In the summer of 2012, Ray Allen decided to leave the Boston Celtics and sign with the Miami Heat, which caused problems between Allen and lots of Celtics players.
In an interview with WEEI Sports Radio Network, former Celtics star Paul Pierce spoke out about what bothered him the most about Allen’s departure
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“At the end of the day, it was really about how — when Ray left to Miami or how he did it and I always expressed that,” said Pierce. “We called you, I called his phone, I texted him, he wouldn’t answer. The next thing I know we learned there was a problem with his contract.
“I was like ‘Dude, just talk to me, maybe I can resolve this,’ and he just never returned calls. Next thing you know, he ends up in Miami. For me, it was about my call. Have the respect from a guy who you’ve been to some war with, who we talked every day. Let’s see if we can work this out again and that was the whole deal with me, personally.”
After being acquired by the then Seattle Supersonics via trade in 2008, Allen played five seasons with the Celtics, averaging 16.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 40.9 percent from three. While in Boston, Allen won his first NBA championship.
Following his departure from Boston, Allen played two seasons with the Heat, averaging 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 39.8 percent from three. In Miami, the Hall of Famer won his second and final NBA championship.
The University of Connecticut product played a total of 18 seasons in the NBA, averaging 18.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 40.0 percent from three and 89.4 percent from the free-throw line. Allen is also the player with the most three-point field goals in NBA history with 2,973.
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