View source for Paul Pierce

{{short description|American basketball player (born 1977)}}
{{about|the basketball player|the American football coach|Paul Pierce (American football)|the Australian politician|Paul Pearce}}
{{Fan POV|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Paul Pierce
| image = Paul Pierce 2008-01-13 (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Pierce with the [[Boston Celtics]] in 2008
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1977|10|13}}
| birth_place = [[Oakland, California]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 235
| high_school = [[Inglewood High School (California)|Inglewood]] ([[Inglewood, California]])
| college = [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]] (1995–1998)
| draft_year = 1998
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 10
| draft_team = [[Boston Celtics]]
| career_start = 1998
| career_end = 2017
| career_number = 34
| career_position = [[Small forward]] / [[shooting guard]]
| years1 = {{nbay|1998|start}}–{{nbay|2012|end}}
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| years2 = {{nbay|2013|full=y}}
| team2 = [[Brooklyn Nets]]
| years3 = {{nbay|2014|full=y}}
| team3 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| years4 = {{nbay|2015|start}}–{{nbay|2016|end}}
| team4 = [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
| highlights = * [[NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|2008}})
* [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] ({{nbafy|2008}})
* 10× [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|2002}}–{{nasg|2006}}, {{nasg|2008}}–{{nasg|2012}})
* [[All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|2008|end}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Third Team]] ({{nbay|2001|end}}, {{nbay|2002|end}}, {{nbay|2007|end}})
* [[NBA All-Rookie First Team]] ({{nbay|1998|end}})
* [[NBA Three-Point Contest]] champion ({{nasg|2010}})
* [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]]
* No. 34 [[List of Boston Celtics accomplishments and records#Retired numbers|retired by Boston Celtics]] 
* Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1998 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1998]])
* First-team [[List of All-Big 12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-Big 12]] (1998)
* Third-team All-Big 12 (1997)
* 2× [[Big 12 men's basketball tournament|Big 12 tournament MVP]] ([[1997 Big 12 men's basketball tournament|1997]], [[1998 Big 12 men's basketball tournament|1998]])
* No. 34 jersey [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball#Retired jerseys|retired by Kansas Jayhawks]]
* [[McDonald's All-American Game|McDonald's All-American]] ([[1995 McDonald's All-American Boys Game|1995]])
* Second-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1995)
* [[California Mr. Basketball]] (1995)
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 26,397 (19.7 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 7,527 (5.6 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 4,708 (3.5 apg)
| HOF_player = Paul-Pierce
| CBBASKHOF_year = 2021
}}
'''Paul Anthony Pierce''' (born October 13, 1977) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player. He played 19 seasons in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA), predominantly with the [[Boston Celtics]].

Pierce was a high school [[McDonald's All-American]] before earning consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-America]] honors as a [[junior (education year)|junior]] playing [[college basketball]] for the [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas Jayhawks]]. After being chosen by the Boston Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the [[1998 NBA draft]], Pierce spent the first 15 years of his career with Boston. Pierce's nickname, "'''the Truth'''," was given to him by [[Shaquille O'Neal]] in 2001. He earned 10 [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star]] selections and became a four-time [[All-NBA]] team member throughout his 19 year career. Pierce combined with [[Kevin Garnett]] and [[Ray Allen]] in 2007 to form a "Big Three" that led Boston to two [[NBA Finals]] and an [[2008 NBA Finals|NBA championship in 2008]]. Pierce was named [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals Most Valuable Player]] in 2008. In 2021, Pierce was honored by being named to the [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]] and was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]].

In July 2013, Pierce was traded to the [[Brooklyn Nets]] along with teammates Kevin Garnett and [[Jason Terry]]. He signed with the [[Washington Wizards]] as a free agent in 2014. After one season with the Wizards, Pierce signed with the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]. He spent two seasons with the Clippers before retiring in 2017. On July 17, 2017, the Celtics signed Pierce to a contract, enabling him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons.

==Early life==
Pierce was born in [[Oakland, California]]. His family later moved to [[Inglewood, California]], where he attended [[Inglewood High School (California)|Inglewood High School]]. He was cut from Inglewood High's varsity basketball team during his freshman and sophomore years and seriously thought about transferring before spending extra time in the gym and becoming the "best player on the team" by the end of his junior year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=5288067|title=2010 NBA Finals: Los Angeles' greatest player? It's Paul Pierce|work=ESPN.com|date=June 15, 2010 |access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref> In his senior year, he averaged 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.<ref>{{Cite news|title=HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL ALL-USA HONORABLE MENTIONS|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=April 21, 1995|page=11C}}</ref> Pierce went on to participate in the 1995 [[McDonald's All-American Game]] alongside future NBA stars [[Kevin Garnett]], [[Vince Carter]], [[Stephon Marbury]], and [[Antawn Jamison]], and was a contestant in the game's Slam Dunk Contest, which was won by Carter. He grew up a [[Los Angeles Lakers]] fan and dreamed of playing for the team.<ref name="Kamenetzky">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5244652|title=Boston Celtics Paul Pierce talks about Los Angeles Lakers fans – ESPN Los Angeles|last=Kamenetzky|first=Brian|date=June 2, 2010|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=December 23, 2011}}</ref>

In 2012, Pierce was honored as one of the 35 Greatest [[McDonald's All-American]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/wilkins-honored-one-35-greatest-mcdonalds-all-americans |title=Wilkins Honored as One of 35 Greatest McDonald's All Americans |publisher=NBA|date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=February 9, 2012}}</ref>

==College career==
Pierce spent three years at the [[University of Kansas]] between 1995 and 1998. He earned honorable mention All-Big Eight honors and was selected second-team Freshman All-American by Basketball Weekly. He was also honored as the Big Eight Co-Freshman of the Year with Colorado's [[Chauncey Billups]]. During the summer of 1996, Pierce earned a spot on the roster of the USA's Under 22 team and helped the United States go undefeated in the World Championship-qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. As a [[sophomore]] with the [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Jayhawks]], Pierce captured the first of two [[Big 12 men's basketball tournament|Big 12 Conference tournament]] Most Valuable Player awards after averaging 21.7 points and guiding Kansas to the inaugural tournament championship.<ref name=nba-bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/players/paul/pierce/1718 |title=Paul Pierce stats, details, videos, and news |work=NBA.com |access-date=May 17, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517163846/http://www.nba.com/players/paul/pierce/1718 |archive-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref>

As a junior in 1997–98, Pierce won Most Valuable Player honors in both the Preseason NIT and the Big 12 Conference tournament. He was selected First Team [[List of All-Big 12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-Big 12 Conference]] by both the AP and Coaches, and was named Associated Press First Team All-American and a finalist for the 1998 [[John R. Wooden Award|John Wooden]] and [[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith]] awards. He scored 777 points as a junior—the fifth-most single-season point total in Jayhawks history. He ranks as the fifth-leading scorer in Kansas history (1,786 points) and 11th on the all-time rebounds list (676).<ref name="nba-bio" />

Pierce left the University of Kansas following his junior season and entered the [[1998 NBA draft]].

