Retired professional basketball player Paul Pierce is our cynic today. Paul Pierce ended his 19-year-long NBA career when he retired at the end of the 2016/2017 season. During his career, he played for four NBA teams, most of which he played for the Boston Celtics. The ten-time NBA All-Star player ranks sixth among NBA players when you consider the total number of three-point field goals (2,143) scored in the regular season in his career, among other records and achievements. After Peirce’s retirement, Boston Celtics withdrew the number 34 jersey he had worn during his time at the Boston Celtics.
Paul Pierce Biography
Paul Pierce was born on October 13, 1977, as Paul Anthony Pierce in Oakland, California, the son of a single mother, Lorraine Hosey. He grew up with his two half-brothers, Jamel Hosey and Steve Hosey. His family moved to Inglewood, where he attended Inglewood High School with his half-brothers. Lorraine Hosey encouraged her children to participate in sports activities during school hours. Jamal played basketball for Inglewood High School, which earned him a scholarship to Wyoming. Paul’s other half-brother chose baseball. Paul’s own choice of sport is rather historic today.
When Paul was enrolled at Inglewood High School in 1991. he had a problem with his weight. He only made the bench on the team. Although he had the talent, according to Pat Roy, the Sentinels’ coach, he looked good on the field not only because of his stature. His chance to start came when the majority of the team’s senior players went on holiday. Paul seized the opportunity with both hands, and until his days with the Sentinels were over, he did not let the first-team spot go. He impressed his coach at his first start, scoring 12 points, getting 7 rebounds and helping to bring the Sentinels back from a 17-point deficit all by himself. When the older starter returned from vacation, it was their turn to watch Paul from the sidelines. He won the Californian Player of the Year in 1995 and was also named McDonald’s All-American. He received offers to play for several colleges around the country for teams like UCLA basketball hoops, but Paul chose to be not far from home, so he went to the University of Kansas where he majored in Criminal Science.
While at Kansas University, he played for the Jayhawks. In the 1996/1997 season, Paul helped the Jayhawks achieve a performance that they never achieved: For the first time in history, Kansas was number one in the country. However, he left the university in 1998 to move to the NBA.
The Boston Celtics could only count their stars during the draftings. The first ten drafting teams all failed to recognize Paul’s talent, as it was embarrassing for Paul to sit in the room and watch the smaller players being selected because he was the best little striker in the room. Paul was based in Los Angeles and they are used to hating the Boston Celtics, so it was not exciting for him to be selected by the Boston Celtics in the selection, nor was it a dream come true for him. He grew up with the love of the Lakers.
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He started his professional NBA career in 1998 with the Boston Celtics and spent 15 years with them. During his time at the Boston Celtics, he played as a small striker and wore the number 34 jersey, leading his team to the playoffs in 2002, which was the first time in seven years for Boston Celtics. He made the All-Star Team five times in a row in each season between 2002 and 2006, when he was inducted into the All-Star Team each season. In 2008, Paul Pierce was named MVP of the NBA Finals after helping the Boston Celtics win the 2008 championship, the only NBA championship he won in his career by defeating a Kobe Bryant-inspired LA Lakers.
After the end of the 2012/2013 season, Paul Pierce made the decision to leave the Boston Celtics. And on July 12, 2013, the deal was closed, and Paul was then a player for the Brooklyn Nets. But Pierce only spent one season with the Nets. The following season, he signed a two-year contract with the Washington Wizards Again, he spent a season with the Wizards before returning home to Los Angeles and signing a three-year contract with his last NBA team, LA Clippers, in 2015.
On September 26, 2016, Paul Pierce announced to the world that the 2016/2017 season would be his last basketball season. On April 30, 2017, Pierce played his last NBA game for the LA Clippers against Utah Jazz.
Paul Pierce played for the national team of the United States, he participated in the 2002 FIBA World Championships. He was also called up for the 2006 FIBA World Championship but was unable to perform due to injury.
Family, Wife, Kids
Paul is married to Julie Pierce. Julie was born on February 24, 1983, in Saint Louis, Missouri. She is an interior designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and businesswoman. Julie attended Parkway Central High School and also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology.
The couple met in 2005 and finally married in 2010 and have 3 children together. The first is their daughter Prianna Lee Pierce, she was born on April 4, 2008. The second is another girl, Adrian Pierce, born in 2011 and the third is their son, Prince Paul Pierce, born on April 2, 2013.
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Paul Pierce Net Worth
After a long and successful NBA career, Paul’s net worth is approximately $70 million. Before the end of his career in 2017, Paul is expected to earn approximately $22 million per year, including $6 million from sponsorship contracts. He was also named the 240th highest paid NBA player of the year.
Other Facts
- Paul stands at 6’7” (201cm) tall.
- He weighs 235Ibs (107kg).
- Won the NBA championship in 2008 with Boston Celtics.
- Won the NBA final MVP in 2008.
- He has made the NBA all-star team ten times.
- He scored 28,861 points (21.5 points per game).
- He had 8865 rebounds (6.6 rebounds per game).
- He gave 4836 assists (3.6 assists per game).