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The 2008 Celtics are among the most beloved teams in the history of the city of Boston but one member of the title-winning team apparently wasn’t welcome to the C’s championship parade on Friday.
As Celtics players, coaches and staff rolled through the streets of Beantown on duck boats celebrating banner No. 18, several members of the ’08 team returned. Including former captain Paul Pierce and fan favorite Brian Scalabrine.
But when asked whether or not ex-Boston center Kendrick Perkins was invited back during a recent appearance on SiriusXM Radio, Scalabrine adamantly said “no.”
“No, no, no, no, no, no,” the White Mamba told Frank Isola, via Boston.com. “Big scarlet letter. … It’s not really an open-arms thing with Kendrick Perkins.”
Perkins, who played the majority of his career with the Celtics, has been critical of some of the franchise’s decisions over the years when it comes to coach Joe Mazzulla and keeping Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown together.
As an analyst on ESPN, he explained during a May interview why he’s said some of the things he’s said about his ex-team:
The last time I checked, the 8.5 years I played for Boston, the expectations were never [to be] mediocre or just good. It was always to be great and hang banners. What people have to understand is this: I don’t work for the Boston Celtics. Now, my heart will forever be with the Celtics, but I don’t work for the Boston Celtics. As part of doing my job for the national media and covering the entire league, I do have to go on television and speak on how I feel. It has to come from a real, authentic place. I cannot be a homer on television. I can’t do it. Do I want the Celtics to win and hang Banner 18? Hell yeah, I do.
It’s hard to knock Perkins for giving his honest opinions. But the Celtics are also free to have their own feelings on the situation. Hopefully, they’re able to resolve whatever bad blood there may be in the future.