Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce seemed to take a jab at Kyrie Irving while talking about Kemba Walker.
Per Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, Pierce shared his thoughts on the sign-and-trade deal which sent Walker to the Celtics. He effectively replaced fellow guard Irving who went on to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.
Article Continues BelowâI mean, talent donât always win,â said Pierce to Bulpett. âWeâve seen that plenty of times. Itâs about fit. Who knows if Kembaâs going to be the right fit, because itâs always about more than basketball. Itâs about how you get along with your teammates and how the chemistry is. And thatâs a strength of Kembaâs, so hopefully itâll work out.â
Pierce was referring to the reported chemistry issues among the Celtics players last season. Despite the crop of talented players they had, Boston failed to make the most of it as evidenced by their sub-par regular season record and short playoff campaign. Reports reveal that there were off-court issues that spilled on over to their on-court performance.
And Irving, tagged as the leader of the team not just because of his superior skill but also because of his experience, was the one who got the blame. Some say that he simply failed as a leader.
Now, Boston has three-time All-Star in Walker who has tons of individual accomplishments in his resume but has yet to play for a contender. Also, they can finally move on from what was a relatively unforgettable year with Irving.