Ahead of this past NBA season, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla reaffirmed an open-door policy for former players and coaches to stay connected with the franchise.
“I hope that any and every Celtic feels like they can come to any practice or any game and be a part of that,” Mazzulla told NBC Sports Boston.
However, it appears that not every former Celtic is equally welcome. After Boston secured their 18th championship with a series-clinching win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Brian Scalabrine discussed the Celtics’ open-door policy. He revealed that former teammate Kendrick Perkins might not be as embraced by the organization.
“It’s not really an open-arms thing with Kendrick Perkins,” Scalabrine said on his SiriusXM show, The Starting Lineup, with Frank Isola. Scalabrine even suggested that Perkins has a “big scarlet letter” with the franchise.
Perkins, acquired by Boston via a trade during the 2003 NBA Draft, spent the first eight seasons of his NBA career with the Celtics, playing a key role as the starting center on their 2008 championship team. Since retiring, Perkins has become a high-profile NBA analyst for ESPN, known for his outspoken critiques of teams, players, and coaches. His candor has not always been well-received; notably, LeBron James unfollowed him on social media.
— Quis (@Marquis_98) June 21, 2024
Perkins has also criticized the Celtics, including star forward Jayson Tatum, whom he said “looked scared as hell” during a 2022 game. More recently, Perkins labeled Mazzulla a “birdbrain” in January. It’s unclear whether this comment preceded or followed his apparent estrangement from the Celtics.
Unsurprisingly, Perkins was absent from the former Celtics players who attended the championship parade. Nevertheless, ESPN maintained a presence at the event, with Jaylen Brown subtly taking a shot at Perkins’ colleague, Stephen A. Smith, through his wardrobe choice.
The situation highlights the nuanced dynamics between the Celtics organization and its former players, especially those who have transitioned to media roles that involve critiquing their old team.