Paul Pierce is the best Boston Celtics player of this generation, so it’s only natural to assume he’ll retire with the 17-time NBA champions when that time comes.
His former Celtics head coach and current coach with the Los Angeles Clippers, Doc, Rivers, shares the same sentiment.
“I think it’s important. I think we have to do that. And I think we will,” Rivers recently said, via ESPN’s Chris Forsberg, when asked about Pierce signing a one-day contract with the Celtics before officially retiring.
“(Celtics president of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) and (assistant general manager) Mike (Zarren), we’ve already talked. The day (Pierce) retires, he’s going to retire a Celtic. He has to. Paul’s a Celtic. So when he retires, he’s got to retire as a Celtic. I don’t think anyone disagrees with me.”
Rivers also noted he isn’t sure when Pierce will walk away from the game. Given Pierce’s age and his lackluster 2016-17 performance, it probably will happen relatively soon, though.
The 38-year-old forward has played 18 pro seasons since Boston drafted him 10th overall in 1998. The first 15 of those seasons were spent with the Celtics.
Pierce is the franchise’s second all-time leading scorer behind John Havlicek. He also led the Celtics to their 17th world title in 2008 with a six-game NBA Finals triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
