From 2007 to 2012, guard Ray Allen was a star shooting guard for the Boston Celtics. Initially acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Seattle Supersonics, Allen was crucial to Boston’s championship win in 2008. Alongside Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the trio, named “The Big Three,” had a lot of success together. However, after five seasons with the Celtics, Allen departed to join the Miami Heat, a very unpopular move in Boston. The Heat had just defeated the Celtics in a seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series the year before. Additionally, led by their own star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, they were also the reigning champions. Many in Boston were upset about the move. However, nobody was more upset about it than his own teammates.
Pierce and Garnett (especially Garnett) have been open about being upset about Allen’s decision to join the Heat in the past. This led to a bit of a grudge between Allen and the other two. However, at Tuesday’s championship celebration, the three Celtics legends came together and returned to TD Garden as a trio. In a recent interview with Heavy.com, Allen revealed what led to them squashing their beef.
“I think, for the most part, time has passed, and it’s that idea of thought that as you age, you make amends with your past follies and you forgive old enemies,” Allen told Heavy Sports. “And I’m at the age now where I don’t want to have any issues with anybody, because I just want to live life and be happy.”
Ray Allen Reveals Why He Ended Boston Celtics Grudge
Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett Ended Their Beef a Long Time Ago
This is not the first time Allen and Garnett have made a public appearance together since the start of their beef. Back in 2022, the Celtics retired Garnett’s No. 5 jersey. Allen was in the arena, celebrating the honor alongside Garnett and Pierce. According to “The Big Ticket,” the tragic death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant inspired him to end his beef with his former teammate.
“The passing of Kobe and all of us getting older helped me understand that life is not given to none of us… it would’ve f***** with me if something happened to Ray and I didn’t get a chance to amend this”
Grieving Kobe’s passing helped me realize that life is short to hold… pic.twitter.com/8OnE4NYlnI
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) March 22, 2023
The Last Word
For Celtics fans, it is always a welcoming sight when Allen comes back to represent the Celtics. Regardless of how it ended, he still remains one of the team’s all-time legends. He won his first championship in Boston and was crucial to the team’s success. The next order of business potentially on the table is to retire Allen’s number. Since his departure in 2012, four players have worn his No. 20 jersey. This includes Gordon Hayward, Jabari Parker, Moritz Wagner, and JD Davison, who currently wears the number. Nonetheless, it would not be surprising either way if the organization decides to hang his number up on the rafters as well down the line.
