Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce calls a time out during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks. Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Celtics Legend Takes Shot at Knicks

Originally posted on New York Knicks on SI
By Jeremy Brener | Last updated Sep 15, 2025 7:00 AM ET

The New York Knicks are coming into the season feeling pretty good about themselves, especially after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals back in May.

In order to reach the NBA's "Final Four," they had to get past the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round. While the Knicks won the series, Celtics legend Paul Pierce took a shot at his former rival in a recent interview.

“Yeah, I think they blew that series,” Pierce told Heavy on Celtics reporter Steve Bulpett. “Absolutely. They had 20-point leads in the first two games — at home — and they lost them both? Yeah, they blew that series. That had nothing to do with the Knicks’ talent and all that.

“But a lot of that goes on the way they play, too. Because they’ve been a team over the last few years that’s given up big leads because they settle for the 3. You know, you live by it, you die by it. But when you win a championship, what you gonna say? What you gonna say, tell them to play something different, take it in more when this is how they won? That’s who they are.”

Former Boston Celtics player Paul Pierce Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Knicks should deserve come credit for overcoming large deficits to win on the road in a hostile Boston crowd, but of course a Celtics legend like Pierce isn't going to be the source of that praise.

The Celtics could be a threat to New York again this season, but Pierce is skeptical based on Boston's moves this offseason.

“You now, it’s hard to really gauge it because of the Tatum injury and seeing what’s left. But I think they can get better,” Pierce told Heavy. “We’re not better than a year ago, based on what we lost. You lose three starters with Tatum, Jrue and Porzingis, you’re not going to be as good.

“So although going into training camp it’s going to be like, hey, we can still win a championship, I mean, every team preaches they’re a championship team whether they are or not. That’s just what training camp is."

This article first appeared on New York Knicks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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