Kendrick Perkins: ‘Celtics Have Some of the Best Talent in the League'

At The Sports Museum’s ‘The Tradition,’ an annual fundraising gala featuring some of New England’s most legendary athletes and industry leaders, NBC10 Boston’s Raul Martinez caught up with Kendrick Perkins, who was presenting former teammate Paul Pierce, someone he says he has serious love for. “I came in at 18, Paul took me under his wing, he showed me the ins and outs, I tell a lot of people without him, I don’t know if I would have a 14-year career or would have been able to last that long in the NBA,” Perkins said. “I’m so happy for Paul, he deserves this and much more. A lot of people don’t know the heart that he has.” When asked about Celtics player Kyrie Irving saying the team may need a 14- or 15-year guy, Perkins was quick to answer, “Well I’m right here, I’m right here, I’d rather come back home and finish my career off as a Celtic.” When talking about the Celtics sluggish start, Perkins said they’ll turn it around. “Talent wise, they have it, they have some of the best talent in the league. Danny is a mastermind. You go through bumps and bruises…at the end of the day, you’ll see, after the All Star break, the Celtics will run off 10 or 15 in a row. I have the Celtics coming out of the East.”