Former Celtic Kendrick Perkins credits Doc Rivers with helping him have a long NBA career
It’s not that unusual for NBA players to think more of their basketball abilities than an accurate assessment would provide when they arrive in the league from college. But the same irrational confidence they exhibit is identical to what got them to the Association in the first place. It makes sense young players misgauge their abilities early.
So it might not be so shocking to hear how former Boston Celtics big man Kendrick Perkins took some honest criticism from then-new head coach Doc Rivers early in his career with the Celtics.
“I didn’t know Doc, he didn’t know me,” said Perkins in an interview with WEEI’s Meghan Ottolini. “(H)e said, ‘Perk, I’m just going to be honest with you. You could try to go out here and be an All-Star and a franchise guy, and you could make it – but I believe you won’t.'”
Nine teams passed on The Truth on draft night in 1998; thanked in his basketball hall induction, which regretted it most? https://t.co/nfUcKmAnPx
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 1, 2023
Instead, Rivers worked with Perk to become the post-dominating, rim-protecting center the team needed to win a title.
“I always joke with Doc,” said the 2008 titlist ‘”You know you held me back?” he asks Rivers, who jokingly replies, “No, I blessed you with a long career.”
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
