with me if I was going back home as they were going to practice. And that’s just me.”
Brissett added: “I talked to a lot of them about it. Everyone here understands cause we’re all in the same shoes, same boat. They’re athletes. They’re competitive. They get it.”
The Celtics presented Brissett with his championship ring, going as far as to deliver the 15-carat gem to Brissett’s hotel room in Washington. Brissett followed in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s footsteps and sported the ring during the White House visit, relishing in the franchise’s first invite to the nation’s capital — as champions — in 16 years.
Even though Brissett is no longer a member of the team, the Celtics wanted to make sure that Brissett got to take his victory lap as a champion as well.
“My good man, Mr. Tatum, messaged me, told me about (the White House trip), told me to pull up,” Brissett shared, per Brissy TV.
Brissett’s sentimental attachment to the city of Boston, which he expressed during an August vlog, is nothing new. The Celtics invited Brissett to get sized for his ring at their practice facility during the summer, as a free agent, leading the five-year veteran to express his emotions about the fanbase and franchise.
Now, Brissett patiently awaits for his next opportunity.
