Author Topic: Retire KG's jersey?  (Read 21034 times)

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Re: Pierce: "KGs number is next to be retired. Its going to happen."
« Reply #75 on: February 14, 2018, 06:28:23 AM »

Offline Green-18

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I have a slightly different viewpoint regarding jersey retirements than most.  The idea that you must be a transcendent Hall of Fame player for a LONG time is too restrictive. 

Currently I am 28 years old, which means my viewership as Celtics fan began in 1996.  The numbers hanging in the rafters only added to the mystique of the Franchise when I was a kid.  I remember the Parrish and Maxwell ceremonies.  These types of events enhance the memory of prior greats.  If makes true fans of the game want to learn more about the history of the franchise.  I can only imagine what it was like to be a fan during their initial run of dominance throughout the 60's.  It would mean something as a fan today to see memories of those teams in the Garden.

As for KG, his jersey retirement would be the perfect bookend to a VERY important era for a younger generation of Celtics fans.  The sheer crowd response he receives is amazing.  We had some bad luck with injuries but can anyone argue that KG wasn't the embodiment of Celtic pride?  It matters to me that he wore his appreciation for Boston on his sleeve.  The intensity, grit, determination, and will to win have created a lasting memory.  Personally I want to see #5 next to #34 when I attend games in the future as an older fan.  It just feels right.

With that said, I draw the line at KG.  No Rondo or Ray.  The lasting memory of the fan base is extremely important.  They were both instrumental in our success but do we really care to see them celebrated in the same context as Pierce? Absolutely not.     

Re: Pierce: "KGs number is next to be retired. Its going to happen."
« Reply #76 on: February 14, 2018, 06:40:50 AM »

Offline Celtics4ever

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Quote
Tommy should have his retired because of the sheer longevity to services to the sport and Celtics and Reggie out of respect.

Tommy Gun was a heck of the player back in the day, too.

Re: Pierce: "KGs number is next to be retired. Its going to happen."
« Reply #77 on: February 14, 2018, 06:49:46 AM »

Offline Surferdad

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I love KG and what he did to help bring a championship and CELTIC PRIDE back to Boston.

However, after watching the entire number-raising celebration of Paul Pierce, I don't see how KG rises to that level.  The last number before #34 to be retired was #33, I believe.  It happens LESS OFTEN than championships for Boston.  It is a very special honor and goes way, way beyond being a great player.

Again, I love KG.

Re: Retire KG's jersey?
« Reply #78 on: February 14, 2018, 06:53:36 AM »

Offline bopna

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Yeah, Ray bled Green, too -
Why, because he wore a JoJo jersey when he was in middle school? Come on now. He bolted this team the moment the grind got hard. His jersey isn't going in the rafters. KG's is. It's not a question of if, it's a question of when.

Or - he bolted for MIA as his CHOICE before Danny Ainge traded him to Timbuktu.

Come on now...this has been discussed on here Ad Infinitum.

Let's be real, here....at this rate Uncle Drew had BETTER be looking ahead at HIS "PREFERRED" destination in a few years....rather than Danny's.

LOOK - you / we can say the old tired adage - "The NBA is a Business". I get it. But i'm certain you're tearing away the threads of LOYALTY when you dangle players out there like that.

At least Ray got a warning.



You know...I so glad that Larry and Kevin got to ride off into the sunset in Celtic Green. But I realize these are different times now.

Ray made his choice and I respect him for it.

He'll ALWAYS be a Celtic, to me.

No waaay..Ray played for the Celtics but he is no way always will be a Celtic...

Say whatever you want but at the end of the day KGs number is goin up and Ray's isn't..and im so glad for that. Ray can can have his retirement ceremony in Miami for all I care.

Re: Retire KG's jersey?
« Reply #79 on: February 14, 2018, 06:54:38 AM »

Offline Surferdad

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Yeah, Ray bled Green, too -
Why, because he wore a JoJo jersey when he was in middle school? Come on now. He bolted this team the moment the grind got hard. His jersey isn't going in the rafters. KG's is. It's not a question of if, it's a question of when.

Or - he bolted for MIA as his CHOICE before Danny Ainge traded him to Timbuktu.

Come on now...this has been discussed on here Ad Infinitum.

Let's be real, here....at this rate Uncle Drew had BETTER be looking ahead at HIS "PREFERRED" destination in a few years....rather than Danny's.

LOOK - you / we can say the old tired adage - "The NBA is a Business". I get it. But i'm certain you're tearing away the threads of LOYALTY when you dangle players out there like that.

At least Ray got a warning.



You know...I so glad that Larry and Kevin got to ride off into the sunset in Celtic Green. But I realize these are different times now.

Ray made his choice and I respect him for it.

He'll ALWAYS be a Celtic, to me.
Really?  That's not the way I remember it.  IIRC, Danny offered him more money than Miami (which they were able to do), and he turned it down to take less, money, farther from family and specialist doctors for his kid, to go chase a ring.

Re: Pierce: "KGs number is next to be retired. Its going to happen."
« Reply #80 on: February 14, 2018, 07:07:26 AM »

Offline freshinthehouse

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I love KG and what he did to help bring a championship and CELTIC PRIDE back to Boston.

However, after watching the entire number-raising celebration of Paul Pierce, I don't see how KG rises to that level.  The last number before #34 to be retired was #33, I believe.  It happens LESS OFTEN than championships for Boston.  It is a very special honor and goes way, way beyond being a great player.

Again, I love KG.

I hate (love) to nit pick, but #32, #35, #00 and #31 have all been retired since Bird's #33 was retired. 

IMO the Celtics need to stop retiring numbers.  Let that be a 20th century thing.  Since Pierce debuted in the 90s, let him be the last player to have this honor.  Start a ring of honor for 21st century stars.

