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Ray Allen tributes Paul Pierce on Instagram

Allen wasn’t at Pierce’s retirement ceremony, but he made sure to give his old teammate props for the jersey retirement.

By Michael DePrisco
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Ray Allen posted a photo on Tuesday congratulating former Celtic teammate Paul Pierce for getting his #34 retired this past Sunday. Allen did not attend the festivities at TD Garden, but did his best to give The Truth his due.

What we did in 2008 was special! Not only by Boston standards but by professional sports standards. The truth is, without any one of us on that team we would’ve never been able to do the unthinkable. Going from last place in one year to winning a championship is unfathomable. But, we did it! WE did it- Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, P.J. Brown, Sam Cassell, Glen Davis, Eddie House, Kendrick Perkins, Scott Pollard, James Posey, Leon Powe, Gabe Pruitt, Brian Scalabrine, Doc, Danny, everyone at the Celtics Organization, our wives, children, families, the Fans in The City of Boston and yes, me. Over the last few years I have been berated, lambasted and had my name smeared. You may not want to hear this, but I will always be a Celtic. (Fact). I will always cherish the bonds that I shared with all of my teammates and the people in the city of Boston. (Truth). We all gave everything we had. We all won and we all raised the 2008 NBA Championship banner together. (Ubuntu) Paul Pierce is the first guy that welcomed Kevin and me with open arms into his atmosphere from day one and we never looked back. Paul and I have spoken about our time together as teammates- going to battle night after night knowing we could count on one another and we have also talked about my decision to leave during free agency- a choice I made for my family. Despite what you may have heard or read or what is rumored- there is nothing but love. Paul and I are more interested in building bridges than putting up walls. To Paul, number 34, Congratulations on having your number raised up to the rafters. I salute you for your commitment to the city of Boston and to us the 2008 NBA Champions #thetruth

A post shared by Ray Allen (@trayfour) on

Pierce said on Sunday that he wasn’t upset that Allen was not present for the ceremony. In fact, he said jokingly that he was more upset the “Other Allen”(Tony Allen) wasn’t there.

Pierce and Allen were at the center of controversy early last summer after it came out that Rajon Rondo planned on hosting a 2008 Celtics championship reunion, and Allen was not on the guest list. Pierce, Rondo and Kevin Garnett were among other players that were still upset at Allen for signing with the Miami Heat in the summer of 2012, leaving the Celtics for their arch-rival.

Allen was eventually included on the guest list for the celebration, and now it seems that everything is back to normal between the members of the Big Three era.

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