When the Boston Celtics celebrated their record-breaking 18th NBA championship in 2024, the streets of Boston were filled with green and white, duck boats, and franchise legends. But one familiar face was conspicuously absent: Kendrick Perkins, the former Celtics center and 2008 NBA champion turned ESPN analyst. Now, over a year later, former Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck has revealed why.
Speaking on the Club 520 podcast hosted by ex-Celtics guard Jeff Teague, Grousbeck confirmed that Perkins was intentionally left off the guest list, not because of personal animosity, but due to internal pressure from within the organization.
“I love Perk to this day,” Grousbeck said. “But he wasn’t invited to our parade last year, that is true. Because he had been giving people a lot of s***. I had family members and players saying, ‘If that guy’s in the parade, we’re not in the parade.’ So I said, ‘OK, you win’”.
The tension stems from Perkins’ increasingly critical commentary on the Celtics in recent years. As a prominent voice on ESPN, Perkins has not shied away from calling out players, coaches, and the front office. His most infamous remarks include calling head coach Joe Mazzulla a “birdbrain” and suggesting Jayson Tatum looked “scared as hell” during the 2022 NBA Finals. While some fans appreciate his candor, those inside the Celtics’ locker room and their families apparently saw it differently.
Perkins, for his part, initially denied being snubbed. In a now-deleted post on X, he claimed he never planned to attend and hadn’t reached out to the team.
“Happy Sunday and carry the hell on,” he wrote at the time.
But Grousbeck’s comments have now confirmed that the decision was deliberate and driven by a desire to preserve harmony during the team’s moment of triumph.
The situation highlights the delicate balance between media criticism and personal relationships in today’s NBA. Perkins was a beloved enforcer during his playing days in Boston, known for his toughness and loyalty. But his transition to media has complicated those bonds. While his former teammates Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen were warmly welcomed at the parade, Perkins was left on the outside looking in.
