Paul Pierce is ending his Hall of Fame worthy career where it all started.
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The 39-year-old Pierce signed a contract with the Celtics that will allow him to retire with the organization, the team announced Monday.
“We’re honored that Paul has chosen to retire as a Celtic. He is among the very best Celtics – a champion on and off the court,” said Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck. “We congratulate Paul on a Hall of Fame career, and look forward to seeing his number raised to the rafters of TD Garden.”
Paul Pierce will retire in green ☘️
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 17, 2017
📝: https://t.co/GS43Xh4e8E pic.twitter.com/Xbry4V612Y
Pierce spent his first 15 years in the league with the Celtics, and was part of the team that won the NBA title in 2008.
"It's an honor to have this opportunity to once again call myself a Boston Celtic," Pierce said. "The organization and city took me in and made me one of their own, and I couldn’t imagine ending my career any other way. I’m a Celtic for life.”
In 2013, Pierce signed with he Nets, where he played for one season. He then spent a season with the Wizards before playing the last two years of his career with the Clippers.
In his his 19-year NBA career, Pierce averaged 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 1,343 games. He ended this past season as the only active NBA player with at least 25,000 career points, 7,000 rebounds and 4,500 assists.