Even 19 years after being drafted 10th overall by the Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce still has the everlasting chip on his shoulder — showing up to sign his one-day contract to retire in Celtics' green by wearing an “Inglewood” shirt and pair of Brooklyn Nets shorts.
“Hey Danny, see this?” Pierce said, tugging at the silver and black of his mesh shorts, looking right into president Danny Ainge‘s eyes — according to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. “This is where you sent me!”
While there's no disdain between the two, Pierce still remembers vividly as he wanted to retire with the Celtics all along, but spent the last four seasons of his long career between the Nets, the Washington Wizards and with his hometown L.A. Clippers.
“Like I said from the beginning,” Pierce said on Monday night, “I always wanted to retire as a Celtic. We did it quietly. No need to make a spectacle out of it.”
While these one-day deals are often signed either right before the start of the regular season or a few days before the retirement ceremony, Pierce did this well ahead of time, knowing full well he is about to embark on his new career.
The 6-foot-6 swingman will drive from Boston to Bristol, Connecticut, to sign a contract with ESPN today as an NBA analyst and he hopes one day, a broadcaster.
“I'd like to do both,” Pierce said. “That's why I signed the contract with Boston today. The minute I sign with ESPN, I'm officially retired.”
Pierce will retire as the Celtics' all-time leader in three-point field goals (1,823), free throws (6,434), and steals (1,583) — having brought the organization its most recent title in 2008.
“This was the place that was always with me,” Pierce said. “I spent 15 years of my life here. I had all three of my kids here. I had a chance to make a difference in the community. One of the best parts about [being in Boston Monday] was having people come up and said, ‘Hey, thanks for all the things you did for our city.'”
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