For one final time, Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce will square off with the franchise that made him a future Hall of Famer. Pierce heads to Boston’s famed TD Garden for one final game against his old franchise on Super Bowl Sunday at 2 PM ET on ABC.
Paul Pierce and current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers spent their best years in the NBA in Boston, including a run to the NBA title in 2008. Every time the duo returns, they get a hero’s welcome. But for Pierce, despite saying he will retire as a member of the Celtics organization, this game will be the last chance he’ll get to step on the court as a player with his retirement coming at season’s end.
So ahead of Pierce’s final game in Boston as a player, the former NBA Finals MVP spoke about the emotions of his last contest against the franchise he saw his best years with.
Following from Chris Forsberg of ESPN.
Kobe Bryant had a season-long farewell tour. Paul Pierce says Boston is his goodbye. pic.twitter.com/w7em81P2gx
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) February 4, 2017
“There’s no preparation for something like this,” Pierce said. “I can’t even picture it and how it’s going to be. I can’t even imagine how it’s going to be. I know it’s going to be emotional. I don’t know what kind of emotion is going to come out, whether it’s a smile or a tear or what. It’s something that you just can’t prepare for.
“My whole career basically in one building, 15 years, then to be able to come back here for one more time. You know, I always wished that I’d end my career playing as a Boston Celtic, but things sometimes they don’t turn out how you want them. But I’m happy with what I’ve been able to leave behind as a Boston Celtic. I’m happy that I know I gave my all to this city, not only on the court but off the court. … A lot of people look at me as one of their own in the city of Boston. It’s almost like I grew up here.”
Pierce will play his final game in Boston on the 18th anniversary of his NBA debut here. The lockout that year pushed the start of his rookie season into February. When told of the symmetry between his first and final game in Boston, Pierce smiled wide.
“See how things work?” Pierce said. “It’s unbelievable.”
“I know one thing, I want to give Lucky [the Leprechaun logo] one last kiss,” Pierce said. “That’s one thing I know I want to do. I’ll probably go to half court and give Lucky one last kiss.”
