Returning for the first time since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets, it was expected that veteran standouts Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett would receive a warm welcome from the fans in Boston.
And a warm welcome they did receive.
Before the trade to Brooklyn, Pierce spent his entire career in Boston (15 seasons). Garnett was acquired from Minnesota back in 2007, and spent six seasons with the Celtics.
The Celtics’ “Big Three”, a trio featuring Pierce, Garnett and the recently departed Ray Allen, brought another NBA Championship to the city in Boston in 2008.
Boston’s “Big Three”, which featured Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, celebrated an NBA title in 2008
WEEI reporter Mike Petraglia (@Trags) submitted the following raw video to his YouTube account. It features the introduction of both Pierce and Garnett. While the video isn’t of the highest quality, you can still clearly see (and hear) that the fans brought plenty of cheers. In predictable Boston fashion, the fans also immediately booed Nets coach Jason Kidd.
As the game progressed, the Celtics presented the fans and players with individual tributes to both Pierce and Garnett. Petraglia also posted videos of each of these to his YouTube account:
Boston’s Tribute to Kevin Garnett:
Boston’s Tribute to Paul Pierce:
On a personal note, it would have been great to be at the game. While it was a strong ovation, I actually expected the fans to cheer these two stars for a while longer during the original introduction. Perhaps it was the fact that the public announcer moved on to the rest of the team and coaching staff.
Either way, it was a great moment for a city that has celebrated a lot of sports success over the last decade.
(H/T Mike Petraglia – WEEI)
I agree that Stevens needs time, and I think he will do well there. While many people up this way didn’t know about him, because they aren’t big on college here, I thought it was an interesting and solid hire. They are young, as you said, and inexperienced, for sure. They will end up with a high draft pick, more than likely… all depending on the lottery. It’s a deep draft.
TOP–What do you think is going to happen to Rondo? There are constant rumors about him being in the trade market, but recently, there was chatter about him wanting to spend the rest of his career in Boston, and that the Celtics may consider inking him to a long-term deal.
TOP — KG had that fiery side, and certainly has done his share of trash talking on the court with all kinds of players. He’s the kind of guy that the local teams love and the opposing teams can’t stand.
TOP – KG is certainly known for a lot of trash talking on the court, and has had a lot of passionate moments like that for years. The local fans loved him…. and any local team would… leaving the opponents to despise them.
REV– It was classy. I have noticed that this city is very passionate about its former players… and this goes on both sides of the fence. Those that bail or take more money against a rival, they boo them mercifully… and for those that spent years and performed well, they throw them quite the tributes. It was just a great story, and I had to put it up. I’m actually going this weekend to a game…
Pretty classy move by the fans and the organization.
Did you happen to catch the press conference with both KB and Pierce afterwards?
Check it out if you can. Pretty touching.