Bukuru Goga poses with the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the Celtics locker room after their series clinching victory over the Mavericks

As we often say here at InsideLowell, show me a major news story and we’ll likely unearth a Lowell connection to it. The Boston Celtics title run is no exception.

Jay Gilkes and Bukuru Goga, Lowell classmates and teammates, work as ball boys for the C’s. Monday night, they found themselves celebrating alongside Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the rest of the NBA champions when the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks for the franchise’s 18th crown.

“They said I had more fun than the players,” Goga recalls. “I still haven’t recovered.”

The young men grew up in the city’s Centralville neighborhood. Gilkes attended the Wang School and Goga the Robinson, before re-uniting at Lowell High and graduating with the class of 2020.

The sport of basketball also united them.

Gilkes credits the Celtics 2008 championship season for the spark that lit his love for the game. By second grade, he was playing Lowell Travel Basketball.

Bukuru, whose family immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2010, didn’t take up the sport until 8th grade.

“I didn’t choose the ball,” the young man more commonly known as BK remembers. “The ball was put in my hands by my Uncle Bear. Before that, I was never exposed to sports. But he wanted to show me a way to help myself out through athletics.”

George Yfantopoulos, who coached them for Lowell Travel Basketball, remembers a couple of great kids.

“I am so happy for Jay and Bukuru,” Yfantopoulos said. “These young men epitomize what we all want for our youth. They used sports as a vehicle to a better path. Their love for basketball was fueled back in their Lowell Travel hoop days. We have loved seeing their journey and are so excited for their next steps! Couldn’t be prouder of these two outstanding young men – love them both dearly!”

Jay Gilkes takes his turn holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy during the post-game celebration

From there, the duo went on to play at Lowell High, though BK’s time was cut short after suffering a serious knee injury during his sophomore season that, for all intents and purposes, ended his playing career.

With dreams of a college basketball scholarship now gone and his family facing eviction, Goga started a job at a supermarket. That’s when Uncle “Bear” again stepped up for his nephew, connecting him with Celtics Equipment Manager, Rob Bagdasarian.

In November of 2021, BK went to work for Boston’s storied NBA team. Once there, he didn’t forget his Mill City friend, and when a spot opened up in the ball boy lineup, he helped bring Gilkes onto the court.

Jay G., as he goes by when rapping, remembers his first day “like it was yesterday, February 11, 2022, the same day Derrick White made his Celtics debut.”

Ironically, we’ve probably seen the duo in action countless times since then, never realizing who they were.

Both can be spotted gathering rebounds during pre-game and halftime warmups. When game action unfolds, BK wields a mop, sprinting on and off the court after players hit the deck to make sure the sweat left behind doesn’t lead to more slips and falls. Gilkes runs the bench, handing out towels and gathering clothing at the scorer’s table as the men in Celtics uniforms enter and exit games.

“The pay is pretty good, but we’re not getting wealthy” Gilkes says. “You also have to appreciate the experience, and I certainly do.”

Gilkes and Jason Tatum during the locker room celebration

Part of the experience is working with the players themselves. While not necessarily blossoming into best friends, connections are made, with Gilkes realizing that these world class athletes are just normal people who are extremely good at basketball.

“They’re really down to earth and definitely built relationships with us,” he notes.

Asked if anyone in particular stands out, Jay G. cites Kristaps Porzingis. The Celtics newcomer is known for tipping generously, even on random nights after a loss.

“I haven’t seen him stop smiling since he got traded here,” Gilkes states. “What you see of him on camera, he’s a million times better behind the scenes.”

While BK also sings Porzingis’ praises, referring to him as “the most real person in that building,” he also speaks fondly of the NBA Finals MVP, adding that “Jaylen Brown has helped throughout my journey by giving words of encouragement. I’m truly inspired by the way he goes about living his life.”

Following Brown’s lead, Goga spends much of his free time giving back to the community, handing out clothing and sneakers while also having worked locally with organizations like UTEC and Youth Build.

“The reason I want more is so I can give more,” BK tells us. “My long-term goal is to inspire youth, give guidance, give back whatever I can give back. City to city, state to state, I just want to be out there helping people.”

Gilkes with Finals MVP Jaylen Brown

The whirlwind following the title victory continues when the duo, who still live in Lowell, celebrates with the team again at Friday’s parade through Boston’s streets.

After that, Gilkes goes back to concentrating on his rap music, which he aims to make relatable to the average person, not just 22-year olds.

“I want to be able to make music my mom can listen to,” he says proudly of the songs already available on SoundCloud and other major platforms.

Before you know it, September will be here and the Celtics quest for back-to-back titles begins. Alongside them, you’ll find Jay G. and BK doing their part to help Tatum, Brown and the rest of the players prepare and perform on the court.

Only this time, those of us at home or in the stands will know to look more closely for the two friends from Centralville who’ve injected Celtics Pride with a little bit of Lowell Pride.