“It’s a lot of responsibility when you put this jersey on. I’m so hyped. It just shows anything’s possible. This is for everyone in Minnesota, everyone in Chicago. I’m on top of the world. I’m so happy right now. Ray Allen played a great game and so did Paul Pierce.”

 —KEVIN GARNETT, on winning the title.

* * * *

“This is for the fans who stuck with us. It’s for Doc Rivers. It’s for Danny Ainge. This win is for Red Auerbach.”

 —WYC GROUSBECK, one of the Celtics’ owners.

* * * *

“I’m so glad to be here, I hated the way my season ended last year in Chicago, and I give thanks to all these guys.”

 —P.J. BROWN, on his coming to play in Boston and being part of the Celtics championship.

* * * *

“I said play defense. And they were phenomenal all year.”

 —DOC RIVERS, on his first meeting with the Celtics.

* * * *

“I knew if I had other guys, I could adjust. Once they got here, I sacrificed for the good of the team.”

 —PAUL PIERCE, the MVP of the finals.

* * * *

“I just stayed with preparation. Made sure I did what I could to make this team better.”

 —RAY ALLEN, on breaking his slump.

* * * *

“We didn’t have a lot of good years. But you fans stuck with us. Number 17 is for you.”

 —PAUL PIERCE, applauding the loyalty of the Boston fans.

* * * *

“Yes, I was surprised at the final score. The last two minutes of the second period buried us emotionally. We couldn’t turn their momentum around in the third quarter.”

 —PHIL JACKSON, the Lakers’ coach on the 131-92 loss.

* * * *

“They focused on him [Kobe] and we didn’t have guys step up.”

 —PHIL JACKSON, on the Lakers’ losing big.

* * * *

“Once we got this group [Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce] going in Rome, I felt we had something special. The ‘BigThree’ accepted the other guys. They trusted Leon [Powe], Big Baby [Glen Davis], Perk [Kendrick Perkins] and Rajon [Rondo].”

 —DOC RIVERS, on how quickly his team’s chemistry came together.

* * * *

“I’m no longer under the shadows of the other greats, I had to put up a banner of my own if I was going to make history.”

 —PAUL PIERCE, on winning championship number 17.

* * * *

“I wondered what happened to Ray [Allen]. When he got back from his injury, we pushed the lead over 20. He rejuvenated us.”

 —PAUL PIERCE, on Ray Allen’s injury.

* * * *

“I didn’t want to give him the night off again.”

 —RAJON RONDO, on being more aggressive against Kobe Bryant.

* * * *

“I know my role, I accepted my role and we play as a team.”

 —JAMES POSEY, on playing his game.

* * * *

“Let’s go out with a statement.”

 —DOC RIVERS, on what he told his team before Game Six.

* * * *

“When the three of us got together, we said no more excuses. We knew this was Paul’s team. We knew we had to sacrifice and we did.”

 —KEVIN GARNETT, on the team aspect of the Celtics.

* * * *

“This is the happiest day of my life.”

 —KEVIN GARNETT, on winning his first championship.

* * * *

“He challenged us. I think Doc thought we had more ego than what we really did.”

 —KEVIN GARNETT, talking about how Doc Rivers treated the “Big Three” when he first met with them.