==Professional career==
===Boston Celtics (1998–2013)===
[[File:Paul Pierce Lipofsky.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Pierce attempting a dunk in January 2000.]]

==== Early years and breakthrough (1998–2001) ====
Pierce was selected with the 10th overall pick in the [[1998 NBA draft]] by the [[Boston Celtics]], a team he "despised" growing up.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner |first=Broderick |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-paul-pierce-20170204-story.html |title=Clippers' Paul Pierce braces himself for what figures to be an emotional final game in Boston |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 4, 2017 |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> He scored 19 or more points in 10 of his first 11 contests. For that year, he averaged 16.5 points and finished third in the voting for Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season, he raised his scoring average to 19.5 points per game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paulpierce.net/biography/ |title= BIOGRAPHY |work=PaulPierce.net |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> In the 2000–01 season, Pierce appeared in 82 games (all starts), averaging 25.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.68 steals in 38.0 minutes. He led the Celtics and finished eighth in the league in points per game and fourth in total points (2,071). He was named [[NBA Player of the Month]] for March 2001 after averaging 30.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.60 steals for the month.<ref name="nba-bio" />

==== First All-Star and playoff appearances (2001–2007) ====
In the 2001–02 season, Pierce was named Eastern Conference Co-Player of the Month twice, for December and April.<ref name="nba-bio" /> That season, Pierce led the Celtics to the [[2002 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] for the first time in seven years and on to the [[NBA Conference Finals|Eastern Conference Finals]]. In Game 3 of the conference finals, the Celtics pulled off the largest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history, with Pierce scoring 19 of his 28 points in the final 12 minutes as Boston overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the [[New Jersey Nets]] 94–90.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2002/playoffs/news/2002/05/25/nets_celtics_ap/ |title=Colossal collapse: Nets allow Celtics to pull off biggest comeback ever |work=SportsIllustrated.cnn.com |date=May 25, 2002 |access-date=November 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020605064636/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2002/playoffs/news/2002/05/25/nets_celtics_ap/ |archive-date=June 5, 2002 }}</ref> The win gave the Celtics a 2–1 advantage in the series; however, the Nets went on to win the series in six games.

From 2002 to 2006, Pierce made the All-Star team every season.<ref name="nba-bio" /> He led the league in total points (2,144) in 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2002_totals.html|title=2001-02 NBA Player Stats: Totals|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=October 12, 2021}}</ref> and was an All-NBA Third Team selection in 2002 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-nba-teams|title=Year-by-year All-NBA Teams|work=nba.com|access-date=October 12, 2021}}</ref> In the 2007 offseason, Pierce requested a trade to the [[Dallas Mavericks]], and stated that he would publicly demand a trade unless the Celtics acquired a co-star for him. A three-team trade between the Celtics, Mavericks, and the [[Atlanta Hawks]] was nearly completed, but Atlanta canceled the trade upon learning that Boston would receive a first-round pick. Instead, the Celtics decided to fulfill Pierce's request for a co-star.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-23 |title=A history of unfulfilled NBA trade requests: Kevin Durant joins Kobe Bryant and other stars who stayed put |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/a-history-of-unfulfilled-nba-trade-requests-kevin-durant-joins-kobe-bryant-and-other-stars-who-stayed-put/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref>

==== NBA champion and Finals MVP (2007–2008) ====
Prior to the [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]], the Celtics acquired the services of fellow NBA All-Stars [[Ray Allen]] and [[Kevin Garnett]]. The pair combined with Pierce to form a "Big Three". The Celtics completed the largest single-season turnaround in NBA history, with the "Big Three" leading Boston to 66 wins in the regular season, a 42-game improvement. However, the team struggled initially in the playoffs. The [[Atlanta Hawks]] took them to seven games in the first round, as did the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] in the conference semifinals. In Game 7 of their series against the Cavaliers, Pierce racked up the second most Game 7 points in franchise history with 41 as the Celtics edged the Cavaliers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/news/celticsgame7scoring_080518.html |title=Celtics Top Game 7 Scoring Performances |work=NBA.com |date=May 18, 2008 |access-date=June 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115195821/http://www.nba.com/news/celticsgame7scoring_080518.html |archive-date=November 15, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Celtics went on to defeat the [[Detroit Pistons]] in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning two road games.

[[File:Paul Pierce Boston Parade.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Pierce at the Celtics' 2008 championship parade.]]
On June 5, 2008, in Game 1 of the [[2008 NBA Finals]] against the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], Pierce was injured in the third quarter and was carried off the court appearing to be in serious pain.<ref>Mark Murphy, [http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_06_06_Pierce_leads_Celtics_to_98-88_win_in_Game_1_/srvc=celt&position=1 Injured Paul Pierce keys Game 1 win], ''[[Boston Herald]]'', June 6, 2008.</ref> However, he came back to the court only a few minutes later to spark the Celtics with 15 points in the third quarter en route to a 98–88 victory.<ref>Couper Moorhead, [http://www.nba.com/celtics/playoffs2008/sidebar060508-pierce-injury.html Showing Heart, Pierce Recovers from Wounded Knee To Bury Lakers], ''[[Boston Celtics|Celtics]].com'', June 6, 2008.</ref><ref>Michael Vega, [http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/06/06/pierce_felt_pain_hurt_lakers/ Pierce felt pain, hurt Lakers], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', June 6, 2008.</ref> He went on to lead the Celtics to their 17th championship with a 4–2 series victory over the Lakers. Pierce was named the [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals Most Valuable Player]] after averaging 22 points per game over the six-game series.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3449953 Pierce wins MVP and big three take care of business in Finals], [[Associated Press]], June 18, 2008.</ref>

==== Coming up short (2008–2012) ====
[[File:Paul Pierce LeBron James.jpg|thumb|left|Pierce being defended by [[LeBron James]] in October 2008.]]
Pierce and the Celtics looked to repeat as world champions during the [[2008–09 NBA season]]. Pierce missed only one game the entire season and led the team in scoring. He was named to the [[2009 NBA All-Star Game]] and for the first time to the [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA]] Second Team. Despite Pierce's success, with Kevin Garnett injured, the Celtics lost in the second round of the [[2009 NBA Playoffs]].

At the [[2010 NBA All-Star Game]] at [[Cowboys Stadium]] in [[Arlington, Texas]], Pierce became the first Celtic since [[Larry Bird]] to win the [[Three-Point Contest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/allstar/2010/3point/index.html|publisher=nba.com-Scott Howard-Cooper|title=Clutch shooting in finals leads Pierce to Three-Point win|access-date=May 16, 2010}}</ref>

In Game 3 of the first round between the Celtics and [[Miami Heat]] in the [[2010 NBA Playoffs]], Pierce hit a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer to beat Miami 100–98 and give the Celtics a 3–0 series lead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010042314|publisher=sports.yahoo.com-TIM REYNOLDS|title=After Game 3 drama, Celtics 1 win from a sweep|work=Yahoo Sports |access-date=May 16, 2010}}</ref> The Celtics went on to win that series, and also defeated the heavily favored Cavaliers in the second round. They faced the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals and beat them in 6 games to advance to their second Finals appearance in the Big 3 era. They faced off against the Lakers in a rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals and took a 3–2 lead heading back to Los Angeles. However, in spite of [[Rasheed Wallace]] more than making up for the loss of injured center Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics were blown out in Game 6 and lost a 13-point second-half lead in Game 7, losing the deciding game 83–79.

