Paul Pierce Retirement
Signed on July 17, 2017, Pierce retired as a Celtic after 15 seasons with the franchise.
On July 17, 2017, Paul Pierce officially retired as a member of the Boston Celtics after spending his first 15 NBA seasons with the franchise. Although he played his final two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers following stints in Brooklyn and Washington, the organization ensured his legacy remained intact by signing him to a contract on that specific date. This gesture allowed the forward, known as "the Truth," to close his 19-year career within the same team where he was drafted 10th overall in 1998. The move honored his role in leading Boston to an NBA championship and earning Finals MVP honors in 2008.
- Player
- Paul Pierce
- Team Tenure
- 1998–2013 (Celtics)
- Key Achievement
- 2008 NBA Champion & Finals MVP
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Pierce's journey began when he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1998 NBA draft. He spent the first 15 years of his career in Boston, where he formed the "Big Three" with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007. This trio led the team to two NBA Finals appearances, culminating in a championship victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008. Pierce was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for that series, averaging 22 points per game. His tenure included 10 All-Star selections and four All-NBA team honors. In 2012, he passed Larry Bird to become the second-leading scorer in Celtics history.
In Their Own Story
After leaving Boston in a July 2013 trade that sent him to the Brooklyn Nets along with Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, Pierce signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards in 2014. He played one season there before moving to the Los Angeles Clippers for two seasons. His final retirement came in 2017, but the connection to Boston never fully severed. On July 17, 2017, the Celtics signed Pierce to a contract specifically enabling him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons. This administrative move finalized his return to the franchise that drafted him in 1998.
Reader's Guide
When reviewing Paul Pierce's career timeline, note the specific distinction between his playing years and his retirement status. While he played for the Nets (2013–2014), Wizards (2014–2015), and Clippers (2015–2017) after leaving Boston in 2013, his official retirement designation is tied to the Celtics due to the contract signed on July 17, 2017. Fans looking for his final game will find it occurred during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers before this specific retroactive signing by Boston.
Did You Know?
- Pierce was cut from Inglewood High School's varsity team during both his freshman and sophomore years before improving his performance.
- Shaquille O'Neal gave Pierce the nickname "the Truth" in 2001.
- In Game 7 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals against Cleveland, Pierce scored 41 points to advance Boston.
- Pierce became the third player in Celtics history to reach 20,000 career points solely in a Celtics uniform on November 3, 2010.
- He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
More in TD Garden & Fan Culture
Related in Boston Celtics
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in the Boston Celtics universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record