When it comes to the sport of basketball, there have been only a handful of players at any level able to shoot the rock on the same level as 2008 Boston Celtics champion shooting guard Ray Allen. But even he listens when His Airness offers counsel. And in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso, Allen recalled some sage words from Michael Jordan that might yet have currency with the Celtics of today.
“We’re out to eat, we’d just won (Banner 17), and we’re feeling pretty good,” said Allen. “MJ was there, and he said to us, ‘Y’all won one. Let’s see if you can win two. That’s when you’ve done something.'”
And why is it so hard to repeat, per Jordan? “Later in the night, MJ talked about how the hardest part of repeating is the role players no longer want to be role players,” said Allen. “It makes sense.”
WATCH: Making the case for the 1985-86 Boston Celtics as the greatest team all time https://t.co/YiWVfw1tBd pic.twitter.com/2l4OwGzPse
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 12, 2024
“They’re spending all summer hearing how great they are, and then you come back wanting more minutes, more touches,” said the UConn great.
‘All of a sudden, you’re not doing the same things you did last year to get the team to this place. It’s why you see the destruction of teams after they win championships.”
Will it happen to these Celtics? Perhaps. But they are by and large all scholars of the game — and keep in touch with the elder statesmen of the league — so they may have the jump on such derailing bad habits.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
