NBA Draft: Every team’s best all-time selection in the lottery

Best NBA Draft Lottery pick: Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce

Over the first three decades of the NBA DraftLlottery era, the Boston Celtics did not have much luck with their pick selections. Many of the Celtics’ lottery picks were either eventually traded away years later or simply did not last very long on the team due to underperformance. But Boston did have one lottery pick who wound up having a long-term impact on the team: Paul Pierce.

The Celtics picked Pierce with their 10th pick during the 1998 NBA Draft. Not many teams have been fortunate enough with picking a future Hall of Famer with the 10th pick in a draft, which is why this selection was one of the most impressive from the 1990s.

Pierce became that fierce on-ball scorer that the Celtics had longed for. With his will to compete on a game-by-game basis and ability to carry his team on the offensive end, Pierce emerged as a fan favorite within mere seasons, and for good reason.

What is most underappreciated about Pierce’s Celtics career was his loyalty to the team. Even during the losing seasons in which Pierce did not receive much help on both sides of the floor, he remained committed to the team through the thick and thin for a fanbase that backed him along the way.

For a player who also went head-to-head with both LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in multiple playoff duels, this showed how much of a big-game competitor he was during his prime days and why he is among the top-scoring forwards from his era.

Paul Pierce Boston Celtics stats and accomplishments

• 1102 games, 21.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists per game
• 10-time All-Star
• 2008 NBA Champion, Finals MVP
• 1999 NBA All-Rookie, 4X All-NBA