When Wizards’ coach Brian Keefe, a Winchester, MA native, walked into the press conference room, he stopped and looked at the Mike Gorman graphic next to the podium with a smile.
Before opening up for questions, Keefe took a moment to recognize the Hall of Fame voice of the Celtics.
“Before we get started, I want to acknowledge Mike Gorman. I grew up listening to him,” Keefe said, pointing to the graphic to his right. This guy left a tremendous mark on me… I just wanted to acknowledge him and what he’s meant to this community — because I’m part of that community. I listened to formative years of basketball in the 80s when I grew up here. It’s a great honor for him today. He’s a big historical figure in this city.”
“Some of those calls he made in some of those big games, those things will love forever for me.”
Down the hall, a few minutes before Keefe’s salute, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, a native of Johnston, Rhode Island, discussed what Gorman meant to him.
“In the back of the plane in my first couple of years, I would always walk back there. We would have certain conversations – Just listening to his insight. Listening to his wisdom,” Mazzulla said. “Just his humility. His ability to connect with different people. Then, just being the voice of the team. He has a distinct voice that, whether it’s on TV or in person, it sounds the same amount all the time. I’m honored to get to know him and honored to be a part of his last few days here with the Celtics.”
Sunday afternoon was a tribute to Gorman’s enduring legacy.
After an illustrious 43 seasons — the longest tenure as a play-by-play voice for any Boston professional franchise — the man who had captivated Celtics fans worldwide was set to call his final regular-season game.
In recognition of his unparalleled contribution, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu officially declared April 14 as “Mike Gorman Day,” a day filled with celebration and gratitude.
The escalator at the entrance of the TD Garden was covered with balloons and a banner that read “Mike Gorman Day.”
On all of the 19,156 seats inside the Garden, a poster of Gorman was taped proudly displaying the phrase “43 years of excellence.” Meanwhile, the video board showcased his image alongside the familiar words of his signature call, “Got it!”
Even on press row, in front of every media member’s seats, were special pins honoring Gorman.
Even the players were in on it, taking to the court for warmups, with Gorman’s face on a microphone and the words “Thank you, Mike Gorman.”
Although there was still a basketball game to be played, Sunday afternoon was dedicated to honoring Gorman as both a broadcaster and the exemplary individual he is. Emotional tribute videos and shoutouts from former players, coaches, and executives filled the afternoon, punctuating nearly every timeout with heartfelt congratulations for Gorman.
Notable figures such as Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers, Brad Stevens, Mike Breen, Kevin Harlan, Bob Cousy, the NBA on TNT crew, and many others made appearances on the video board throughout the afternoon, extending their best wishes to Gorman and expressing profound appreciation for his role as an exemplary role model.
During an extended halftime ceremony, on behalf of the Celtics, co-owners Steve Pagliuca and Wyc Grousbeck gifted Gorman a custom-framed championship banner bearing his name, a Rolex watch, and a unique piece of the Garden parquet.
Gorman's friends and family were seated on the court for the ceremony, as well as the Celtics' ownership and executives and the family of the late Tommy Heinsohn. Gorman shared 39 years with Heinsohn, forming the longest broadcast duo in TV history for a team.
In a touching tribute to Gorman’s famous catchphrase, “Got it!” Pagliuca led the TD Garden crowd in a unified “Got it!” chant as a farewell to the beloved broadcaster.
Gorman sat alongside Brian Scalabrine at midcourt during the ceremony, reflecting on his over four-decade career with the Celtics, his friendship with Heinsohn, and his love for the city of Boston.
As Gorman, a native of Dorchester, concluded his halftime speech, having embarked on his broadcasting journey after serving in the US Navy, he delivered the perfect closing line to his farewell address.
“To the team, I just want to say, go win this thing, will you, please? Just go win it.”
After the ceremony, the Celtics dedicated the Garden’s broadcast table to Gorman, naming it the “Mike Gorman Broadcast Table.”
In a choked-up moment, Gorman likened TD Garden to the theme song of the popular TV show Cheers, describing it as a place where everyone knows his name. As the show’s theme suggests, TD Garden will always be a place where everybody knows him and is certainly glad he came.
Sunday afternoon was the perfect farewell for Gorman. With tears in the crowd, it was evident just how much he means to the Celtics, standing as a staple in the team’s storied history. While this is the final regular-season game of Gorman’s career, he will be on the call for NBC Sports Boston throughout the first round of the NBA playoffs.
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