After nearly two decades on the court, Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce announced that this will be his last season in the NBA.
Pierce made the announcement Monday in a posting on The Players Tribune. He turns 39 next month and says “it’s time to move on from the game of basketball” and says he will take time to savor every moment that this season brings.
This will be Pierce’s 19th season in the NBA. The 10-time All-Star forward spent his first 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning a championship in 2008 and was named Most Valuable Player. He has since played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and the Clippers.
Pierce grew up in the Los Angeles area and says he believes the Clippers have the chance to be a great team this season.
“After 18 NBA years, it’s hard to believe I’ll be playing in each arena for the last time,” he wrote. “So I’m going to enjoy every practice, every bus ride, every team dinner, every time running out through the tunnel. I’m going to do my part to give us a shot at the ultimate goal.”
He is 16th on the NBA’s career scoring list.
Pierce’s decision comes just a few days after news surfaced that Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett would be retiring at the end of the season.
Image: Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce. AP / Lynne Sladky