On June 29, 2010, Pierce opted out of his contract and invoked his early termination clause to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010.<ref name="go">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4675517/analysis-pierce-opts-out|title=Analysis: Pierce opts out – Boston Celtics Blog – ESPN Boston|date=June 30, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=September 6, 2014}}</ref> However, on July 2, Pierce and the Celtics verbally agreed to a four-year extension keeping him in Boston through the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=53481944|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729084431/http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=53481944|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2013|work=ESPN.com|title=Reports: Pierce agrees to 4-year deal|access-date=July 2, 2010}}</ref>

On November 3, 2010, during a game against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], Pierce scored his 20,000th career point on a free throw, becoming the third player in [[Boston Celtics|Celtics]] history to reach that milestone solely in a Celtics uniform.<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/pierce-scores-20000th-point-in-overtime-win/article1785089/ Pierce score 20,000th point in overtime win] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104110019/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/pierce-scores-20000th-point-in-overtime-win/article1785089/ |date=November 4, 2010 }}, theglobalmail.com November 4, 2010, accessed November 4, 2010.</ref> The Celtics finished the season with the number 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and swept the [[New York Knicks]] in the first round of the playoffs. In the second round, the Celtics took on the [[Miami Heat]] and their big three of [[LeBron James]], [[Dwyane Wade]], and [[Chris Bosh]]. The Celtics lost to [[Miami]], who eventually moved on to the NBA Finals, in five games.

On February 7, 2012, during a game against the [[Charlotte Bobcats]], Pierce scored 15 points to pass [[Larry Bird]] for second place on the Boston Celtics' all-time scoring list. He was named to his tenth [[NBA All-Star]] appearance on February 9, 2012. He then played his 1,000th career game with the Celtics on March 9, 2012, against the [[Portland Trail Blazers]]; only Pierce, [[John Havlicek]], and [[Robert Parish]] have played in over 1,000 career games for the Celtics. For the 2011–12 season, Pierce averaged 19.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game as the Celtics finished the season 39–27 during the shortened lockout season.

In the playoffs, the Celtics beat the Hawks in six games in the first round, as Pierce averaged 21.2 points per game during the series. In the conference semifinals, the Celtics faced the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] led by [[Doug Collins (basketball)|Doug Collins]]. They pushed the Celtics into a full seven-game series, but the Celtics won the final game 85–75. The Celtics then played the Miami Heat in the conference finals. Pierce hit a crucial 3-pointer over LeBron James in game 5 to take a series lead of 3–2, but the Celtics lost the last two games, and the Heat advanced to the NBA Finals. Pierce finished the playoffs averaging 18.9 points per game while shooting only 38.6 percent from the field and 31 percent from three.

==== Final season in Boston (2012–2013) ====

The 2012–13 season did not go as planned for the Celtics, with [[All-Star]] [[point guard]] [[Rajon Rondo]] out with a torn ACL injury. On January 27, 2013, against the Miami Heat, Pierce recorded his first triple-double of the season with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. On February 10, 2013, against the Denver Nuggets, Pierce recorded his second triple-double of the season with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists becoming the oldest player, in a game of any length, to record at least 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists (previously held by Larry Bird). On March 29, 2013, against the Atlanta Hawks, Pierce recorded his third triple-double of the season with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Pierce finished the 2012–13 season with season averages of 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while the Celtics managed to clinch the 7th seed in the playoffs with a 41–40 season record (with one game not played because of the [[Boston Marathon bombing]]). The Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in the 1st round in six games. Pierce averaged 19.2 points per game while shooting a poor 36.8 percent from the field and 26.8 percent from three-point range along with 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in the playoff series loss.

===Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)===
[[File:Paul pierce nets.jpg|thumbnail|right|Pierce in his lone season with the Brooklyn Nets]]
On June 28, 2013, the day of the [[2013 NBA draft|NBA draft]], the [[Boston Celtics]] and [[Brooklyn Nets]] reached a deal to trade Pierce, [[Kevin Garnett]], and [[Jason Terry]] for future first-round picks in the [[2014 NBA draft|2014]], [[2016 NBA draft|2016]], and [[2018 NBA draft|2018]] drafts and [[Kris Humphries]], [[Gerald Wallace]], [[Kris Joseph]], [[MarShon Brooks]], and [[Keith Bogans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/9429958/sources-brooklyn-nets-seek-trade-boston-celtics-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce|title=Nets, Celtics work out blockbuster|work=ESPN.com|date=June 28, 2013|access-date=June 28, 2013}}</ref> The deal was completed on July 12, 2013. Brooklyn also received [[D. J. White]] and the Celtics also received the right to swap first-round picks in the [[2017 NBA draft|2017 draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nets/news/nets-acquire-nba-champions-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-and-jason-terry|title=Nets Acquire NBA Champions Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=July 12, 2013|access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> Pierce convinced Garnett to waive his no-trade clause so that the deal could come to fruition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2013-07-19/paul-pierce-trade-kevin-garnett-no-trade-clause-nets-celtics-deron-williams|title=Pierce convinced Garnett to drop his no-trade clause|work=Sporting News|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=July 11, 2015|archive-date=July 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711193204/http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2013-07-19/paul-pierce-trade-kevin-garnett-no-trade-clause-nets-celtics-deron-williams|url-status=dead}}</ref> At an introductory press conference with Garnett and Terry following the trade, Pierce stated, "We are championship driven... We made a lot of money in our careers. We have won a number of awards. At this point right now, we are about winning a championship. Brooklyn gives us the best opportunity."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/36/30/sp_netstradepresser_2013_07_26_bk.html|title=New Nets driven to bring title to Brooklyn|work=The Brooklyn Paper|date=July 19, 2013 |access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref>

In 2013–14, Pierce appeared in 75 games (including 68 starts), averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 28.0 minutes. He scored 1,000 points for the 15th straight season, becoming the only active NBA player and the sixth player in NBA history (along with [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]], [[Karl Malone]], [[John Havlicek]], [[Elvin Hayes]], [[Robert Parish]]) to score 1,000 points in 15 straight seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stathead.com/basketball/psl_finder.cgi|title=Player Season Finder|website=Stathead.com}}</ref> He passed [[Allen Iverson]] and [[Patrick Ewing]] on the NBA's all-time scoring list (moving up to 18th in NBA history), moved into fifth place in all-time NBA history with 1,935 career three-pointers made, and had his most steals (86) in a season since 2007–08.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/paul_pierce/bio/|title=Paul Pierce NBA bio|work=NBA.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102122211/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/paul_pierce/bio/|archive-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref> On April 11, 2014, against Atlanta, Pierce became the fourth active player (along with [[Kobe Bryant]], [[Dirk Nowitzki]] and Garnett) and the 18th player in NBA history to score 25,000 career points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20140411/ATLBKN/gameinfo.html|title=Notebook: Hawks 93, Nets 88|work=NBA.com|date=April 11, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2017}}</ref>

