The Celtics sealed the NBA title earlier this week, but Boston had actually been waiting for this moment for over a decade.
Just over five years after the Celtics claimed their 17th championship, Boston went into a complete rebuild on June 28, 2013, trading franchise centerpieces Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a package that included role players and draft picks.
What followed was a stretch of nearly 11 years that featured ups and downs, plenty of change and a constant belief that banner No. 18 was always just one season away.
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