Re: Retire KG's jersey?
« Reply #81 on: February 14, 2018, 07:58:48 AM »

Offline JBcat

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I see both sides of the fence.  Look at the Red Sox who have really high standards whose number is retired.  But who am I to say the likes of Bill Sharman, Frank Ramsey, Don Nelson, Satch Sanders, both Jones ect shouldn’t have had their number retired as I’ve never seen them play.  We did go on a historical run during that era with 11 championships in 13 years.  So hearing their name and seeing their number helps remind us how important they were to all those championships, and how good they were.  It kind of puts the Celtics dominant history in perspective.  I’ll use 2 of the latest retired numbers as examples why KG probably should have his retired, Max who played 8 season as a Celtic and DJ who played 7. 

This is a little off topic but we might have the beginning of guys getting their numbers retired way into the future in Irving, Brown, and Tatum.  Hayward and Horford are longer shots as they are older, but say they play 8 years in green with 2 championships they will have a shot.

Re: Retire KG's jersey?
« Reply #82 on: February 14, 2018, 08:33:50 AM »

Offline dreamgreen

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No. Wasn't here long enough and the Celtic's are out of control with that.

Pierce says KG will be next
« Reply #83 on: February 14, 2018, 10:09:07 AM »

Offline Phil125

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http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22429293/paul-pierce-says-boston-celtics-retire-no-5-honor-kevin-garnett

I loved KG's time in Boston, but I'm not sure we should be retiring his number.  One Ring and he only spent 6 of his 21 seasons in Boston.  Not exactly retirement numbers.  Is he the reason he got the ring yes, but no matter how much I wanted him to he never really felt like a true Celtic to me. 

He'd be the only one that did not spend the vast majority of his career in Boston.  The closest one would be DJ with a 50/50 split between his time in Boston and other teams.  He did have 2 rings going for him though.

Re: Pierce says KG will be next
« Reply #84 on: February 14, 2018, 10:11:33 AM »

Offline Chris22

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No KG, no ring.

Re: Pierce: "KGs number is next to be retired. Its going to happen."
« Reply #85 on: February 14, 2018, 10:47:05 AM »

Offline Surferdad

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I love KG and what he did to help bring a championship and CELTIC PRIDE back to Boston.

However, after watching the entire number-raising celebration of Paul Pierce, I don't see how KG rises to that level.  The last number before #34 to be retired was #33, I believe.  It happens LESS OFTEN than championships for Boston.  It is a very special honor and goes way, way beyond being a great player.

Again, I love KG.

I hate (love) to nit pick, but #32, #35, #00 and #31 have all been retired since Bird's #33 was retired. 

IMO the Celtics need to stop retiring numbers.  Let that be a 20th century thing.  Since Pierce debuted in the 90s, let him be the last player to have this honor.  Start a ring of honor for 21st century stars.
OK fair enough, but my point is that Bird was the last active player to have his number retired.  Is that correct?  If so, then retiring numbers doesn't happen too often.  It should be for very very special people.

Re: Pierce: "KGs number is next to be retired. Its going to happen."
« Reply #86 on: February 14, 2018, 10:52:30 AM »

Online Donoghus

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I love KG and what he did to help bring a championship and CELTIC PRIDE back to Boston.

However, after watching the entire number-raising celebration of Paul Pierce, I don't see how KG rises to that level.  The last number before #34 to be retired was #33, I believe.  It happens LESS OFTEN than championships for Boston.  It is a very special honor and goes way, way beyond being a great player.

Again, I love KG.

I hate (love) to nit pick, but #32, #35, #00 and #31 have all been retired since Bird's #33 was retired. 

IMO the Celtics need to stop retiring numbers.  Let that be a 20th century thing.  Since Pierce debuted in the 90s, let him be the last player to have this honor.  Start a ring of honor for 21st century stars.
OK fair enough, but my point is that Bird was the last active player to have his number retired.  Is that correct?  If so, then retiring numbers doesn't happen too often.  It should be for very very special people.

He wasn't active.  He retired in summer '92.  Larry Bird night was Feb '93.


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Re: Retire KG's jersey?
« Reply #87 on: February 14, 2018, 10:55:36 AM »

Offline OHCeltic

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KG is a great player his number will be retired in Minnesota. Not in Boston.

Re: Retire KG's jersey?
« Reply #88 on: February 14, 2018, 11:05:52 AM »

Offline JHTruth

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Certainly.

And I'm hoping that things thaw over time to where we can retire Ray's here as well.

The BIG THREE won Banner 17, not the BIG TWO. Things didn't reportedly go south between Ray and Co. until sometime after Banner 17 - and TBH it's petty in the larger scheme of things.

The Boston Celtics are a class organization and I'd hope that they'd consider putting Ray's up there as well.

Ray Allen was one of the most clutchest, cold-blooded shooters that BOS has EVER had - just ask Sasha Vujacic.

He's going to be a first ballot HOFer I'm certain.

Hayward has Ray's # now. I think that was a pretty large signal that Ray is not getting his # retired here. I think he should if we're going to retire KG, but for some reason the Celtics don't see it the same way. That Miami move really hurt his cause I think..

Re: Retire KG's jersey?
« Reply #89 on: February 14, 2018, 11:52:11 AM »

Offline moiso

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KG deserves it because as it has been mentioned, he changed the whole culture and gave us the championship mindset.  The whole organization is still reaping that benefit many years later.

Ray was a good piece for a few years and contributed to a championship team.  I would argue that Antoine should get his number retired before even thinking of retiring Ray's number.  I couldn't stand him, but Antoine was a true Celtic and the face of the franchise for many years.  Ray had a great career but retiring his Celtic number would be ridiculous.