Danny Ainge said on Thursday that he thinks the Boston Celtics will likely retire Kevin Garnett’s jersey, but he’s not sure if they will do the same with Ray Allen.
Allen and KG joined the Boston Celtics prior to the 2007-2008 season. The two combined with Paul Pierce to give the Celtics a formidable Big Three. They posted the best record in the league in their first season together and won the NBA championship. But is that enough for Garnett and Allen to have their jerseys retired?
Ainge, who has been a front office exec for the Celtics since 2003, told Toucher and Rich of The Sports Hub in Boston that he believes Paul Pierce (obviously) and Garnett are likely to have their jerseys retired, but he’s not sure about Allen.
“I’m not sure yet.” Ainge said about Allen’s number when asked. “I don’t know the answer to that. It will be something the ownership of the team will decide. Who knows what happens when those guys careers are over and time settles in. I honestly don’t know.”
The Celtics’ ownership group will make the determination on whose jerseys are retired, so Ainge is just offering his opinion.
If Allen came to the Celtics the same year as Garnett, why would KG be honored instead of him? Ainge mentioned (with prompting from the hosts) that Ray leaving the team for the Miami Heat would have something to do with it.
“I think that’s obviously somewhat of a factor. But I think time heals those hurts, and logic will take over,” said Ainge. “The question is did he play long enough and that kind of thing? There are a lot of great Celtics in history, and Ray Allen is certainly one of them. I know there will be consideration and discussion about that happening. We’ll see.”
Pierce is a franchise icon and no-brainer to have his jersey retired. But what I’m wondering is what makes Garnett any more deserving of the honor than Allen? Because he played six seasons with the team instead of five? That’s not a huge difference.
I asked Boston sports fan Steve DelVecchio for his opinion, and he said he would only retire Pierce’s number. I probably would do the same. But I can’t imagine you retire KG’s jersey and not Allen’s just because he left for Miami a year early.
Chest bump to Celtics Hub
