{"id":97639,"date":"2025-08-20T20:39:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T20:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/97639\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T20:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T20:39:07","slug":"paul-pierce-saw-another-switch-of-evil-to-kevin-garnett-during-2009-celtics-team-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/97639\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Pierce saw \u2018another switch of evil\u2019 to Kevin Garnett during 2009 Celtics\u2019 team meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Celtics<\/a> looked poised to repeat as NBA champions in 2009 after they brought back the same starting roster that won Banner 17 in 2008.<\/p>\n

But things became even more difficult after the Celtics lost Kevin Garnett that February for the remainder of the year due to a right knee injury. As Boston started to unravel, a team meeting was held to try to get back on track.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was like a disconnect between the older guys and the younger guys on the team,\u201d Paul Pierce said during an appearance on Julian Edelman\u2019s \u201cGames With Names\u201d podcast<\/a>. \u201cAnd then I remember Kendrick Perkins said something. All I know, we all were on the plane and all the coaches were on the bus because we were clearing the air. Perk said something that turned on another switch of evil to KG.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Kevin was going to kill Perk,\u201d he continued<\/a>. \u201cLike for real, kill him. I saw it in his eyes. It was just the most intense moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pierce<\/a> didn\u2019t say what it was Perkins<\/a> said to set Garnett off, but noted the reason the meeting was called was to address issues off the court that \u201ccan\u2019t get into.\u201d<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t the first time Perkins said something that rubbed someone the wrong way. When the Celtics won Banner 18 in 2024, Perkins wasn\u2019t invited<\/a> to the championship parade.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wasn\u2019t invited to our parade last year, that is true,\u201d Wyc Grousbeck said on the \u201cClub 520\u2033 podcast<\/a>. \u201cBecause he had been giving people a lot of (expletive), and so I had family members of players saying, \u2018If that guy\u2019s in the parade, I\u2019m not in the parade.\u2019 So I said, \u2018OK, you win.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Any off-court issues in 2009 seemingly were pushed to the side as Boston finished second in the Eastern Conference standings. But the Celtics\u2019 title defense came to an end in the Eastern Conference semifinals.<\/p>\n

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