LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Clippers forward, Paul Pierce has announced that he will retire as a Boston Celtic at the end of the NBA season.
The 10x All-Star was traded from the Celtic’s to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013, following 15 seasons in Boston. After a largely unsuccessful year in Brooklyn, Pierce signed a one-year contract with the Washington Wizards, helping lead the team to the playoffs. Pierce signed a 3-year, $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers last summer, re-uniting the former NBA champion with his past head coach, Doc Rivers.
Pierce explained his desire to retire in Boston, “I would love to do that, I think I’ll always be remembered as a Celtic. I had all my glory days, all my prime was pretty much as a Boston Celtic. I think I owe the fans and I owe myself that much, just to be able to put that uniform on one more time and go out that way, say I retired a Boston Celtic.”
During his 15 seasons with Boston, Pierce averaged 21.8 points, 3.9 assists and 6 rebounds per game. In the 2007-08 season the Celtics acquired stars Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, forming what would become known as “The Big Three”. The combination led the Celtics to an NBA championship, beating the Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
Pierce announced his retirement via the Players Tribune on Monday, October 10.
