Al Jefferson believes his breakout 2006-07 season with the Boston Celtics ultimately changed the direction of his NBA career.
Jefferson averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game that year, establishing himself as one of Boston’s most productive young players.
He also says he remains the most recent Celtic to finish a season averaging double-digit rebounds.
“I averaged 16 [points] and 11 [rebounds]. If I’m not mistaken, I’m the last cat that averaged double figure rebounds for Boston. I remember Paul Pierce, Doc [Rivers] took me out at the end of a game. He’s like, ‘Nah, he need to get one more rebound for him to get to the average.’ I remember he kept me out there just to get that, and I wound up finishing the season averaging 16 and 11. Unfortunately, it got me traded, but it got me that bankroll.”
Jefferson’s performance increased his value enough for Boston to include him in the blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Garnett from Minnesota.
The move initially hurt Jefferson because of the relationships he had developed with his Celtics teammates, although he understood why Boston made the deal.
“I was hurt at first. I know it wasn’t personal. Look, I would trade Al Jefferson for Kevin Garnett any day of the week. I wasn’t hating on that. It was just, this like home to me. Y’all like my family, my brothers. I ain’t going to know how it’s going to feel to go in the locker room and I see TA and Delonte and Perk. I didn’t know how that felt.”
The trade gave Jefferson a larger role in Minnesota and eventually helped him secure a five-year, $65 million contract.
