The relationship between Ray Allen and his former Boston Celtics teammates is very icy, and the retired sharp-shooter does not seem motivated to mend it any time soon.
On Monday, several members of the 2008 Celtics championship team — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis — appeared on Garnett’s show “Area 21” to discuss the way Allen left the team to join the Miami Heat in 2012. They all agree that if Allen wants to smooth things over, he needs to be the one to reach out.
“It was more than basketball for us… It felt like a sour breakup.”
Pierce, KG, Rondo, Big Baby & Perk share their thoughts on Ray Allen. pic.twitter.com/8JYRWmxm0i
— KG's Area 21 (@KGArea21) May 9, 2017
On Tuesday morning, Allen shared an interesting photo on Facebook. While he didn’t address the comments from his former teammates, they say a picture is worth 1,000 words.
I wonder if Ray Allen saw some of that #KGAREA21 from last night pic.twitter.com/ItpinId9YF
— Matthew Coca (@MatthewCocaCBS) May 9, 2017
Allen and Rondo didn’t get along even before Allen left to join the Heat, and it was Rondo who recently said Allen will not be invited to a vacation he is planning for the 2008 Celtics team. But for what it’s worth, Garnett believes everyone will bury the hatchet at some point.
KG says they bear Ray Allen no ill will, will probably reconcile pic.twitter.com/PUnl6a83Uy
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) May 9, 2017
“I like to think so. I like to think that as we grow and progress, time heals all wounds,” K.G. told TNT’s “Inside the NBA” crew. “We have no ill will toward Ray. Shout-out Ray and his family. Shout to him with his new restaurant and all his glory.”
We knew with remarks like the ones Garnett made years ago that Allen rubbed his ex-teammates the wrong way. He joined a rival in pursuit of a title, and he ended up getting another ring before he retired. The fact that Allen wasn’t getting along with Rondo or former Celtics coach Doc Rivers probably made his decision easier, but Garnett and company clearly feel Ray owes them an apology.
