Ex-Celtic Kendrick Perkins Rips Kyrie Irving For Missing Boston Return

It’s safe to say Kendrick Perkins does not like Kyrie Irving.

The former Celtics big man was critical of Irving throughout last season, but took his criticism to another level after the star point guard left Boston for the Brooklyn Nets in free agency. And, well, that trend continued Saturday night after news broke that Irving, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, will not make his TD Garden return Wednesday.

Perkins, like most Green Teamers (including Paul Pierce), believes Irving is taking the coward’s way out.

Check out this tweet:

Of course, it’s entirely possible that Irving’s injury is legitimate and that he would play Wednesday night if he could. It’s also possible he’s making a concerted effort to avoid “that smoke.”

Either way, Celtics fans aren’t happy, and it’s hard to blame them.