American · Oakland, California · Born 13 October 1977American basketball player who spent 19 seasons in the NBA, winning the 2008 championship and Finals MVP with the Boston Celtics.
Paul Anthony Pierce was born in Oakland, California in 1977 and attended the University of Kansas before Boston Celtics selected him tenth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft. His 19-season career produced one NBA championship (2008) and Finals MVP in the same year. He spent 15 seasons with the Celtics — making him the franchise's second-longest tenured player behind John Havlicek — and scored 26,397 career points. He earned the nickname The Truth from Shaquille O'Neal following a 42-point performance against the Lakers in 2001. He was selected to 10 All-Star games. His 2007-08 season with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen produced Boston's 17th championship, ending a 22-year drought. He was named Finals MVP after averaging 21.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game against the Lakers. His late-career move to the Brooklyn Nets — alongside Garnett and Jason Terry — was intended to form another contender but injuries disrupted the project. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. His number 34 was retired by the Celtics.
The Truth, clutch performances, 2008 NBA Championship
How They Played
Versatile scorer, clutch shooter, strong post game, leadership
Lasting Impact
Hall of Fame forward, Celtics legend, one of greatest clutch players
Career Honours
- NBA Champion
- Finals MVP
- All-Star 10x
- All-NBA Second Team 4x
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 1998–2013 | 1102 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 2013–2014 | 73 |
| Washington Wizards | 2014–2017 | 193 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 2017–2017 | 25 |
American Athletes