BOSTON — As an October baby, Paul Pierce has never had to worry about taking a regular-season game off to celebrate his birthday. Not that he’d worry much about it, regardless.
Back at TD Garden for the second time since he was traded away last summer, the former Boston Celtics captain said he was amused by the controversy stemming from Rajon Rondo’s birthday last month.
The Celtics point guard — and Pierce’s successor as team captain — opted to stay behind in Los Angeles to celebrate his birthday with his family rather than accompany the team to Sacramento for a game he wasn’t scheduled to play in. Pierce said a lot had been made out of nothing.
“I thought it was great that he enjoyed his birthday,” Pierce said, chuckling. “I mean, he said he wasn’t playing anyway. I enjoy my birthday every year, but mine’s in the preseason.
“I don’t see what the big deal is about it. I think everybody’s making a big issue out of it. I don’t know. Happy birthday, Rondo.”
Rondo’s decision raised eyebrows among fans and earned him an over-the-phone meeting with team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. Rondo was informed there could be “consequences” for failing to travel with the team, but none has been announced publicly.
