Boston Celtics: Doc Rivers wants Ray Allen at KG’s number retirement ceremony

There’s a chance for the hatchet to be buried between the 2008 Boston Celtics championship team and Ray Allen next year during KG’s number retirement.

The Boston Celtics are notorious for retiring jersey numbers. In fact, the historic franchise has the most retired numbers in the entire history of the NBA with 22 numbers that are hanging from a banner in the rafters at the TD Garden.

The last time a player had his number retired was just as recent as two years ago, when the Celtics put on a beautiful ceremony for Paul Pierce. The ceremony was an hour in length and included Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and many other of his former teammates, coaches, and the franchise’s ownership group.

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When Pierce finally raised the banner and officially locked his number in the rafters, we couldn’t help but notice there was an extra and empty square next to his number. We all had our own theories of who would be the next number retired next to Pierce on the legendary banner up in the rafters. The team announced they would be retiring Garnett’s No. 5 sometime next season.

Garnett spent six seasons with the Boston Celtics. He will forever be remembered not only for bringing an NBA Championship back to the city in ‘08, but also for his furious intensity, determination, and impact on the overall culture of the franchise. Garnett brought back the winning culture that Celtics legend Red Auerbach instilled in the franchise back in the late 50’s and all throughout the 60’s.

In 2008, Garnett’s first season with the Celtics, he was at the top of the league and made an immediate impact on his new team. He chose to be part of a team that already had it’s franchise player in Pierce, but there was no questioning who the leader of the team was, Garnett. He made the All-NBA First Team, the NBA All-Defensive First Team, won Defensive Player of the Year, and an NBA championship.

It’s definitely worth mentioning that Pierce and Garnett weren’t the only notable players on the Celtics during their championship season in 2008, there was another key element to the team during those years. That element being Ray Allen.

It should be noted that Allen was traded to Boston before Garnett signed as a free agent, and he was already on the verge of being the greatest 3-point shooter in the NBA. This was the first move in creating the Celtics’ next Big Three.

Although the Big 3 brought home the Larry O’ Brein trophy in their first year together, it was definitely one of those “easier said than done” moments. The Celtics and their Big 3 had endless battles over the years with the Los Angeles Lakers and the great Kobe Bryant, as well as the Miami Heat and a surging LeBron James.

Those endless battles became even stronger rivalries, all while LeBron became one of the Celtics’ biggest enemies. With that being said, after failed contract negotiations with the Celtics in 2012, Allen would jump ship and join the enemy and his team in Miami. By doing so, Allen lost the respect of not only Celtics Nation, but almost all of his former teammates as well. Unfortunately, after eight years, it’s still not water under the bridge.

Pierce, Garnett, and Allen are all retired now, but the grudges held between the Celtics’ ‘08 championship team and Allen are still strong. This was brought back to life again in 2017 when Pierce, Garnett, Perkins, Rondo, and Glen Davis all got together for a small reunion to reminisce about their championship run together. Allen was not invited.

A year later when Pierce’s number was retired in 2018, it was noticed by all that Allen was not in attendance and that the grudges are still strongly being held. With Garnett’s number retirement ceremony already dated for next year, will Allen make an appearance in the TD Garden to pay his respects to Garnett? Former Celtics’ coach (and current LA Clippers coach), Doc Rivers, says he feels responsible to try to bury the hatchet between Allen and their ‘08 championship team.

"“I think it’s ridiculous, but it’s [tension] still there, with some guys, not with every guy. KG is getting his jersey retired next year, and I’m hoping everyone is there. I’ll make the right calls — that doesn’t mean the right things will happen. I have a role in it. I just think we won a title with Ray, and we need to get over it.” – Doc Rivers, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN"

Just like Coach Rivers eluded too, the championship they all won together should trump any beef or tension between the guys. Life is too short to be holding grudges. It would be a huge monumental moment for the Boston Celtics if Allen went to the TD Garden and paid his respects for Garnett during his number retirement.