"It brought me closer to the city and the fans" - Paul Pierce on signing a long-term deal with Celtics after stabbing incident
Paul Pierce had a storied NBA career, and it had some pretty drastic moments. That includes surviving a stabbing incident that happened in 2000 at a nightclub in Boston.
Usually, such a harrowing experience would get an average person thinking about a change of scenery. It was a factor that most believed would influence P-Double’s decision to stay on with the Boston Celtics.
However, in 2001, Pierce had one year left in his rookie deal worth $1.6 million. Adding those two together, “The Truth” admitted that it would have been easy for him to decide that Boston was not the place for him. Ultimately, Paul explained how the fatal stabbing incident got him closer to the city and the fans instead.
"I could have easily said this was not the place I wanted to be after the incident, but it brought me closer to the city and the fans," Pierce said via UPI.com. "We sort of bonded. There was no doubt in my mind this was the place for me."
The stabbing incident
The Pierce stabbing incident is well-documented. The 10-time All-Star was with then-teammate Tony Battie at a private section of “The Buzz.” A fight erupted at the time between Pierce and the brother of the woman he was speaking to then. The Celtics star was hit in the head with a bottle and stabbed multiple times in the face and neck, per ABC News.
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The 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft would undergo lung surgery after the incident. Had one of the stabs gotten an inch closer or in another direction, the consequences could have been fatal for Paul, ESPN reported.
Pierce's stock rises
All that aside, PP agreed to a six-year deal with the C's in which he would earn more than $85 million. The deal meant the former Kansas Jayhawk would stay in Bean Town for the next seven years - the maximum time an NBA player can be under contract.
From that moment on, Pierce upped his numbers for the Celtics to prove he was worth the money. That season, he averaged 26.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals in 82 regular-season games.
Despite his star power, Paul needed help if Boston was to win the title. That came in 2007 when Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined the fray. Pierce was a key figure for the Celtics in the 2008 Finals. He helped Boston win its 17th championship and was named the Finals MVP of that series.
Paul stayed with the Celtics until 2013. Boston opted to change things up, trading him, KG, and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets in a multiplayer deal. His game dwindled at this point, although he had his shining moments. He also had stints with the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers, although his role diminished.
Pierce would sign a ceremonial contract with the Celtics in July 2017, allowing him to retire with the same team where he spent 15 seasons. The guard-forward’s jersey was retired, making him the 23rd player in franchise history to have that honor.