Prior to the season, the Nets were thought to be contenders to win the Eastern Conference. Pierce and Garnett were set to be the supporting cast to [[Deron Williams]], [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]], and [[Brook Lopez]]. After scraping past the [[Toronto Raptors]] in the first round of the playoffs thanks to a last-second block from Pierce in Game 7, their attempt to get past the Heat and win a championship fell short. They lost to Miami in five games in the second round.<ref>{{cite web|last=Puccio|first=Anthony|url=http://www.netsdaily.com/2014/5/29/5729134/brooklyn-nets-2013-2014-player-review-paul-pierce|title=Brooklyn Nets 2013-2014 Player Review: Paul Pierce|work=NetsDaily.com|date=May 29, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2017}}</ref>

===Washington Wizards (2014–2015)===
[[File:Paul Pierce Wizards.jpg|thumb|Pierce with the Wizards in 2014]]
On July 17, 2014, Pierce signed a two-year, $11&nbsp;million contract with the [[Washington Wizards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/wizards/wizards-sign-paul-pierce|title=Wizards Sign Paul Pierce|work=NBA.com|date=July 17, 2014|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11208931/paul-pierce-washington-wizards-agree-two-year-deal|title=Paul Pierce to Wizards on 2-year deal|work=ESPN.com|date=July 13, 2014|access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref> With 14 points against the Atlanta Hawks on November 25, 2014, Pierce passed [[Jerry West]] for 17th place on the NBA's career scoring list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141125/ATLWAS/gameinfo.html|title=Hawks top Wizards 106-102 for 6th win in 8|work=NBA.com|date=November 25, 2014|access-date=November 25, 2014}}</ref> Two weeks later, Pierce passed [[Reggie Miller]] for 16th place on the NBA's career scoring list with a season-high 28 points against the Boston Celtics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141208/BOSWAS/gameinfo.html|title=Wall helps Wizards outlast Celtics 133-132 in 2 OT|work=NBA.com|date=December 8, 2014|access-date=December 9, 2014}}</ref> On January 14, 2015, Pierce passed [[Jason Kidd]] for fourth all-time in three-pointers made in a 105–99 win over the Chicago Bulls.<ref>{{cite news|last=Castillo|first=Jorge|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2015/01/15/paul-pierce-passes-jason-kidd-for-third-all-time-in-three-pointers-made/|title=Paul Pierce passes Jason Kidd for fourth all-time in three-pointers made|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 14, 2015|access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref> Eleven days later, he recorded his 2,000th career three-pointer in a 117–115 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dimemag.com/2015/01/video-paul-pierce-hits-2000th-3-pointer-career-lets-crowd-know/|title=Video: Paul Pierce Hits 2,000th 3-Pointer Of Career, Lets Crowd Know About It|work=DimeMag.com|date=January 25, 2015|access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Helin|first=Kurt|url=http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/25/paul-pierce-hits-2000th-three-pointer-of-career-video/|title=Paul Pierce hits 2,000th three pointer of career (VIDEO)|work=NBCSports.com|date=January 25, 2015|access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref> On February 2, 2015, he passed [[Alex English]] for 15th place on the NBA's career scoring list with 11 points against the Charlotte Hornets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150202/CHAWAS/gameinfo.html|title=Jefferson has 18 and 12; Hornets stay hot, top Wizards 92-88|work=NBA.com|date=February 2, 2015|access-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref> Pierce finished the regular season averaging 11.9 points per game, a career low.

On May 9, 2015, Pierce made a two-point shot with three defenders on him at the buzzer to defeat the [[Atlanta Hawks]] 103–101 and take a 2–1 series lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. He finished the game with 13 points and 7 rebounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150509/ATLWAS/gameinfo.html|title=Pierce's buzzer-beater lifts Wiz past Hawks 103-101|work=NBA.com|date=May 9, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref> In Game 6 of the series on May 15, the Wizards were down 94–91 with seconds remaining when Pierce launched a three-pointer, hoping to extend the Wizards' season by forcing overtime. The shot swished, apparently tying the score at the buzzer, but the play was reviewed, showing the clock expired before Pierce released the basketball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150515/ATLWAS/gameinfo.html|title=Pierce's shot too late, Hawks hold on to beat Wizards 94-91|work=NBA.com|date=May 15, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>

On June 27, 2015, Pierce opted out of the second year of his contract with the Wizards to become a free agent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Castillo|first=Jorge|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2015/06/27/paul-pierce-confirms-hes-opting-out-of-contract-with-wizards/|title=Paul Pierce is opting out of contract to become free agent, Wizards confirm|date=June 27, 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref>

===Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017)===
On July 10, 2015, Pierce signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the [[Los Angeles Clippers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/clippers/clippers-sign-paul-pierce|title=Clippers Sign Paul Pierce|work=NBA.com|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/paul-pierce-comes-home-los-angeles-play-clippers-235835827--nba.html|title=Paul Pierce comes home to Los Angeles to play for Clippers|date=July 10, 2015|work=Yahoo.com|access-date=July 10, 2015}}</ref> He made his debut for the Clippers in the team's season opener against the Sacramento Kings on October 28, recording 12 points and 7 rebounds off the bench in a 111–104 win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20151028/LACSAC/gameinfo.html|title=Griffin leads Clippers past Kings 111-104 in opener|work=NBA.com|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015}}</ref> With [[Lance Stephenson]] starting at small forward, Pierce began the season as a role player off the bench for the first time in his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hoopshabit.com/2015/10/06/los-angeles-clippers-importance-paul-pierce-coming-off-bench/|title=Los Angeles Clippers: The Importance Of Paul Pierce Coming Off The Bench|date=October 6, 2015}}</ref> On December 16, Pierce scored six points against the Milwaukee Bucks. In the game, he hit a buzzer-beater to end the first quarter and became the fifth active player and 16th in NBA history to reach 26,000 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20151216/MILLAC/gameinfo.html|title=Paul scores 21 points, Clippers beat Bucks 103-90|work=NBA.com|date=December 16, 2015|access-date=December 17, 2015}}</ref>

