On the latest episode of the All The Smoke Podcast hosted by former NBA forwards Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce talked about his beef with former teammate Ray Allen.
Allen won a championship and was a three-time All-Star as a member of the Celtics, but his departure to the Miami Heat as a free agent after the 2012 season caused a rift between Allen and his guys on the Celtics, mostly Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo.
“This is my whole deal with Ray and the reason I had a problem with him. One, he went to our rival,” Paul Pierce said. “LeBron James was a rival of the Celtics, regardless if he was in Cleveland or Miami … Two, I was calling him when [the Celtics] were in the middle of contract negotiations before he left. He’s not answering anybody’s calls and I’m hearing he’s going to Miami. He’s not returning my call. I just feel like as a certain respect as a teammate, as a brother, we can have this conversation.
“If you’re not wanting to play with us no more, at least let us know … I felt that was a slap in the face or disrespect from a brother. So that was my whole beef with him, and other guys felt the same way. Since then, me and him have talked … I don’t have no problem with Ray today.”
Allen appeared in 358 games for the Celtics during the regular season. He averaged 16.7 points. The sharpshooter was voted in as a Hall of Famer last season. Allen will go down as one of the best shooters in NBA history.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has said Boston might not retire Allen's No. 20 jersey because of his decision to sign with the Heat.
Gordon Hayward has worn No. 20 since he signed with the Celtics in the summer of 2017. He is the only Celtics player to wear the No. 20 since Allen left.
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