Former Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck addressed the controversy surrounding Kendrick Perkins’ absence from the Celtics’ 2024 championship parade during a recent appearance on the Club 520 Podcast.
Grousbeck admitted regret over trading Perkins but emphasized the decision was complex. “I feel like I got kind of talked into it—but I did sign off,” he said, via HoopsHype. He noted that after Perkins’ departure, the team dynamic shifted and “our team didn’t feel the same.”
Perkins was notably left off the Celtics’ parade last year. Grousbeck revealed this was due to tension between Perkins and current players. “He had been giving people a lot of s**,” Grousbeck said. “I had family members of players saying, ‘If that guy’s in the parade, we’re not in the parade.’ I said, ‘Well, you win.’”
The former owner also reflected on Perkins’ importance to the Celtics’ 2010 championship run. He agreed that with Perkins on the roster in 2010, Boston would have won the title. “We probably did. And I love Perk to this day.”
Grousbeck’s comments shed light on the difficult decisions owners face balancing team chemistry and public image. While Perkins played a key role in past Celtics success, his strained relationships within the current locker room influenced the decision not to include him in the celebration.
