Boston Celtics Fan Eager to Update Tattoo as Team Reaches NBA Finals Again

After completing first quest by reaching NBA Finals, Celtics can begin thinking about championship - The Globe and Mail

Boston Celtics fans are thrilled to see their team back in the NBA Finals for the second time in three years, but perhaps none more so than Jack Bienvenue.

Two years ago, Bienvenue was brimming with confidence about Boston’s chances to clinch the franchise’s 18th championship.

“The only thing I cared about was them winning,” Bienvenue recalled. “I thought, ‘That’s the best way to say it. Just put it on a banner. Why not?’”

In a bold move, Bienvenue, then 18, took up a friend’s challenge and got a tattoo proclaiming the Celtics as the “2022 world champions” in March 2022—two months before the team secured their spot in the NBA Finals.

Boston Celtics fan Jack Bienvenue shows off the '2022 world champions' tattoo that he got in March 2022, long before the Celtics reached the 2022 NBA Finals. Unfortunately for Bienvenue, the Celtics lost that championship series to the Golden State Warriors.

However, his optimism did not pan out, as the Celtics fell to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals.

“It didn’t really sink in until the next morning,” Bienvenue admitted. “I woke up, looked over, and thought, ‘Jeez.’”

For two years, the Cape Cod resident has carried this reminder on his arm. Now 20 and a bit wiser, Bienvenue is considering what to do with his tattoo now that the Celtics have another shot at the title.

“I was thinking maybe, like, cross the ‘2’ out. I don’t know, put an asterisk or something,” he said.

Despite his contemplation, Bienvenue is not rushing into any changes.

“I want to wait until they actually win it this time,” he explained. “If I add a ‘4’ and then we lose again, I don’t think anyone would ever see me again.”

Yet, Bienvenue remains hopeful that this year will bring Banner No. 18.

“It just seems like it’s all coming full circle. You know, probably playing Kyrie (Irving) in the Finals,” he mused.

Regardless of the outcome, Bienvenue has no regrets about his fateful tattoo.

“It’s going to be a super cool story to tell people one day, and it’s going to be just funny to look back on it,” he said.

The Celtics are set to face either the Dallas Mavericks or Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Finals, starting June 6.

Former Celtics All-Star Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks had a chance to sweep the Timberwolves out of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night, but Minnesota won Game 4 in Dallas, forcing a Game 5 scheduled for Thurs