From Bob Cousy to Jaylen Brown to Jayson Tatum, the Celtics are raising another banner

As is often the case with this storied franchise, it was also an evening to honor the past. And the world champion Boston Celtics have a greater history than any other professional basketball team in the country.

One of the highlights of the pregame flag-raising was the appearance of 96-year-old Bob Cousy, who at 29 was the reigning NBA MVP when the Bill Russell Celtics celebrated their first title with a 107-83 victory over the Syracuse Nats in November 1958. He is the oldest living NBA champion and the last survivor of Boston’s first title.

Cousy played with John Havlicek, who played with Cedric Maxwell, who played with Kevin McHale, who played with Rick Fox, who played with Antoine Walker, who played with Paul Pierce, who played with Avery Bradley, who played with Jaylen Brown.

During the ring presentation, Cooz sat in a wheelchair in a corner of the parquet floor alongside fellow Celtic champions Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce (2008) and Maxwell (1981, 1984). Celtics players and coaches received their rings from the owner at center court, then walked to the legends corner and paid their respects. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser fought their way through the crowded corner to shake Cousy’s hand.

Cousy (six NBA titles) didn’t appeal to the sellout crowd.

“I had my best moment,” he said. “We went through this six times. I’m just here to pay tribute to these guys and not interfere in any other way.

“This is a big deal for me. It’s a meaningful night. These ceremonies were nothing like when we won them in the ’50s and ’60s. We raised the banner alone in an empty garden before the game. There was no fuss about it at all.

“When I think about the old days, what is particularly meaningful to me is the fact that we set the table for it. We thought we would do something special. I remember when I was stuck with $9,000 on my first contract. Seeing what the league has become is truly special. When I hear that this team is now being sold for $5 billion, I can’t understand it.

“There are two things I am most proud of when it comes to being part of this legacy. Two extraordinary things. First, the championships. We started winning championships in 1956-57 and didn’t stop for 11 years in 13 seasons. That will never happen again. The other thing I’m most proud of is that the Celtics have also been No. 1 in all sports to date in addressing civil rights and social justice.

“Walter Brown (original Celtics owner) stepped up in 1950 and selected Chuck Cooper out of Duquesne, the first black player ever drafted by an NBA team. Then we had the first black starting five (Russell, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Satch Sanders and Willie Naulls, 1964), the first black coach (Russell, 1966) to today, where the current owners have set up a foundation to continue to engage with social topics to deal with. To have set the table for things like this is very meaningful.”

“Bob Cousy is a legend,” said Celtic co-owner Steve Pagliuca. “I had a 35-minute conversation with him the other day and he was still able to make a comment on TV. He has an overview of everything. He watched every Olympic game and had some issues with the way the squad was constructed. He’s a living legend and I’m so glad he’s here.”

Pagliuca and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck pushed hard to get Cousy into the building for the opening. The Cooz (he used to carpool with Tommy Heinsohn to the Garden, drive down Route 9 and pick up Tommy in Natick) hadn’t been to a Celtics game in several decades and wasn’t sure if he’d ever be in the “new” The game was “Garden. He had hoped to see his former teammate Tom Sanders again, but “Satch” had to cancel late due to a family matter.

One Cousy favorite in attendance was Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a former Harvard guard who was inspired by the Celtics legend and Cousy while growing up in Hampton Falls, NH

“I grew up loving Celtics basketball and playing basketball,” the governor said. “I was a little guard. My first youth team in Hampton Falls, I was assigned to the Holy Cross Crusaders and I wanted to wear the number of the greatest point guard. I’ve worn number 14 throughout my career.

“I’m just so happy he can be here. He is the only living human who is part of the First Banner and the 18th Banner. They are the greatest franchise in sports history and he is the link from the beginning to today and it is a tribute to the person he is and what he means to the Celts and New England and NBA and basketball fans.

“He’s a very reserved guy. He’s so humble. He’s about what the old Celtics represented: teamwork, the passion to win. Bob and Bill Russell were social justice warriors, people who followed Muhammad Ali and used their platform. And it is still embodied in Celtic players like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and others.”

After the ceremony, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who grew up in Rhode Island, took a moment to shake Cousy’s hand.

“The players, staff and front office have entrusted us with the tradition of this organization, and we have a responsibility to the city and the people who came before it,” Mazzulla said. “This job wouldn’t be what it is if the people before us hadn’t made it what it was. Thanks to them we can be a part of it. It’s a lifestyle. What Red (Auerbach) said is true. The Celtics are a way of life. And we don’t take that lightly.”

Cooz didn’t stay for the game. After the ceremony, he was pushed from the square toward an elevator and a cart waiting outside the garden, en route to the same Worcester house where he had lived since his parquet glory days.

His wheelchair companion was Celtics publicist Jeff Twiss, a member of the Boston front office since 1981. Twiss is the last remaining Celtic employee hired by Auerbach.

All in all a great night for the Old Man and the C’s.

Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy.