If you thought the NBA offseason would give us a break from spicy drama, think again. Kendrick Perkins, former Boston Celtics bruiser and current ESPN fire-starter, has reignited an old beef with ex-teammate Brian Scalabrine. On a recent episode of the “All the Smoke” podcast, Perkins held nothing back when discussing Scalabrine’s claim that Perkins has become persona non grata in the Celtics’ inner circle.
Now, let’s rewind to June when Scalabrine, who now serves as the Celtics’ resident commentator on NBC Sports Boston, decided to spill some tea on SiriusXM Radio. Apparently, Scal believes the Celtics have all but shunned Perkins, tagging him with what he called a “scarlet letter.” Ouch. Scalabrine went on to say that, even with the Celtics celebrating their historic 18th championship in 2024, Perkins shouldn’t expect a hero’s welcome in Boston.
Well, Perkins had some choice words for Scalabrine. “They win the championship, and Brian Scalabrine, fking Scal, he’s like, ‘Well, door’s not just open for him to come back to the Celtic organization,’” Perkins recalled, adding, “One, Scal, who the fk are you? You’re the same dude who, when we won the championship, changed into your jersey after the game just to get in the pictures.” Ouch. Street clothes to sideline hero? Perkins was not about to let that slide.
The two former teammates’ relationship, it seems, has become as chilly as a Boston winter. Perkins, who’s turned heads as an ESPN analyst, has never held back his critiques of the Celtics, recently urging the team to split up Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, claiming “no one in the NBA is scared” of them. Not one to miss a good jab, he’s also poked at head coach Joe Mazzulla’s coaching chops, infamously saying, “If you put Joe’s brain in a bird, it’d fly backward.”
But in a surprising twist, Perkins revealed that Mazzulla extended an olive branch ahead of the season. “I actually get an email from Joe Mazzulla saying, ‘Whenever you’re free, if you’re in Boston or we play the Rockets, I wanna go to dinner and break bread,’” Perkins shared on the podcast. The invite? Unexpected. Perkins? Actually considering it.
And to be clear, the Celtics’ 2024 championship parade was quite the spectacle. Former stars like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen were all in attendance, celebrating an 18th banner that’ll further cement Boston’s NBA legacy. Yet, there was no Perkins in sight.
Back in June, Perk hadn’t minced words in his first response to Scalabrine’s “scarlet letter” comment on the “Felger & Mazz” show. “Right now, I feel like Scal is a coward. Was I the only 2008 member missing from the duck boat? There were still 11 other guys missing. And to be honest, if I had gotten an invite, which I didn’t, I probably would’ve turned it down.”
The banter between Perkins and Scalabrine is far from over, and it’s adding an unexpected layer of soap opera drama to Boston’s hoops scene. On one hand, we have Perkins with his unapologetically loud opinions, poking at the Celtics from his ESPN throne. On the other, Scalabrine, the “White Mamba” himself, representing Celtics Nation from his NBC perch. One thing’s for sure—if Perkins does make good on that dinner date with Mazzulla, Boston might just have to brace for the next chapter in this roller-coaster rivalry.
Stay tuned, NBA fans, because nothing says team spirit like a little public beef to keep things interesting.