On September 26, 2016, Pierce announced that the 2016–17 season would be his last in the NBA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theplayerstribune.com/paul-pierce-one-final-season/|title=My Final Season|work=ThePlayersTribune.com|date=September 26, 2016|access-date=September 26, 2016}}</ref> In what would be his last game in Boston, on February 5, 2017, Pierce started and played the first five minutes before heading to the bench—it was his first appearance for the Clippers since New Year's Eve. Although the crowd chanted his name in the final minutes, Pierce did not re-enter the game until there was 19 seconds left; he hit a three-pointer to finish the game for his only points of the contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400900171|title=Celtics say goodbye to Pierce, beat Clippers 107-102|work=ESPN.com|date=February 5, 2017|access-date=February 5, 2017}}</ref> On April 10, 2017, he scored all of his 10 points in the final five minutes of the Clippers' 125–96 win over the [[Houston Rockets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/paul-pierce-passes-john-havlicek-all-time-nba-scoring-list-age-54|title=Pierce Passes Havlicek on All-Time Scoring List . . . at Age 54?|work=CSNNE.com|date=April 11, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> He subsequently moved into 15th on the NBA career scoring list with 26,397 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400900588|title=Clippers rout Rockets 125-96, tied with Utah for 4th seed|work=ESPN.com|date=April 10, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref> The Clippers finished the regular season with a 51–31 record and entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed. They went on to lose their first-round playoff series to the [[Utah Jazz]] in seven games, as Pierce's 19-year NBA career came to an end at the final buzzer of Game 7 on April 30, 2017. In his final game, he had six points and three rebounds in 21 minutes and averaged 11.1 minutes in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400950426|title=Jazz sink Clippers in 7 for first postseason series win since 2010|work=ESPN.com|date=April 30, 2017|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/04/30/paul-pierce-says-goodbye-nba|title=Paul Pierce says goodbye after a 19-year NBA career|work=NBA.com|date=April 30, 2017|access-date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> On June 28, 2017, he was waived by the Clippers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/paul-pierce-waived-by-clippers/|title=Paul Pierce: Waived by Clippers|work=CBSSports.com|date=June 28, 2017|access-date=July 17, 2017}}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
On July 17, 2017, Pierce signed a ceremonial contract with the [[Boston Celtics]] in order to retire with the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/paul-pierce-retires-boston-celtic|title=Paul Pierce Retires as a Boston Celtic|work=NBA.com|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=July 17, 2017}}</ref> On August 18, 2017, the Celtics announced Pierce's jersey would be retired on February 11, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/celtics_insider/2017/08/celtics_will_retire_paul_pierces_number_on_feb_11_vs_cavs|title=Celtics will retire Paul Pierce's number on Feb. 11 vs. Cavs|work=BostonHerald.com|date=August 18, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819020221/http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/celtics_insider/2017/08/celtics_will_retire_paul_pierces_number_on_feb_11_vs_cavs|archive-date=August 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> His jersey was raised to the rafters of [[TD Garden]] in a postgame ceremony following the Celtics-Cavaliers game, becoming the 23rd person in Celtics history to be honored.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975581|title=Truth is: Cavaliers beat Celtics 121-99 on Paul Pierce's day|work=ESPN.com|date=February 11, 2018|access-date=February 11, 2018}}</ref>

In 2021, Pierce was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2021 |title=Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh among 16 inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame as part of Class of 2021 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32193045/paul-pierce-chris-bosh-16-inducted-basketball-hall-fame-part-class-2021 |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

==International career==
Pierce was a member of the [[United States men's national basketball team|United States national team]] for the [[2002 FIBA World Championship]], starting all nine games and averaging 19.8 points per game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/42351/sid/3118/tid/379/_/2002_World_Championship_for_Men/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707080136/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/42351/sid/3118/tid/379/_/2002_World_Championship_for_Men/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2009|title=Paul Pierce|work=fiba.com|access-date=October 12, 2021}}</ref> Pierce was also selected for the United States national team for the [[2006 FIBA World Championship]], but did not compete because of minor off-season surgery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Pierce |url=https://hoopszone.net/Kansas/Kansas/Other/Articles/paul_pierce%20wikipedia.htm |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=hoopszone.net}}</ref>

== Broadcasting career ==
===ESPN===
In August 2017, Pierce joined ESPN as a studio analyst for ''[[The Jump (ESPN talk show)|The Jump]]'' and ''[[NBA Countdown]]'', after appearing as a guest analyst during the [[2016 NBA Finals|2016]] and [[2017 NBA Finals]] for ''NBA Countdown''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 4, 2021|title=Paul Pierce lost $100K And Woke Up With 12 Voicemails From ESPN's HR Department|url=https://landonbuford.com/2021/04/03/paul-pierce-lost-100k-and-woke-up-with-12-voicemail-from-espns-hr-department/|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=Landon Buford|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Balluck|first=Kyle|date=April 6, 2021|title=ESPN fires Paul Pierce over racy Instagram Live video|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/546641-espn-fires-paul-pierce-over-racy-instagram-live-video|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref> His role at the network was reduced in 2019 due to questions about his preparation for NBA segments and game predictions.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Finn |first1=Chad |title=ESPN firing Paul Pierce should not come as a surprise|date=April 6, 2021|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/06/sports/espn-firing-paul-pierce-should-not-come-surprise/ |access-date=May 16, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Pierce was fired by ESPN after streaming from his [[Instagram]] Live on April 2, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Report: ESPN, former Celtics legend Paul Pierce split after wild Instagram Live |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-analyst-boston-celtics-legend-paul-pierce-split-instagram-live-videos-233327605.html |website=sports.yahoo.com|date=April 5, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Paul Pierce out at ESPN after racy video posted on Instagram Live|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/paul-pierce-out-espn-after-video-showing-drinking-half-dressed-n1263136|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=[[NBC News]]|date=April 6, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> During the livestream at a poker game, he featured several women wearing bikinis who were massaging his shoulders or [[twerking]]. Pierce also showcased himself drinking alcohol from a small cup and smoking a [[Blunt (cannabis)|blunt]] while responding to fan messages.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Corbin |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Paul Pierce: Fired by ESPN for Living His Stripper-Loving Truth |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-pierce-was-fired-by-espn-for-living-his-stripper-loving-truth |access-date=April 7, 2021 |website=[[The Daily Beast]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Gavin |title=Paul Pierce and ESPN Part Ways After He Posted Video of Himself With Strippers on IG Live (UPDATE) |url=https://www.complex.com/sports/espn-paul-pierce-part-ways-days-after-exotic-dancer-videos-are-posted-onto-instagram-live |access-date=April 7, 2021 |website=Complex |language=en}}</ref> ESPN ended its relationship with Pierce on April 5, 2021, and had no further comment on the firing. Pierce later responded to news of his firing with a Twitter video of him laughing while also tweeting that "Big things are coming soon" and "I can't lose even when I lose, I'm winning."<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 6, 2021|title=Celtics legend Paul Pierce appears to react to news of being let go by ESPN|url=https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2021/04/05/nba-boston-celtics-what-is-the-truth-here/|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=Celtics Wire|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |title=ESPN fired Paul Pierce after his racy Instagram Live video |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/06/media/paul-pierce-espn-analyst-fired-instagram-video-trnd/index.html |access-date=April 7, 2021 |website=[[CNN]]|date=April 6, 2021 }}</ref>

===Fox Sports 1===
In March 2024, Pierce joined [[Fox Sports 1]] as a basketball analyst in a contributor role for the sports talk show ''[[Undisputed (sports show)|Undisputed]]'', hosted by commentator [[Skip Bayless]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Khari |title=Report: Paul Pierce joining FS1's 'Undisputed' with Skip Bayless |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2024/03/12/report-paul-pierce-likely-to-join-fs1s-undisputed-show-with-skip-bayless/ |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=www.boston.com |date=March 12, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ounpraseuth |first=Jason |date=March 12, 2024 |title=Celtics Legend Paul Pierce Reportedly To Join Skip Bayless |url=https://nesn.com/2024/03/celtics-legend-paul-pierce-reportedly-to-join-skip-bayless-on-undisputed/ |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=NESN.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Following the departure of Skip Bayless and the discontinuation of ''Undisputed'' in August 2024, Pierce moved to the sports talk show ''[[Speak (talk show)|Speak]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sam |first1=Doric |title=FS1 Lineup Revealed After Skip Bayless' Exit; Paul Pierce, Keyshawn Join 'Speak' Show |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10132743-fs1-lineup-revealed-after-skip-bayless-exit-paul-pierce-keyshawn-join-speak-show |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=September 26, 2024}}</ref>

