Some of the other biggest names of his generation have retired, but Paul Pierce will forge ahead and play one more NBA season.
After a summer of contemplation, the former Kansas star, entering his 19th season in the league, announced Monday on [The Players’ Tribune][1] his intentions to play this coming year with the Los Angeles Clippers — and then retire. Pierce’s decision comes in the same offseason that saw such legends as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Pierce’s former Boston and Brooklyn teammate Kevin Garnett call it quits.
> “You know, I’ve played a lot of years
> in this game. I’ve given this game all
> I’ve had all my life,” Pierce said in
> a recorded speech. “And just like any
> difficult decision that you’ve ever
> got to make in your life, I think
> you’ve really got to be at peace with
> yourself to make a decision like this.
> I realize that it’s time to move on
> from the game of basketball. It’s the
> toughest decision I’ve ever had to
> make in my life, but this is it. This
> is my final season.”
As the 10-time all-star indicated on The Players’ Tribune post, Pierce remains hopeful the Clippers — led by younger stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin — can help the soon-to-be 39-year-old be a part of a championship level team in his final go-round through the NBA.
Pierce, of course, won a title with the Celtics in 2008, when he earned NBA Finals MVP honors.
For his career, “The Truth” has averaged 20.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while shooting 44.5% from the floor. But his numbers have been on a steady decline since Boston, the team that drafted him 10th overall in 1998, traded him away to start rebuilding.
This past season, Pierce’s first with L.A. after stints with the Nets and Washington, he averaged career lows in minutes (18.1), points (6.1), field goals attempted (5.8), field goals made (2.1), field-goal percentage (36.3%), rebounds (2.7), assists (1.0) and steals (0.5).
> “I think I’ve had an illustrious
> career,” Pierce said in The Players’
> Tribune video. “I’m very satisfied
> with the work that I’ve been able to
> do over the past 18 years, and I
> realize that you can’t play forever.
> You know, this is a young man’s game,
> and as I get older and not being able
> to be as efficient and do a lot of the
> things I do, you know, the signs, you
> know, they’re there. You can’t reach
> the goals that you put out there for
> yourself like you’ve done in the past
> and it gets harder as you get older
> and the players get better. And I feel
> like I have one more opportunity on a
> great team and something to give on
> and off the court.”
*- Watch Pierce’s entire announcement video below:*
[1]: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/paul-pierce-one-final-season/
