Paul Pierce’s Final Season: NBA Legend Announces He’ll Retire After 2016-17

Paul Pierce’s NBA career, which began in Boston and almost certainly will end in Springfield, is coming to an end.

The NBA veteran announced Monday that the 2016-17 season will be the final of his career. Pierce is gunning for one more world championship with the Los Angeles Clippers, the team with which he played last season and the third stop in his tremendous career after 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics and one season each with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards.

“After 18 NBA years,” Pierce wrote on The Players’ Tribune, “it’s hard to believe I’ll be playing in each arena for the last time. So I’m going to enjoy every practice, every bus ride, every team dinner, every time running out through the tunnel. I’m going to do my part to give us a shot at the ultimate goal.”

Pierce also discussed his decision in this video.

Pierce’s first season in Los Angeles didn’t go as he probably would have hoped. The 38-year-old endured the worst season of his career, averaging just 18.1 minutes and 6.1 points per game. His 36.3 percent shooting percentage was nearly 10 points below his career average.

The Clippers, if healthy, can contend in the Western Conference. Injuries derailed the club last season, but a healthy slate, combined with a quest to get Pierce one more ring before he walks away, could provide quite a bit of motivation.

Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images