After spending 15 years with the franchise, Paul Pierce will finish his career as Boston Celtic, signing a contract with the organization on Monday to retire in the lucky green that drafted him with the 10th overall pick back in the 1998 NBA Draft.
Having had an illustrious 19-year career, “The Truth” will hang them up in front of his beloved TD Garden, where fans were witnesses to many game-winners and inspired championship-caliber performances by the Inglewood native.
“We're honored that Paul has chosen to retire as a Celtic. He is among the very best Celtics — a champion on and off the court,” owner Wyc Grousbeck said in a release. “We congratulate Paul on a Hall of Fame career, and look forward to seeing his number raised to the rafters of TD Garden.”
The Celtics organization will consequently raise his jersey to the rafters, making his iconic No. 34 one of the soon-to-be 22 jersey numbers retired by the storied franchise, keeping company to numbers 31, 32, 33, and 35 — all retired.
“It's an honor to have this opportunity to once again call myself a Boston Celtic,” Pierce said in the release. “The organization and city took me in and made me one of their own, and I couldn't imagine ending my career any other way. I'm a Celtic for life.”
Pierce finished the last four seasons of his career playing for the Brooklyn Nets, the Washington Wizards and the L.A. Clippers. He now serves as a frequent analyst with ESPN, being part of the sets of NBA Tonight and The Jump with Rachel Nichols.
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