In May 2025, Pierce walked 20 miles in a bathrobe to the Fox Sports 1 studio lot after failing on his promise of a Celtics victory against the Knicks in game 2 of the [[2025 NBA playoffs#(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks|Eastern Conference semifinals]]. The Celtics lost, 91–90.<ref>{{cite news | title=Paul Pierce says he's walking 20 miles to work in a robe as punishment for guaranteeing Boston Celtics win | date=May 8, 2025 | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/08/paul-pierce-boston-celtics-bathrobe | work=chicagotribune.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Austin Jr. | first=Ahmad | title=Paul Pierce Makes Good on Promise to Walk 20 Miles to TV Studio in a Bathrobe if Celtics Lost Game 2 | date=May 8, 2025 | url=https://www.mediaite.com/sports/paul-pierce-makes-good-on-promise-to-walk-20-miles-to-tv-studio-in-a-bathrobe-if-celtics-lost-game-2 | work=mediaite.com }}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Paul Pierce at Celtics alumni recognition ceremony-1.jpg|thumb|Pierce in 2022]]
Pierce and his ex-wife Julie (née Landrum) have two daughters and one son.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mannix |first=Chris |date=September 7, 2021 |title=Moments of Truth: Paul Pierce Reflects on a Hall of Fame Career |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/07/paul-pierce-celtics-hall-of-fame-daily-cover |access-date=September 7, 2021 |work=si.com |quote=I'm divorced. I'm retired. I'm having fun.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2013/04/09/paul-pierce-and-wife-welcome-first-son/|title=PAUL PIERCE AND WIFE WELCOME FIRST SON|author=Sarie|work=Black Celebrity Kids|access-date=July 11, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712075527/http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2013/04/09/paul-pierce-and-wife-welcome-first-son/|archive-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref>

Paul has two half brothers, Jamal and [[Steve Hosey]]. Steve was a first round draft selection and reached the [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] ranks with the [[San Francisco Giants]]. Jamal played college basketball for [[Wyoming Cowboys men's basketball|Wyoming]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Price |first=S.L. |title=THE TRUTH REVEALED |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2008/12/08/the-truth-revealed |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=December 8, 2008 |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Witz |first=Billy |title=Pierce's Road From Inglewood Could Hit Its Summit Nearby |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/sports/basketball/10pierce.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 10, 2008 |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>

In October 2025, Pierce was arrested in [[California]] on suspicion of [[driving under the influence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Pierce Arrested in California, Suspected of Driving Under Influence |url=https://www.si.com/nba/paul-pierce-arrested-in-california-suspected-of-driving-under-influence |website=SI |access-date=9 October 2025 |date=9 October 2025}}</ref> 

===Stabbing incident===
On September 25, 2000, Pierce was stabbed 11 times in the face, neck, and back and had a bottle smashed over his head while at the Buzz Club, a late-night dance club in the [[Boston Theater District]]. He had to undergo lung surgery to repair the damage; nevertheless, Pierce was the only Celtics player to start all 82 games in the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2000/0925/776349.html |title=ESPN.com – NBA – Two suspects arraigned |publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=November 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E7DC123AF935A1575AC0A9669C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/P/Pierce,%20Paul |title=PRO BASKETBALL; Nightclub Incident Leaves Celtic Recovering From Stab Wounds – New York Times |publisher=Query.nytimes.com |author=Lena Williams |date=September 26, 2000 |access-date=November 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/PaulPierce_BeyondTheGlory.html |title=Celtics Star Paul Pierce Fights Back On ''BEYOND THE GLORY'' &#124; Celtics.com |work=Nba.com |access-date=November 11, 2008}}</ref> [[Tony Battie]], Pierce's teammate at the time, along with Battie's brother, saved him by rushing him to a nearby hospital.  In 2003, two and a half years after the attack, Pierce pledged $2.5 million to help expand the high-tech surgical center at [[Tufts Medical Center|Tufts-New England Medical Center]] that helped make his recovery possible.  Pierce stated, "This is an opportunity for me to give back to the hospital that was there for me when I needed it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tuftsjournal.tufts.edu/archive/2003/august/briefs/nothing_but_net.shtml |title=Celtics star pledges $2.5 million to the hospital that saved his life |publisher=tuftsjournal.tufts.edu |access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref>

In August 2018, Pierce discussed battling depression for a year after his stabbing, revealing that he dealt with paranoia over crowds and [[post-traumatic stress]] stemming from the incident. He divulged this information as part of the NBA's initiative to focus on the mental health of its players.<ref>{{cite web |last=MacMullan |first=Jackie |author-link=Jackie MacMullan |date=August 20, 2018 |title=The courageous fight to fix the NBA's mental health problem |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24382693/jackie-macmullan-kevin-love-paul-pierce-state-mental-health-nba |access-date=August 21, 2018 |work=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===Nickname===
Pierce's nickname, "the Truth", was bestowed on him by [[Shaquille O'Neal]] after a 112–107 [[Los Angeles Lakers]] victory over the Celtics on March 13, 2001, in which Pierce scored 42 points on 13-of-19 shooting.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Bos Score, March 13, 2001|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200103130LAL.html|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref> O'Neal pulled ''[[Boston Herald]]'' reporter Steve Bulpett over and gestured toward his notepad. "Take this down," said O'Neal. "My name is Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce is the motherfu<!--***Please do not censor this sentence per [[WP:NOTCENSORED]].***-->cking truth. Quote me on that and don't take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn't know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is The Truth."<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-080602 Daily Dime: Pierce elevates his game for the Lakers], ''[[ESPN.com]]'', June 2, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DukFu8Xm2CU|title=Paul Pierce ESPN Story about his nickname "The Truth"|last=GD's Misc|date=August 22, 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref>

===2022 EthereumMax lawsuit===
{{Main|Cryptocurrency bubble|Cryptocurrency and crime}}

