Sitting alongside Red Sox legend David Ortiz at the Raising Cane’s grand opening celebration in Boston, Holiday reflected on the increased love he’s received from Celtics fans, his Olympic summer, and more.

For Jrue Holiday, walking around Boston has been a completely different experience since he won an NBA championship as a member of the Boston Celtics.

“Before winning, I could go places,” Holiday said with a smile, at an event celebrating a grand opening of a new Raising Cane’s. “It would be kind of fine walking around. Now, everywhere I go, there’s always —”

Just as he was beginning to describe the influx of attention he’s received from Celtics fans since Banner 18 was secured in June, another Boston sports legend walked into the restaurant: Hall of Fame Red Sox player David Ortiz.

The two athletes — both of whom will forever be hailed as heroes in the city of Boston — embraced.

David Ortiz said he felt like he won when the Celtics won it all

For Big Papi, who’s been retired from professional sports for nearly a decade, watching the journey to Banner 18 was a thrilling experience. The three-time World Series winner said that he got a strong sense during the 2023 playoffs that the Celtics were close to winning it all — and that he fully embraced the emotion of supporting the Celtics this past season.

“I’m a Celtic,” Ortiz said. “I cheer, I scream, I cry.”

“I can vouch for that,” Jrue Holiday added with a grin.

The experience of seeing Al Horford — a fellow professional athlete for the Dominican Republic — win an NBA title was particularly meaningful for Ortiz. He was in the building for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and watched TD Garden explode in celebration after Jaylen Brown hit a game-tying three-pointer in the waning seconds to send the game to overtime.

“When I see the Celtics win, when I see my hometown homie getting it done, I feel like I got it done,” Ortiz said, oozing with pride.

Ortiz reminisced on how Red Sox fans filled the ballpark regardless of the weather, or how things were going.

“I always say this when I go back home — I’m so glad that I played Boston because the fans in Boston got the best out of me,” Oritz said.