Celtics legend Paul Pierce reveals the true impact Kevin Garnett has on the team

Paul Pierce remains confident that the Boston Celtics were on track to secure another NBA championship in 2009—had it not been for Kevin Garnett’s untimely injury. Speaking on the latest episode of Podcast P with Paul George, the Hall of Famer and Celtics icon looked back on what he believes was a lost title opportunity due to Garnett’s absence.

“Yeah, without a doubt, because you gotta understand—KG missed about 30 games,” Pierce said. “You know we won 61 games? I think we would’ve won 70 games that year if he wouldn’t have got hurt. We knew we couldn’t win it without him. He was the heart and soul of everything that we did.”

Garnett, who helped lead the Celtics to the 2008 NBA title, suffered a right knee injury during the 2008–09 season that ultimately sidelined him for the playoffs. Despite finishing the regular season with a 61–21 record, the Celtics were knocked out in the second round by the Orlando Magic. Orlando then went on to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals.

Pierce emphasized just how vital Garnett’s presence was to Boston’s identity, and said the team’s core always knew their title hopes hinged on KG’s availability and leadership on the court. Garnett’s two-way dominance and emotional intensity, Pierce argued, were irreplaceable components of the Celtics’ championship formula.

The former Finals MVP also touched on the role of luck in championship runs, referencing Boston’s 2010 Finals loss to the Lakers in seven games. He pointed out that center Kendrick Perkins missed the decisive Game 7 due to injury, a factor he believes significantly impacted the Celtics’ chances.

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“The next year we went back to the Finals, and if [Kendrick] Perkins don’t get hurt… That’s why we say to win it all, it’s hard to win in this league. You gotta be good and lucky,” said Pierce, underscoring how thin the margins can be in title runs.

Pierce then drew a parallel to today’s NBA, specifically the Indiana Pacers’ heartbreaking loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. Indiana fell in seven games after star guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles just minutes into Game 7, following a dominant start with nine quick points.

“Like Indiana—think about it… The shot bounces up, that’s part of the journey, that’s part of the luck,” Pierce said, alluding to Haliburton’s string of clutch performances that helped fuel the Pacers’ deep playoff run. According to Pierce, championship dreams often hinge on a few key moments—and a little bit of fortune.