Kristian Ferrell
Paul Pierce is a former professional basketball player who predominantly played for the Boston Celtics. He played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was a ten-time NBA All-Star. Pierce was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2008 and led the Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship. He retired from the NBA in 2017 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. Since retiring, Pierce has worked as a basketball analyst and broadcaster and launched a podcast called The Truth Lounge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Paul Anthony Pierce |
| Date of Birth | October 13, 1977 (or 1979) |
| Teams | Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers |
| Nickname | "The Truth" |
| Jersey Number | 34 |
| NBA Seasons | 19 |
| Career Points | 26,397 |
| Career Rebounds | 7,527 |
| Career Assists | 4,708 |
| Post-Retirement Career | Basketball Analyst, Commentator, Podcast Host |
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What You'll Learn
Paul Pierce's career before retirement
Paul Pierce, also known as "The Truth," had an illustrious career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) before his retirement. He began his journey with basketball at an early age, showcasing his talent at Inglewood High School in California, where his outstanding play earned him the title of California Mr. Basketball in 1995. This recognition paved the way for a smooth transition to college basketball, where he chose to attend Kansas University.
At Kansas, Pierce quickly made a name for himself, becoming a consensus All-American in his junior year. He led his team, the Kansas Jayhawks, to numerous successes, including a runner-up finish in the Big 12 Conference tournament. His outstanding performance during his junior year cemented his place as one of the top prospects for the upcoming NBA draft. As a result, Pierce decided to forgo his senior year of college and enter the 1998 NBA draft, where the Boston Celtics selected him with the 10th overall pick.
Pierce's NBA career took off with the Boston Celtics, where he spent the majority of his playing days. He quickly became a fan favorite and a cornerstone of the franchise. During his time with the Celtics, Pierce established himself as one of the league's most prolific scorers, known for his ability to create his own shot and knock down big shots in crucial moments. His talent was recognized early on, earning him a spot in the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his debut season. As his career progressed, so did his list of accolades and achievements.
Pierce's loyalty to the Celtics paid off in the 2007-08 season when, alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, they formed a formidable "Big Three" that dominated the league. That season, Pierce and his teammates led the Celtics to an NBA championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in an iconic finals series. This triumph cemented Pierce's legacy in Boston, earning him the Finals MVP award. During his time with the Celtics, he also added ten NBA All-Star selections to his name and was recognized as the NBA Scoring Champion in the 2001-02 season.
After his lengthy and successful stint with the Celtics, Pierce went on to play for the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Even in the later stages of his career, Pierce remained a valuable contributor, providing veteran leadership and mentorship to younger players. He retired from the NBA in 2017, leaving behind a remarkable career that inspired countless players and fans worldwide. Pierce's number 34 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 2018, honoring his incredible impact on the franchise and the game itself.
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Paul Pierce's final game
Paul Pierce played 19 seasons in the NBA, predominantly with the Boston Celtics. He was a high school McDonald's All-American and played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks before being chosen by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. Pierce spent the first 15 years of his career with Boston, earning 10 All-Star selections and becoming a four-time All-NBA team member.
Pierce combined with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007 to form a "Big Three" that led Boston to two NBA Finals and an NBA championship in 2008. That year, Pierce was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after averaging 22 points per game over the six-game series.
In July 2013, Pierce was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, and in 2014, he signed with the Washington Wizards as a free agent. After one season with the Wizards, Pierce signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he spent his final two seasons before retiring in 2017.
Pierce's final game was Game 7 of the Clippers' first-round series against Utah. He had 6/3/1 and a steal in his last game, helping the Clippers make the playoffs that year.
After retiring, Pierce signed a one-day contract with the Celtics, allowing him to retire as a member of the organization. His jersey was retired on February 11, 2018, and it was raised to the rafters of TD Garden in a postgame ceremony following a Celtics-Cavaliers game. Pierce was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 and has since worked as a basketball analyst and broadcaster.
