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Ray Allen joined the Boston Celtics in 2007 in hopes of creating something special, and he didn’t disappoint as they managed to clinch a title in 2008 against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, a crucial decision in Allen’s career sparked the end of an era for the Celtics and their ‘Big 3’ of Garnett, Pierce and Allen.
Come summer of 2012, Ray Allen, who was bothered by previous trade rumors and contract dispute in Boston, made a decision to join their Eastern Conference rival Miami Heat, who at that time, were obviously the team to beat and the biggest roadblock to his former Celtics team.
Allen’s decision didn’t sit well with his Boston teammates, particularly Kevin Garnett. Garnett, Pierce and Rondo have been feuding with Allen ever since he left, but last year, ten years later, things finally changed for the better.
During the 2022 All-Star weekend in Cleveland already, where both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, alongside their former teammate Paul Pierce, were honored as members of the NBA’s 75 team, Garnett and Allen were seen talking to each other for the first time since Allen left for Miami.
Then, some time after, during Kevin Garnett’s Boston Celtics jersey retirement ceremony, Allen was one of the guests and the two shared a hug that ended in a group hug.
Garnett now posted a clip on his Twitter, in which he explained how Kobe Bryant’s death was instrumental in ending the feud with Allen:
“The passing of Kobe and all of us getting older helped me understand that life is not given to none of us. It would have f*cked with me if something were to happen to Ray and I didn’t get a chance to amend this.
Grieving Kobe’s passing helped me realize that life is short to hold things against people. Cherish the ones you love and let them know they are appreciated while you can,”
“The passing of Kobe and all of us getting older helped me understand that life is not given to none of us… it would’ve f***** with me if something happened to Ray and I didn’t get a chance to amend this”
Grieving Kobe’s passing helped me realize that life is short to hold… pic.twitter.com/8OnE4NYlnI
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) March 22, 2023