In January 2022, in a class-action lawsuit filed against the [[cryptocurrency]] company EthereumMax that alleged the company is a [[pump and dump]] scheme, Pierce was named as a defendant along with media personality [[Kim Kardashian]], former professional boxer [[Floyd Mayweather Jr.]], and other celebrities for [[False advertising|promoting]] the EthereumMax token on their [[Influencer marketing|social media accounts]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ansari|first=Talal|date=January 11, 2022|title=Kim Kardashian, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Others Sued Over Cryptocurrency Promotion|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/kim-kardashian-floyd-mayweather-jr-others-sued-over-cryptocurrency-promotion-11641946154|access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gonzalez|first=Oscar|date=January 11, 2022|title=Kim Kardashian, Floyd Mayweather Jr. sued for alleged crypto pump and dump|website=CNET|publisher=Red Ventures|url=https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/crypto/kim-kardashian-floyd-mayweather-jr-sued-for-alleged-crypto-pump-and-dump/|access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref> In February 2022, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit|U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals]] ruled in a lawsuit against [[Bitconnect]] that the [[Securities Act of 1933]] extends to [[Targeted advertising|targeted solicitation]] using social media.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lawler|first=Richard|date=February 18, 2022|title=Influencers beware: promoting the wrong crypto could mean facing a class-action lawsuit|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=Vox Media|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/18/22941470/bitconnect-ponzi-bitcoin-securities-act-sec-lawsuit-influencers-youtube-tiktok|access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref> In December 2022, [[United States District Court for the Central District of California|Central California U.S. District Court Judge]] [[Michael W. Fitzgerald]] dismissed the lawsuit on the basis that the claims were insufficiently supported given heightened [[Pleading (United States)|pleading standards]] for fraud.<ref>{{cite news|last=Picciotto|first=Rebecca|date=December 7, 2022|title=Federal judge dismisses crypto scam lawsuit against Kim Kardashian, Floyd Mayweather Jr.|publisher=[[CNBC]]|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/07/kim-kardashian-floyd-mayweather-crypto-scam-lawsuit-dismissed.html|access-date=December 7, 2022}}</ref>

=== Television ===
On the March 19, 2024, episode of [[Extended Family (TV series)|Extended Family]], entitled "The Consequences of Being Irish," Pierce played himself at a fictional [[Boston Celtics]] fundraising event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/paul-pierce-guest-stars-extended-family-everything-to-know#:~:text=Who%20does%20Paul%20Pierce%20play,fianc%C3%A9%20Trey%20(Donald%20Faison).|title=Was That Paul Pierce on Extended Family? Everything To Know about the Boston Celtics Legend|website=NBC.com|first=Chris|last=Phelan|date=March 19, 2024|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>

== NBA career statistics ==
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y|record=y}}

=== Regular season ===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1998}}
| align="left" | [[1998–99 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 48 || 47 || 34.0 || .439 || .412 || .713 || 6.4 || 2.4 || 1.7 || '''1.0''' || 16.5
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| align="left" | [[1999–2000 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 73 || 72 || 35.4 || .442 || .343 || .798 || 5.4 || 3.0 || '''2.1''' || .8 || 19.5
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2000}}
| align="left" | [[2000–01 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''82'''* || 38.0 || .454 || .383 || .745 || 6.4 || 3.1 || 1.7 || .8 || 25.3
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2001}}
| align="left" | [[2001–02 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| '''82''' || '''82''' || '''40.3''' || .442 || .404 || .809 || 6.9 || 3.2 || 1.9 || '''1.0''' || 26.1
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2002}}
| align="left" | [[2002–03 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 79 || 79 || 39.2 || .416 || .302 || .802 || '''7.3''' || 4.4 || 1.8 || .8 || 25.9
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2003}}
| align="left" | [[2003–04 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 80 || 80 || 38.7 || .402 || .299 || .819 || 6.5 || '''5.1''' || 1.6 || .7 || 23.0
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2004}}
| align="left" | [[2004–05 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''82'''* || 36.1 || .455 || .370 || .822 || 6.6 || 4.2 || 1.6 || .5 || 21.6
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2005}}
| align="left" | [[2005–06 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 79 || 79 || 39.0 || .471 || .354 || .772 || 6.7 || 4.7 || 1.4 || .4 || '''26.8'''
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2006}}
| align="left" | [[2006–07 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 47 || 46 || 37.0 || .439 || .389 || .796 || 5.9 || 4.1 || 1.0 || .3 || 25.0
|-
|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|2007}}†
| align="left" | [[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 80 || 80 || 35.9 || .464 || .392 || .843 || 5.1 || 4.5 || 1.3 || .5 || 19.6
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2008}}
| align="left" | [[2008–09 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 81 || 81 || 37.5 || .457 || .391 || .830 || 5.6 || 3.6 || 1.0 || .3 || 20.5
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2009}}
| align="left" | [[2009–10 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 71 || 71 || 34.0 || .472 || '''.414''' || .852 || 4.4 || 3.1 || 1.2 || .4 || 18.3
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2010}}
| align="left" | [[2010–11 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 80 || 80 || 34.7 || '''.497''' || .374 || '''.860''' || 5.4 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .6 || 18.9
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2011}}
| align="left" | [[2011–12 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 61 || 61 || 34.0 || .443 || .366 || .852 || 5.2 || 4.5 || 1.1 || .4 || 19.4
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2012}}
| align="left" | [[2012–13 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 77 || 77 || 33.4 || .436 || .380 || .787 || 6.3 || 4.8 || 1.1 || .4 || 18.6
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2013}}
| align="left" | [[2013–14 Brooklyn Nets season|Brooklyn]]
| 75 || 68 || 28.0 || .451 || .373 || .826 || 4.6 || 2.4 || 1.1 || .4 || 13.5
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2014}}
| align="left" | [[2014–15 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| 73 || 73 || 26.2 || .447 || .389 || .781 || 4.0 || 2.0 || .6 || .3 || 11.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2015}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015–16 Los Angeles Clippers season|L.A. Clippers]]
| 68 || 38 || 18.1 || .363 || .310 || .818 || 2.7 || 1.0 || .5 || .3 || 6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2016}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016–17 Los Angeles Clippers season|L.A. Clippers]]
| 25 || 7 || 11.1 || .400 || .349 || .769 || 1.9 || .4 || .2 || .2 || 3.2
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center" colspan="2" | Career
| 1,343 || 1,285 || 34.2 || .445 || .368 || .806 || 5.6 || 3.5 || 1.3 || .6 || 19.7
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center" colspan="2" | All-Star
| 10 || 0 || 13.6 || .456 || .188 || .727 || 2.6 || 1.8 || 1.2 || .1 || 9.6
{{S-end}}

