BOSTON -- Two of Paul Pierce's former teammates agree with the Boston Celtics legend that he should not need to share any part of his jersey retirement night with Isaiah Thomas.

The potential overlap has been a point of discussion since Thomas requested not to receive a video tribute during the Cleveland Cavaliers' first trip to Boston. The two-time All-Star did not play that night, and was hopeful the Celtics would wait to honor him until a game in which he could suit up. The problem? The Cavaliers only play one more time in Boston this season -- and the Celtics franchise had already planned to celebrate Pierce on Feb. 11.

Since learning of Thomas' request to push back the video tribute, Pierce has been outspoken about his preference not to share his jersey retirement night. Two of his former teammates, Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen, agree Pierce should receive his wish.

"Why would they do that?" Allen said. "Yeah, I'm with Pierce, man. He didn't put in more work than Pierce. Anybody disagree? OK. Paul Pierce put in big work, man. Why would they honor him on that same day, man?"

Informed that Thomas' video would just be a short tribute, Allen replied, "Make it real short and sweet, man."

"Make it real short and sweet, man," he repeated. "Let my man get his jersey retired, man. Let him embrace that, man. He put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in this organization, man, and capitalized and had good results. Struggled with the team; I remember losing 19 straight with that man. Turned back around and won a championship. Talk about Paul Pierce, man, don't mention his name, the guy's name that don't stand in the same frame. You know what I mean? So big salute to my boy Paul Pierce. My big brother. My homey. Ubuntu. NBA champion."

Allen said he appreciated Pierce's "tough love" when the two were Celtics teammates.

"When I was a rookie, he picked on me a whole lot," Allen recalled. "He toughened me up. He made me get right to it. That's all I can remember, him just being a big bully. That's all I remember -- but he was a good bully. I might leave the arena, leave practice and go with him and get like a Luis Vuitton book bag or something. He was just that type of guy, big-hearted. I'd say tough love. Salute to big Paul Pierce. Truth."

Rondo also made it clear he thinks Pierce should get the night to himself, according to the Worcester Telegram's Bill Doyle: