Paul Pierce played his last game in Boston on Sunday, Feb. 5. His last visit to TD Garden was played as the member of visiting team Los Angeles Clippers. Nevertheless, Celtics fans still remember him as part of Boston Celtics team who won the 2008 NBA Champion.
Pierce played his first 15 years of the career with Boston Celtics. Sunday night game will be his last time to play in The Garden before his retirement after the 2016-17 season ends . Celtics fans paid tribute to him in an emotional game, Sports Illustrated reported.
He scored a late three-pointer as the member of visiting team Los Angeles Clippers in the TD Garden and received a standing ovation from the fans. The Celtics defeated Clippers 106-102, but 18,000 attendance in the stadium cheered for Pierce.
"That only happens here. For Paul, that was perfect," Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said after the game as quoted by ESPN.
The 39-year old player was drafted in 1998 NBA Draft by the Celtics and played for 15 years in Boston. He was part of the “Boston Three-Party” with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen who won the 2008 NBA championship after defeating Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 in the NBA Finals. Their teamwork handed the 17th NBA championship title for Boston Celtics.
In 2010, Pierce opted out of his contract with Celtics to become an unrestricted free agent. However, his attachment to Boston Celtics and the fans made him signed another four-year contract. In 2013, he was traded along with Garnett and Jason Terry to Brooklyn Nets. Many fans regretted the decision taken by Boston Celtics management.
Subsequently, Pierce played for Nets in one season before he was traded to Washington Wizards. Later he landed in Los Angeles Clippers where he reunited with coach Rivers who coached the Celtics championship team in 2008. Pierce ended his last game at TD Garden by kissing the Celtics leprechaun logo on the floor.
Watch the emotional returns from Pierce and the tribute to him in Boston from the official NBA channel below:
