Where do I begin when talking about Perk? Should I talk about watching the 2003 draft from my trusty Lay-z-boy recliner and seeing the Celtics draft an 18 year old center from Clifton J Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas? What about watching him evolve into a starting center in the NBA as he transformed his body? Perhaps I should talk about how he was the most underrated starter on the 2008 championship team? I could even start with how he was traded and the Celtics players shed tears that he was leaving?
I think I'll start at the beginning. Kendrick Perkins was drafted with the 27th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. This was the same draft that produced Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and even the immortal Darko Milicic. The Celtics possessed two picks in the first round of this draft, and traded them to Memphis, who also had two picks in the first round. Boston drafted Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones with their picks and then immediately traded them to Memphis for their two picks, Marcus Banks and Kendrick Perkins.
In his first year, Perk was a fat high school kid who looked overwhelmed. He played sparingly but behind the scenes his work ethic was second to none. During the playoffs of his rookie year he was forced to take series deciding free throws against the Pacers due to Paul Pierce being ejected. He missed them both and returned to the bench for the rest of the game, eventually a Celtics' win. I remember being worried that the confidence of our 18 year old "center of the future" had just been killed. Displaying incredible mental toughness, Perk shook it off and got himself into the best shape of his life, insuring that he would be a player the following year.
The next few years were difficult for the young center in green. He was eventually given the starting spot when Raef Lafrentz and Mark Blount were traded, pairing up with my favorite Celtic at the time, Al Jefferson. Perk and Al had both come out of high school in consecutive years and were going to be the Celtics big men of the future. They had a rule that they played by called "No Layups" meaning that they would give a hard foul instead of allowing a layup. They meshed extremely well, with Perk being the defensive-minded, hard nosed, rebounder and Al being the finesse, offensive scoring machine in the post. The two both suffered through injuries, Perk's shoulder and Al's ankles, but when they played together it was obvious that they were both special players.
In 2007, Al Jefferson was traded in a mega-deal for Kevin Garnett. This was the best thing to ever happen to Kendrick Perkins. Unfortunately, Al was Perk's best friend on the team and he hated to see him go, but Garnett was about to transform the Celtics into a championship level team. Before the 2006 season, Kendrick had resigned at a home town discount price with the Celtics, a contract that would run through the end of the 2010-2011 season. Everyone knows how the 2007-2008 season played out with the Celtics winning a championship and Perk being the big defensive center that held everything together.
February 24, 2011. The day the Celtics broke apart a team that was a favorite to win the championship. I was leaving UNE after a trip to the gym and I heard it on sports talk radio. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I'm not sure I can do it justice though, check out this video to see what the players thought.
This video doesn't even show Rondo, who was Perk's best friend on the team or the reaction from Perkins himself. From all accounts there wasn't a dry eye in the building when they informed him he had been traded.
This past Monday Kendrick was back in the Garden for the first time since his trade to Oklahoma City last February. If there was any doubt about the legacy he left here, I think this video answers it.
We watched him grow up, from a fat 18 year old kid into a man. He was in Boston for eight years and as someone who has been a fan since before he joined the team, I can say that it was a true privilege to watch him play. He won a championship in Boston, started a family in Boston, and will always be a Celtic.
I'll give Perk the last words.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed. Be sure to leave a comment, become a fan of this page, go back and read all my other entries, and don't count out the Celtics yet.
-Josh
ps. I've been reading about Paul Pierce trade rumors. If that happens be prepared for a blog written by someone who just had a complete breakdown.
Where are all the ads?!
ReplyDelete