UPDATE: Paul Pierce will indeed return to the NBA and play his 19th season with the Clippers.
Paul Pierce is planning on returning to the Clippers for the 2016-17 season, his 19th in the NBA, per source.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) July 27, 2016
(Original story from 7/9/16):
Veteran NBA forward Paul Pierce intends on returning to the league and playing next season, a source close to him tells Ben Bolch of the L.A. Times.
Nothing official, but person close to Paul Pierce says he intends to play next season.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) July 9, 2016
Pierce, turning 39 in October, would enter his 19th season in the league should he decide to return.
Throughout his storied 18-year career, Pierce made stops with Boston, Brooklyn, Washington, and the Los Angeles Clippers. In 68 games with the Clippers last season, Pierce averaged 6.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and played 18.1 minutes per contest, all career lows. He also shot 36% from the field and 31% from deep, again, among the worst of his professional career.
Pierce is still capable of providing some scoring, a veteran leadership, and an end of game closing ability few have in today’s league. While he hasn’t officially decided to return yet, Pierce would likely receive interest from multiple teams around the association.
Should Pierce decide to retire, one of the greatest forwards in league history would be Hall of Fame bound. Averaging 20 points and 5.7 rebounds per game during his career and being selected as an All-Star 10 times, Pierce would join elite company in Kobe Bryant and potentially Tim Duncan in a mesh of players that have reached the end of their historic journeys.
Pierce was selected No. 10 overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by Boston. He spent 15 seasons with the Celtics, winning one championship, Finals MVP, and the 2010 Three Point Shootout, further cementing his status as one of the greatest Celtic players of all time. Whether a potential last ride with Boston would interest Pierce has yet to be seen, but Boston fans would certainly welcome him with open arms.
The Clippers, who signed Pierce over the summer of 2014, may still have interest in bringing him back. Pierce could help fill the hole left by the departure of Jeff Green, coming off the bench in another limited role with the team.
Pierce has his options, and an official decision on his playing status is expected in the near future.
