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11/22/2024 08:02:12 am

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NBA News & Rumors: Paul Pierce Set To Retire As A Clipper?

Paul Pierce

(Photo : Getty Images) Paul Pierce waves goodbye to Washington Wizards fans during the playoffs last April. He is set to join the Los Angeles Clippers next season.

Former NBA champion and Finals MVP Paul Pierce is all set to end his fabled basketball career with the Los Angeles Clippers, as per The Score.

The 17-year veteran told media during his introductory press conference with his new team that his forthcoming stint with the Clips will "probably the last ride" of his basketball playing days.

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Pierce, who will be entering his 18th NBA season this October, received a three-year, $10 million deal to try and lead his former coach Doc Rivers' team deeper into the postseason than they had ever been before. Rivers called the shots for the Boston Celtics squad that the first modern big three of Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett led to the NBA title in 2008.

Los Angeles was eliminated by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the playoffs last April. The team led the series 3-1, but James Harden and the Rockets turned the table upside down to win three straight and defeat the hapless Clippers.

Analysts suggest that Rivers lacked another go-to-guy in the clutch that can deliver the big shots. Apart from superstar point guard Chris Paul, there is no one else in the lineup that is known to thrive in pressure-packed situations.

With the man they call "The Truth", Rivers will have that weapon again.

NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk noted that retiring as a Clipper is the best way for Pierce to walk away in the sunset. With the Clips, he will not only have the opportunity to play for a contender and possibly win another championship, but he will also have a familiar coach handling his twilight seasons and gets to spend them at home in L.A.

Reports said that Rivers intends to include the 6-foot-7 small forward in the team's starting lineup, although there were no indications if there will be a minutes restriction for the 37-year-old All-Star.

"I'm at the point in my career where it's winding down," Pierce told the media as reported by the Washington Post. "I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I wanted another opportunity to win a championship. I thought just being here would be a great fit. I'm a veteran. I could be another voice in the locker room and I can just pretty much fill any role that they need me to play."

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