Celtics Owner Confirms Kendrick Perkins Excluded From 2024 Parade Over Team Criticism

The Boston Celtics did not invite former center Kendrick Perkins to their 2024 championship parade due to his frequent and harsh criticisms of the team, according to team owner Wyc Grousbeck. Perkins, who played for the Celtics for seven and a half seasons and was part of their 2008 championship squad, has since become an ESPN analyst known for his blunt commentary, which reportedly upset current players and their families. Grousbeck revealed that family members of players threatened to skip the parade if Perkins attended, leading to the decision to exclude him despite inviting several of his former teammates. Perkins has acknowledged his strained relationship with the team and suggested he would likely have declined an invitation anyway, emphasizing that the parade was the current players' moment. While Grousbeck expressed personal affection for Perkins, he justified the move as necessary to maintain harmony among players and their families. The situation highlights the tension between former players turned analysts and the franchises they cover, especially when criticism is involved.