The Truth Hurts: Why Paul Pierce should have his own day on February 11

Isaiah Thomas is one of the most beloved Boston Celtics of all time. He played a game after having reconstructive surgery to repair his teeth that had been knocked out in the game prior. He played with a nagging hip issue. He led his team to the playoffs in all three of his seasons in Boston. He was a two-time All Star in the Eastern Conference despite standing 5 feet 9 inches tall. He even played in a playoff series following the tragic death of his sister. He is – and will always be – near and dear to Celtics fans.

Thomas is without a doubt the second most popular Celtic since Larry Bird.

But does he deserve a tribute video? Absolutely. Just not on February, 11.

Boston is a franchise well known for producing and airing a tribute video aimed at former players when they return to the TD Garden after their time with the Celtics has come to an end. They did it for Kevin Garnett, they did it for Paul Pierce, they did it for Rajon Rondo, they even did one for Avery Bradley. So the Boston Celtics will without a doubt air a tribute video for Isaiah Thomas, who was shipped off to Cleveland this off-season in a trade that brought Kyrie Irving to Boston and a trade that obviously hurt Thomas, who gave his heart and soul to the city of Boston.

Had the Celtics aired a tribute in Thomas’ initial return to Boston on January 3, there would have been no issues regarding the video. The only problems were: Thomas sat out the game due to rest after returning from a hip injury that sidelined him for the first half of the season, and Thomas had requested that Boston not air one during that game. So the video was postponed until February 11, to the dismay of Paul Pierce.

Sunday, February 11, is the next time the Cleveland Cavaliers will be in Boston to take on the Celtics. It’s also the same day that Boston will raise number 34 into the rafters of the TD Garden, the number Paul Pierce wore during his 15 seasons as a member of the Celtics. Pierce, a first ballot Hall of Famer will be back in Boston that weekend to take part in what is one of the highest honors a player can receive and he doesn’t want to share the attention.

Pierce helped to lead the Boston Celtics to their first NBA Championship since the 1980’s and was part of the infamous ‘Big 3’ with Ray Alllen and Kevin Garnett. Pierce was a ten-time All Star and is second all-time leading scorer in Celtics history. And deservingly so, he doesn’t want to share his jersey retirement celebration with Thomas.

About the Celtics plan to air a tribute the same night as his jersey retirement, Pierce said, “I.T. might have to wait until next year. I don’t know if they need to put him in a tribute video … Isaiah, this was your night. Come February 11, you might have to wait until next year.” He went on to say, “Everybody’s getting a tribute video now. You play for a team, you get traded, you get a tribute video. Now, I’m not saying Isaiah shouldn’t get a tribute video. On February 11, the night I get my jersey retired, I’m not sure I want to look up at the jumbo-tron and see Isaiah highlights. After all the years I put in … hopefully the Boston Celtics will do that for me. I’m not sure if I want to see an Isaiah video that night.”

Unfortunately for Thomas, Paul Pierce has a valid point. Thomas had a chance to get a tribute video in his first game against the Celtics in January. Its unprecedented to see a player dictate when and where they want to get their tribute videos and while Pierce has received criticism for selfishly wanting an entire day for himself and refusing to share the spotlight with Thomas, the current Cavaliers guard isn’t innocent in this situation either. Thomas easily could have welcomed a tribute video on January 3, or he could have postponed it until next season – or even the playoffs considering the Celtics and Cavaliers look to be on a collision course in the Eastern Conference Finals.

But Thomas has done neither of these things. Rather, he has come out to say that he believes his tribute should come on the same day as Paul Pierce’s jersey retirement. Thomas said, “That’s Pierce’s night, but the video tribute ain’t the whole night ... When my representatives reached out to these guys, they were all for it and they agreed on it. I don’t know why [some people are] so mad about it. I’m not taking nothing from Paul Pierce. He did 15 years here.”

Thomas’ response is surprising to say the least. If there was someone who would understand Pierce’s thought process on the matter you would expect it to be another player. Players understand that getting your jersey retired is a big deal, especially for someone who played 15 years for a single franchise. The Lakers didn’t air a tribute video for Nick Young the same night they retired Kobe Bryant’s number.

The decision will eventually come down to Danny Ainge, the GM and President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics and Ainge is in a no-win situation. The decision to air a tribute video for Isaiah Thomas will upset Pierce, a player who will go down as one of the greatest Celtics of all-time and could possibly turn him off to the idea of remaining in contact with the Celtics organization. On the other hand, if Ainge decides to postpone Thomas’ tribute it might upset the former Celtic even more – Thomas has been quite vocal about his disdain towards Danny Ainge following Ainge’s decision to trade him – and could further complicate the relationship between Isaiah Thomas and Danny Ainge who were rumored to have buried the hatchet following Thomas’ first return to Boston.

The decision will be tough but that’s why Ainge makes the big bucks. But sometimes the truth hurts, Isaiah, Paul Pierce deserves his night. But don’t worry, the Celtics will give you what you have rightfully earned next season.