NBA: Paul Pierce, ‘the Truth’ retires as a Celtic

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NBA superstar Paul Pierce signed a one-day contract with the Boston Celtics on Monday, so that he could retire as a player of the team that had brought him into the league.

After signing the contract, 39-year-old Pierce even put on a training shirt, making a few shots on the court. He told ESPN how glad he was to be referred to as a “Celtic” again. Pierce also noted that he could not even imagine retiring in another team.

Celtics governor and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck said the team was happy to see Pierce retire as a Celtic. He called Paul “one of the best players Boston ever had”. Grousbeck also said he expected to see No. 34 above the court of the NBA-Boston TD Banknorth Garden, reported ESPN.

Nicknamed “the Truth”, Pierce was picked at the 10th by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Draft 1998. He played for the Celtics for 15 seasons. In 2007, he was joined by Kavin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Ray Allen from Seattle Supersonics as the “Big 3”, helping the Celtics win the NBA Championship of 2007-2008.

Pierce left the Celtics in 2013, and played for the Brooklyn Nets, the Washington Wizards and the LA Clippers before finally ending his career where it started, in Boston.