Kendrick Perkins, who was part of the championship-winning Boston Celtics team in 2008, is expressing bold criticism regarding the current state of the franchise.
As the Celtics gear up for the 2024-25 season with a largely unchanged roster that achieved the 2024 championship, Perkins believes that the team fails to instill fear in their opponents across the league.
“No one in the NBA is scared right now of the Boston Celtics,” Perkins asserted during a segment on NBA Today. “I’m just letting you know this. This is why the New York Knicks went out and acquired Mikal Bridges and improved their roster. This is also why the Philadelphia 76ers brought in Paul George and boosted their lineup. They’re entering training camp feeling confident.”
He continued, “Many people are examining the route the Celtics took to capture the NBA Championship and are suggesting it was relatively straightforward. The competition and teams they faced were not at full strength… There’s a reason we’re witnessing this trend of teams not repeating; teams are enhancing themselves each offseason.”
Perkins’ comments came in conjunction with the Celtics’ media day.
In a surprising revelation, head coach Joe Mazzulla shared his perspective on why he hasn’t relished the aftermath of their championship success.
“I believe attachment is something you need to be conscious of, right? I think one of the challenges this offseason was to detach from the past, understanding that holding onto either success or failure for too long can be quite perilous,” Mazzulla remarked. “And the world often attempts to keep you anchored to the past.”
Image Source: Kendrick Perkins @ Instagram