=== Playoffs ===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[2002 NBA Playoffs|2002]]
| align="left" | [[2001–02 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 16 || 16 || 42.0 || .403 || .288 || .764 || 8.6 || 4.1 || 1.7 || 1.3 || 24.6
|-
| align="left" | [[2003 NBA Playoffs|2003]]
| align="left" | [[2002–03 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 10 || 10 || '''44.5''' || .399 || .356 || .863 || '''9.0''' || '''6.7''' || '''2.1''' || .8 || '''27.1'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2004 NBA Playoffs|2004]]
| align="left" | [[2003–04 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 4 || 4 || 40.5 || .342 || .294 || .839 || 8.8 || 2.5 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 20.8
|-
| align="left" | [[2005 NBA Playoffs|2005]]
| align="left" | [[2004–05 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 7 || 7 || 39.6 || '''.505''' || .259 || .868 || 7.7 || 4.6 || 1.9 || '''1.4''' || 22.9
|-
|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| [[2008 NBA Playoffs|2008]]†
| align="left" | [[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| style="background:#E0CEF2; width:3em"|'''26'''{{double-dagger}} || style="background:#E0CEF2; width:3em"|'''26'''{{double-dagger}} || 38.1 || .441 || .361 || .802 || 5.0 || 4.6 || 1.1 || .3 || 19.7
|-
| align="left" | [[2009 NBA Playoffs|2009]]
| align="left" | [[2008–09 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 14 || 14 || 39.7 || .430 || .333 || .842 || 5.8 || 3.1 || 1.1 || .4 || 21.0
|-
| align="left" | [[2010 NBA Playoffs|2010]]
| align="left" | [[2009–10 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| style="background:#cfecec;"|24* || style="background:#cfecec;"|24* || 38.8 || .438 || .392 || .824 || 6.0 || 3.4 || 1.0 || .6 || 18.8
|-
| align="left" | [[2011 NBA Playoffs|2011]]
| align="left" | [[2010–11 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 9 || 9 || 38.1 || .459 || .447 || .882 || 5.0 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .4 || 20.8
|-
| align="left" | [[2012 NBA Playoffs|2012]]
| align="left" | [[2011–12 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 20 || 20 || 38.9 || .386 || .310 || .894 || 6.1 || 3.1 || 1.5 || .9 || 18.9
|-
| align="left" | [[2013 NBA Playoffs|2013]]
| align="left" | [[2012–13 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 6 || 6 || 42.5 || .368 || .268 || .897 || 5.7 || 5.3 || .8 || .5 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | [[2014 NBA Playoffs|2014]]
| align="left" | [[2013–14 Brooklyn Nets season|Brooklyn]]
| 12 || 12 || 30.7 || .465 || .358 || .781 || 4.5 || 2.0 || 1.2 || .3 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | [[2015 NBA Playoffs|2015]]
| align="left" | [[2014–15 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| 10 || 10 || 29.8 || .485 || '''.524''' || .850 || 4.2 || .9 || .6 || .7 || 14.6
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016 NBA Playoffs|2016]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015–16 Los Angeles Clippers season|L.A. Clippers]]
| 5 || 1 || 10.8 || .167 || .200 || .850 || 1.2 || .2 || .4 || .0 || 1.2
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2017 NBA Playoffs|2017]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016–17 Los Angeles Clippers season|L.A. Clippers]]
| 7 || 0 || 14.4 || .444 || .400 || '''1.000''' || 2.0 || .9 || .3 || .0 || 3.0
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center" colspan="2" | Career
| 170 || 159 || 36.6 || .423 || .355 || .830 || 5.8 || 3.4 || 1.2 || .6 || 18.7
{{S-end}}

==Career highlights==

===NBA===
*'''NBA champion''': 2008
*'''[[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]]''': 2008
*'''All-NBA Second Team''': 2009
*'''3-time All-NBA Third Team''': 2002, 2003, 2008
*'''10-time NBA All-Star''': 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
*'''NBA All-Rookie First Team''': 1999
*'''NBA 3-Point Contest winner''': 2010
*NBA regular-season leader, '''total points''': 2002 ('''2144''')
*NBA regular-season leader, '''free throws made''': 2003 ('''604''')
* '''[[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]]''': 2021

===College===
*Named '''First Team All-America''' by the [[Associated Press]] after his junior year at the [[University of Kansas]].
*Named '''Big Eight Freshman of the Year''' in 1995–96.
*'''MVP''' of the '''Big 12 Conference tournament''' in both 1997 and 1998.
*Member of the [[List of All-Big 12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-Big 12 First Team]] in 1997–1998.

===Other===
*Member of the [[United States men's national basketball team|US national team]] in the [[2002 FIBA World Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html|title=FOURTEENTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP -- 2002|work=usabasketball.com|access-date=July 11, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714000000/http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html|archive-date=July 14, 2007}}</ref>
*Member of the 2006 [[Basketball World Championship|USA Basketball World Championship Team]] (Did not play due to an elbow injury).
*Home Team Community Service Award (2002)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/news/pierce_community_award_020326.html|title=NBA.com - Celtics' Pierce Wins Community Award|website=www.nba.com|access-date=February 16, 2019}}</ref>
*Named to [[Kansas Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/high-school/other-kansas-prep-sports/article213119239.html|publisher=[[Kansas City Star]]|access-date=June 14, 2018|date=June 13, 2018|title=Royals' Kauffman, Paul Pierce, Larry Drew among Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductees|first=Hayden|last=Barber}}</ref>

===Boston Celtics franchise records===
*Most points scored in a half (including Overtime): '''46''' (December 1, 2001, 2nd Half vs. [[New Jersey Nets]]).
*Most points scored in an overtime period: '''13''' (December 1, 2001, vs. [[New Jersey Nets]])
*Most three-point field goals made, career: '''1578'''<ref name="basketball-reference"/>
*Most three-point field goals attempted, career: '''4273'''<ref name="basketball-reference"/>
*Most free throws made, career: '''5808'''<ref name="basketball-reference"/>
*Most free throws attempted, career: '''7212'''<ref name="basketball-reference"/>
*Most free throws made in one game: '''20''' (November 2, 2002, vs. [[New York Knicks]]).
*Most free throws attempted in one game: '''24''' (November 5, 2005, vs. [[New York Knicks]]).
*Most free throws made in one half: '''14''' (March 2, 2001, vs. [[Utah Jazz]]).
*Most free throws made in one season: '''627''' ([[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06]], breaking his own record of 604 set in [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03]]).<ref name="basketball-reference2">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/leaders_season.html|title=Boston Celtics Season Leaders|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
*Most free throws attempted in one season: '''812''' ([[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06]], breaking his own record of 753 set in [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03]]).<ref name="basketball-reference2"/>
*Most steals in one game: '''9''' (tied with [[Larry Bird]]; December 3, 1999, vs. [[Miami Heat]]).
*Most free throws made without a miss, playoffs: '''21''' (Game 1, 2003 Eastern Conference First Round).
*Most points scored in one half, playoffs: '''32''' (Game 4, 2003 Eastern Conference First Round vs. [[Indiana Pacers]]).
*Highest scoring average through one month: '''33.5 PPG''' (February 2006).
*Only Celtics player in franchise history to lead the NBA in total points scored in a season, scoring '''2,144''' points in [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02]].
*Oldest Celtics player to score 40 points in a game: '''35 years, 2 months, and 6 days old''' (December 19, 2012, vs [[Cleveland Cavaliers]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20121219/CLEBOS/gameinfo.html|title=Cavaliers at Celtics|website=NBA.com}}</ref>
*Pierce is the Celtics' second all-time leading scorer behind [[John Havlicek]]. He also ranks second in team history in career scoring average, behind [[Larry Bird]].<ref name="basketball-reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/leaders_career.html|title=Boston Celtics Career Leaders|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
*[[List of NBA seasons played leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career games played leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career steals leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career turnovers leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career personal fouls leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career 3-point scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career minutes played leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career playoff 3-point scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA single-game steals leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Paul Pierce}}
{{basketballstats|nba=1718|bbr=p/piercpa01}}
* [http://www.paulpierce.net Official website]

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members}}
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{{Three-Point Shootout Winners}}
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{{1998 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Boston Celtics}}
{{NBA on ABC}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Paul}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
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