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Post-retirement career
Paul Pierce retired from basketball in 2017. He played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), predominantly with the Boston Celtics.
Following his retirement, Pierce joined ESPN in August 2017 as a studio analyst for The Jump and NBA Countdown. He had previously appeared as a guest analyst during the 2016 and 2017 NBA Finals. However, his role at the network was reduced in 2019 due to questions about his preparation for NBA segments and game predictions.
In March 2024, Pierce joined Fox Sports 1 as a basketball analyst and contributor to the sports talk show Undisputed, hosted by commentator Skip Bayless. After the show's discontinuation in August 2024, he moved to another sports talk show, Speak, on the same network.
Pierce has expressed interest in remaining involved with basketball in some capacity, such as through upper management or broadcasting, but has stated that he wants to spend time with his family and is unsure about coaching.
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Paul Pierce's jersey retirement
Paul Pierce is an American former professional basketball player who played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), predominantly with the Boston Celtics. On July 17, 2017, Pierce signed a ceremonial contract with the Celtics, enabling him to retire as a member of the team with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons.
Pierce's jersey retirement ceremony took place on February 11, 2018, following a Celtics-Cavaliers game. His jersey was raised to the rafters of TD Garden, and he became the 23rd person in Celtics history to be so honored.
The ceremony was an emotional affair, with heartfelt speeches from Celtics management and former head coach Doc Rivers. Pierce also addressed the audience, thanking them for their support. The afternoon was a dream come true for Pierce's fans, who were treated to clips of his time in Boston, interviews from his coaches, friends, and family, and swag sold at TD Garden, including a limited-edition Paul Pierce hat, a "#34" jacket patch, a Paul Pierce magazine, and a retirement ceremony t-shirt.
Pierce's #34 jersey retirement was highly anticipated by Celtics fans, who considered him a legend and an integral part of the team's success. His number was the 22nd to be retired by the Celtics, and fans believed that no player should ever wear #34 again.
Following his retirement, Pierce pursued a career in broadcasting and basketball analysis. He joined ESPN as a studio analyst for "The Jump" and "NBA Countdown" in 2017 and later contributed to the FS1 sports talk show "Speak" in 2024.
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Paul Pierce's legacy
Paul Pierce, an American former professional basketball player, played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), predominantly with the Boston Celtics. He was born in Oakland, California, and moved to Inglewood, California, where he attended Inglewood High School. Despite being cut from Inglewood High's varsity basketball team during his freshman and sophomore years, Pierce persevered and became the "best player on the team" by the end of his junior year. He went on to participate in the 1995 McDonald's All-American Game alongside future NBA stars and was a contestant in the game's Slam Dunk Contest.
Pierce was chosen by the Boston Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft and spent the first 15 years of his career with the team. He earned the nickname "the Truth" from Shaquille O'Neal in 2001 and starred as the Celtics' captain, earning 10 All-Star selections and becoming a four-time All-NBA team member. In 2007, Pierce, along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, formed a "Big Three" that led Boston to two NBA Finals and an NBA championship in 2008, where he was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
In 2013, Pierce was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, and the following year, he signed with the Washington Wizards as a free agent. After one season with the Wizards, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, reuniting him with former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. Pierce spent his final two seasons with the Clippers before retiring in 2017. He signed a one-day contract with the Celtics, allowing him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent the majority of his career.
Pierce's legacy includes being one of only three players to have scored more than 20,000 career points with the Celtics. In 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. His jersey number 34 was retired by the Celtics, and he has since worked as a basketball analyst and broadcaster for various sports networks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Paul Pierce retired from basketball in 2017.
Paul Pierce played predominantly for the Boston Celtics for 15 seasons. He also played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star and was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2008.
After retiring, Paul Pierce worked as a commentator for ESPN and launched a weekly podcast called The Truth Lounge with his siblings. He has also worked as a basketball analyst for Fox Sports 1 and contributed to the FS1 sports talk show Speak.
Paul Pierce's jersey number was 34, which was retired by the Celtics after his retirement.
