BOSTON — Wednesday night’s Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Clippers matchup at TD Garden might seem like just another regular-season game.
Sure, Celtics legend Paul Pierce and former head coach Doc Rivers, both of whom won the 2008 NBA Finals with Boston, are returning, but both of them have already done that multiple times since leaving the C’s after the 2012-13 season.
That said, the night could be very special for Pierce, who admitted before tipoff that he’s unsure if he’ll ever play another game in Boston after Wednesday.
“It could be. I’m not 100 percent sure, but like I’ve been saying the last two years, I’m taking it year by year,” Pierce said. “This could possibly be (the last one).
“It’s always special to step into the Garden. This is the bulk of my career. I spent 15 years here, provided so many memories, winning a championship here. It’s a special floor, special fans, special building. I’ll always savor the moments that I can step on this court.”
Pierce has two more years left on his contract at $3,527,920 per season, per Hoops Hype. He’s made a little more than $190 million in his NBA career, so stepping away this summer and retiring, and therefore leaving about $7 million on the table, probably wouldn’t be a huge deal for him.
There’s no immediate need for Pierce to step away, but there’s also very little left for him to accomplish in pro basketball. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer with a long list of accomplishments that includes a championship, an NBA Finals MVP and second place on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list with 24,021 points.
He’s still a serviceable role player, and it’s clear that based on his minutes, Rivers is trying to keep him fresh for the playoffs, which is where his real value to the Clippers will be felt. However, Pierce is averaging just 5.7 points per game, and his scoring has decreased in each of the last four seasons.
Walking away wouldn’t be a bad idea, but we probably won’t know the answer until the summer.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
