Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce has been nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
The Hall of Fame officially announced its nominees Tuesday, with Pierce and former Los Angeles Lakers great Michael Cooper headlining some of the first-time nominees. Chris Bosh, Chauncey Billups and Chris Webber are among the names returning to the ballot.
It comes as no surprise Pierce has been nominated, and he might be a practical shoo-in to get in on his first try.
The Celtics are perhaps the most esteemed and accomplished franchise in the history of the league, so it is pretty notable Pierce ranks third all-time in win shares, behind just Larry Bird and Bill Russell. “The Truth” also ranks third in games played and first in a host of categories, including three-pointers made and steals.
Although he was long the most accomplished star on the Celtics in the early 2000s, Pierce's most meaningful achievement came when he teamed up with Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to help Boston win its first title in 22 years back in 2008. That Big 3 would lead the Celtics to another NBA Finals berth in 2010.
The Class of 2021 is expected to be enshrined in September of 2021 at the Hall's location in Springfield, Massachusetts. It will be the second enshrinement of the year, as the Class of 2020—which includes the late Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett—will be honored in May.
Finalists for the Class of 2021 will be named sometime in early March, and the class will officially be revealed in April.
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