Almost two decades on from the Boston Celtics’ title success in 2008, Kendrick Perkins has credited their preseason trip with the basis for their success.
2008 saw the Boston Celtics end the longest title drought in their rich history, winning the championship for the first time since 1986.
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and a young Rajon Rondo provided the basis for their 2008 success, defeating historic rivals the LA Lakers 4-2 in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics’ big personalities were key to their triumph – and Kendrick Perkins claims the groundwork was laid in the 2007 preseason.
In preseason 2027 the Celtics took part in the NBA Europe tournament, defeating the Raptors in Rome and the Timberwolves in London.
The 89-85 win over the Raptors was the first game featuring their newly formed big three, with Pierce and Garnett acquired during the 2007 offseason.
Speaking to NBA Today on ESPN, Kendrick Perkins says that the time spent abroad was absolutely crucial to team bonding and set them up ahead of the season.
Perkins explained: “I think if we don’t go to Rome and London for training camp with the Celtics in 2007/2008, we don’t win a championship.”
Asked to elaborate, he said: “We had to start training camp there, it forced this new group of guys with a lot of egos to be around one another. Most of the days we didn’t even have practice.
“A lot of times it was just hanging outside of the hotel, grabbing something to eat.”
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Training camps ahead
Kendrick Perkins was recounting his experience ahead of the upcoming NBA preseason, where a handful of teams are heading overseas.
The Mavericks and Rockets will be playing a preseason game in Macao, China.
Perkins’ words highlight how useful the preseason games can be for team bonding, and there may be some recent evidence to support that.
Mike Brown’s New York Knicks tipped off last season playing in Dubai against the 76ers, and ended up winning the championship and knocking off Philadelphia along the way.
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