Paul Pierce’s Jersey Retired, Kevin Garnett Doesn’t Belong As A Boston Celtics Great

The Boston Celtics retired Paul Pierce’s number on Sunday.  Pierce played 15 NBA seasons with the Celtics from 1998 to 2013.  In his time with the Celtics he established himself as one of the best players in the NBA and in Boston Celtics’ history.  He averaged 21.8 points, 3.9 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.  Boston went to the playoffs with him 10 times and won the NBA Championship in 2008.  Pierce was deserving of this highest honor since most of his career was spent with the Celtics.   Another member of the 2008 NBA Championship team who may have his number retired is Kevin Garnett.
            Garnett spent 6 years of his 15-year NBA career with the Celtics.  In those years he was one of their top defenders averaging 8.3 rebounds, 1 block, and 1.2 steals per game.  His presence took pressure off of Pierce on defense.  
On offense Garnett played down low near the basket allowing him to have offensive rebounds for easy buckets.  He could also drive on defenders for dunks.  His average points per game in a Celtics uniform was 15.7.  Looking at those numbers is he worthy of having his number retired as a Celtic.
            The problem is the bulk of his career was spent with the Minnesota Timberwolves.  He established his game to become one of the top power forwards in the game in Minnesota.  His prime was spent in Minnesota averaging 11 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.4 steals and 19.8 points per game.  When he was traded to the Boston Celtics he was 31 years old.
            The Celtics shouldn’t retire his number.  He was a decent player in his time with the Celtics but was not the reason they won the NBA Championship.  The Celtics need to let people remember Garnett as a decent player but not the one of best players in Celtics history.  His jersey doesn’t belong in the rafters with the other great Boston Celtics players.

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