Paul Pierce and Celtics seek another title
Paul Pierce is no ordinary basketball player. He is up there with the all-time Celtic greats despite only having one championship ring to his name.
Since being drafted as the 10th overall pick in 1998, Pierce has broken several Celtics franchise records including becoming the only Celtics player in history to lead the league in scoring and most points in a game. His prolific scoring ability has led him to become the third all-time scorer in Boston’s history behind only Larry Bird and John Havilcek.
Pierce has endured some tough times with the Celtics, none more than when on September 25th 2000 he found himself fighting for his life after being stabbed 11 times outside a Boston nightclub. One of the stab wounds struck Pierce seven inches deep, stopping just short of his heart.
His return to the game was swift, leaving the hospital after just a week, but after being heralded as a hero things took a turn for the worse. After years of disappointment and failure the Boston Gardens crowd eventually turned on Pierce, booing their franchise player following some sub-par performances, including one where he missed an open slam dunk.
Disillusioned with life in Boston, Pierce finally gave the Celtics front office and ultimatum, “sign some help or trade me away”. Scared to lose their star player and with the fear of alienating their fans, Danny Ainge answered Pierce’s call by signing Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Together the trio would go on to win the NBA Championship, breaking a 22-year title drought.
Pierce repaid the faith shown in him by the Celtics by claiming the NBA finals MVP award and scoring the second most Game 7 points in (the Eastern Conference Finals) franchise history with 41.
Pierce does not have the rings that Larry Bird has, nor will he ever get anywhere close to the 11 Bill Russell accumulated, but Pierce’s legacy will not measured by his rings but by his passion on the court.
What’s more is Pierce grew up 10 minutes away from the Old Forum in LA and grew up a Lakers fan when he was a child. Seeing Pierce lead the Celtics to victory over their arch rivals and the tears of joy on ring night endeared the number 34 into the hearts of the Boston faithful and once his career is over, 34 could be hanging from the rafters in the Boston Gardens alongside the Celtics greats.
And if he leads the Celtics to another title in 2010, 34 will definitely be Pierce’s number forever.
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