"In a lot of ways, me, Sam and Kevin were our big three." - Paul Pierce opens up about Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo's rocky relationship during their time together
The 2008 Boston Celtics will always be remembered as the "Big Three" era, spearheaded by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. They won one championship together and wreaked havoc in the Eastern Conference for multiple years in a row. That was the same championship that solidified Pierce, Allen, and Garnett's case in the Hall-of-fame, but surprisingly, one of them didn't always get along with the team.
Allen was the odd man out
In the recent episode "KG Certified: Ticket & The Truth", both Pierce and Garnett walked down memory lane and talked about their playing years with the green and white. Pierce, who won the Finals MVP in 2008, revealed that it wasn't always good vibes between Allen and his teammates, particularly Rajon Rondo. Apparently, the two champions didn't like each other much, and Allen didn't always hang around Pierce and KG.
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"I remember when Rondo re-signed with Boston, we had a little dinner at a restaurant, and Ray didn't show up," Pierce said. "I know Ray probably didn't like Rondo that much, but it wasn't a fact of not liking somebody. You don't have to like everybody you play with — it's a matter of showing support. Rondo probably didn't like Ray either, but he came to Ray's functions to show, 'Hey, we're together in this.' Even the year we won it, after a game we'd say, 'Let's go have something to eat and have a night with the older guys.' We'd get there and it would be me, Kevin, and Sam [Cassell], but no Ray. In a lot of ways, me, Sam and Kevin were our Big Three," Pierce said.
The Truth didn't explain why Rondo and Allen didn't get along, but it's still surprising to learn that this was the case considering the amount of time both guards spent together on the team. At the very least, both Rondo and Allen did a great job of staying professional because, just like what Pierce said, you don't have to like everybody you play with. The most important thing is that the tension between both guards wasn't the main reason why things fell apart during their era in Boston.
Pierce also thinks Rondo should be in the Hall-of-Fame
Pierce believes that Rondo, who won two championships, should indeed be considered a Hall-of-Famer. The Truth also said that Rondo is on the same level as Chauncey Billups and Kyle Lowry, given that he played a massive role in winning a championship for both the Boston Celtics in 2008 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
"If Chauncey Billups and Kyle Lowry get in, then for sure Rajon Rondo will," Pierce said. "Because I look at him on that level with them, and I think they have a legitimate chance to get in. You got guys like Kyle Lowry, and Chauncey Billups get in, then I'll say you gotta put Rondo. He's on that level with them."
The way Pierce talked about Rondo speaks volumes as to how great his NBA career was. He's a champion and certainly someone that deserves to be in the Hall-of-Fame. Only time will tell if the NBA feels the same way. But for now, there's no denying that the Celtics and Lakers wouldn't have their respective 17th championship if it weren't for Rajon Rondo.