Ex-Celtics Champion Tight-Lipped as Billionaire Owner Bans Him From 2024 Parade

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks by a 4-1 margin in the NBA finals and decided to take out their winning parade on June 21. Joe Mazzulla and his stars, dressed in their favorite attire, are set to roam through Boston after ending a sixteen-year title drought. Famous names are expected to turn up for the parade. However, one name that won’t feature in the parade is Kendrick Perkins. 

Perkins’ exclusion from the parade is unfortunate because he was a part of the Boston Celtics from 2003-11, the maximum time he spent with a single franchise in the NBA. He was also a part of the squad that won the Championship title in 2008. 

But last season, the relationship between Kendrick Perkins and the Celtics turned sour. As the Celtics were locked in for their 18th title, the former star criticized their journey in the league. He took a shot at the Celtics star Jayson Tatum when the Celtics lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 at home.

Perkins was furious over Tatum’s abysmal performances and spoke about him in great disappointment. “I’m so over Jayson Tatum. When is he going to arrive?” Perkins stated. Even on the social media platform X, he took a shot against the Celtics overtly stating that the Finals series was boring because of the Celtics.

Even though the Celtics ultimately won the title, it looks like Perkins’s condemnation of the Celtics didn’t age well as the Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck has, reportedly, banned him from the parade. While Perkins hasn’t reacted to the controversy, fans have various reactions.

Fans slam Kendrick Perkins

One fan stated that Kendrick Perkins doesn’t share cordial relations with the Celtics anymore like other former players do and it was natural that he would bear the brunt for his words. “Scal said on the radio the other day that the org doesn’t share their open door policy with him like they do with the other former players,” the fan wrote on X.

Another fan pointed out that Perkins worked for ESPN and chose to condemn the Celtics despite being a former player. That didn’t go down well with Boston.“Cause he chose the ESPN gimmick of hating on Boston in exchange for a check. SMH,” the user commented. 

One netizen wondered since Perkins had rough words for the Celtic players including that for Tatum, the players themselves might have vetoed keeping the former star out of the scene. “It’s because the players don’t want him around,” the netizen stated. 

According to another user, Stephen A. Smith is lauded for his straightforward expression of opinions, and Perkins was also probably trying to emulate Smith and gain popularity. “Perk trying to be the fat Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, he doesn’t bleed green,” The Celtics admirer commented.

Since Kendrick Perkins had previously stated that he felt the concert by The Pop Out: Ken & Friends was more entertaining than the Finals between the Celtics and the Mavericks, one Celtics fan himself didn’t want to see Perkins at the winning parade. “This man better not be at the parade tomorrow,” the fan wrote on X.

Before leaving, check out some insight Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about WNBA star rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.