Hoops Habit
Fansided

The top 10 moments of Paul Pierce’s NBA career

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) waves to the crowd after a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) waves to the crowd after a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paul Pierce
Mar 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets small forward Paul Pierce (34) reacts after hitting a three-point shot in front of Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) late in the fourth quarter at the Barclays Center. The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors 101-97. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mentions

In a Hall of Fame career spanning 19 seasons, narrowing the list down to 10 moments was an impossible task. Some tough cuts had to be made, but we couldn’t just let these gems slip under the radar either.

In perhaps his best highlight during an otherwise forgettable season with the Brooklyn Nets, Pierce’s veteran experience helped his team pull off the first round playoff upset over the 3-seeded Toronto Raptors, with his block in the waning seconds of Game 7 securing the victory:

We’d also be remiss in failing to mention Pierce joining Larry Bird (1986-88) as the only Celtics to ever win the Three-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend.

In that 2010 All-Star shootout, Pierce posted 17 in the first round and capped off the final round in typically clutch fashion, posting the winning score of 20 while making every money ball.

In his best season (2005-06), Pierce averaged a career-high 26.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. During a 14-game stretch from Feb. 4-Mar. 12, he scored 30 points in 13 games — the best such stretch in franchise history.

That stretch also included back-to-back buzzer-beating game-winners against Washington and Philadelphia.

Finally, we can’t ignore how Pierce was stabbed 11 times in the face, neck and back in September of 2000. He needed lung surgery after the incident, putting his life and his NBA career in serious jeopardy.

And yet, Pierce played all 82 games in that 2000-01 season. He even dropped a 28-6-5 stat line in his first game back — a 20-point win over the Detroit Pistons — less than two months after the stabbing.

Even that early in his career, Pierce’s love for the game and his competitive fire were clearly on display.

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