I first heard this rumor the other morning on 98.5 and I believe CelticsLife was the originator of this theory. With the disaster that was this past Celtics season they are obviously in need of some changes, both on and off the court. What was the one thing the Celtics lacked this year, aside from wins? Grit and Balls. This could all be #fakenews but hear me out for a second.
Would the Celtics consider bringing back Kendrick Perkins as an assistant coach?
Perkins has been extremely critical of the Celtics and their issues, yet all while sounding eerily like an assistant coach on the bench.
Come on Scary Terry I love you bro but NEVER leave the Corner 3 like that!!! That’s not your help! Can’t give up plays like that!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 6, 2019
Perk has also been making the rounds on TV and radio more recently as he breaks down what he sees as the biggest problems on this Boston team. Hint hint: not a fan of Kyrie playing hero ball.
“In this series I think the way Kyrie went about it was disrespectful to the city of Boston, disrespectful to the organization and he didn’t represent what Celtic Pride is all about… He was a bad leader and it was proven he’s not a Batman.” — @KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/OcUQG8rJ6V
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 9, 2019
This sounds like a guy who wants to be on a bench somewhere imparting wisdom to younger players. I mean just look at this article from nearly two years ago about how Perk is “destined” to be a coach.
It makes a ton of sense. There was really no one to tell Kyrie Irving to stop acting like a dickhead because he was surrounded by Horford (quiet, lead by example type), Hayward ($30M bench player), a bunch of young guys, and mild mannered Brad Stevens. On one hand I think its a total crock of shit to say you *need* a coach who has played in the NBA to be successful, but on the other hand perception is reality. If players don’t respect the coach then it doesn’t matter how good of a coach he is. So while Brad may be the best X’s and O’s coach in the league, if Kyrie is tuning him out it doesn’t matter. Well, what if Kendrick Perkins is there to provide that street cred? A guy who played FOURTEEN seasons in the league and is a scary sonofabitch to boot. You think Kyrie, or Tatum, or anyone is going to ignore this guy??
God I miss Perk. #Celtics #AnythingIsPossible pic.twitter.com/8NjjKzuyMw
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) May 30, 2018
Not to mention, there is suddenly an opening on Brad Stevens’ coaching staff.
Ex-Celtics assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry explains decision to leave team: https://t.co/BVtPellB4K pic.twitter.com/e0JyLP9Yue
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) May 11, 2019
Lending more credibility to the rumor is the fact that Perk recently pulled out of the BIG3 League, just a couple of weeks after rosters were officially announced, which I blogged about extensively.
Kendrick Perkins has opted out of joining the BIG3 this season and as a result, the Aliens have called up former Killer 3s big man @TheRyanHollins 👽👽👽 #BIG3Season3 pic.twitter.com/JpyRCg3mJh
— BIG3 (@thebig3) May 11, 2019
Hmmm. The connection to the C’s is still there with Perk; enough that he actually reached out to Danny Ainge last season about returning as a player for the stretch run, before ultimately retiring. Here’s what I wrote back in November:
I LOVE Perk, but we all saw him last year with Cleveland in a suit. The guy would make a phenomenal coach or more likely a corrections officer, but we all understand his playing days are over…If Kendrick Perkins was born 20 years earlier he might be in the Hall of Fame today. I’m not joking. The guy was straight out of the 1980’s NBA. Bill Laimbeer would have been throwing hands with Perk twice a season. He was just an absolute force in the paint; a real old school bully. And that was exactly what the Celtics needed in 2007. A bodyguard for Rondo, a No. 2 to KG’s crazy, a guy willing to do the dirty work while the Big 3 handled all the scoring. He was the perfect fit for that team and both teammates and fans alike adored him.
So while there has been absolutely zero indication from the Celtics, Danny, Wyc, or even Perk himself about this move actually happening, it’s one that I would be completely on board with. The Celtics have lacked a scary strong veteran voice of leadership in the locker room for a long time and I think Perk could bring some Grit and Balls back to this team.
The 300s 