Paul Pierce is a league-defining player in a lot of ways. What I mean there is he's a guy who was overlooked coming out of the draft despite being a tremendous player at Kansas, fell to the Celtics, put up great performances and huge numbers for years for a team that could never get over the hump, then in the later stages of his career, was given an opportunity with the Big 3, made the most of it, and became a legend.
He's undoubtedly a Hall of Famer at this point, a fan favorite, and has evolved into one of the NBA's best clutch performers of the last 20 years. Even at age 37, Pierce has added to his legacy, including last weekend's all-time post-game quote, "I called game."
Here's a look back at some of Pierce's unbelievable clutch moments, playoffs and regular season, that have made him one of the league's biggest heroes... unless he's playing your team. Then he's the worst.
1. Pierce vs. Harrington's mouth
Let's go all the way back to 2003, when the Indiana Pacers were an Eastern Conference badass with Al Harrington, Jermaine O'Neal, and Reggie Miller hanging on. Al Harrington pulled those shorts up, got into defensive position, waved off help, and trash talked Pierce, who jawed right back at him.... all the way into the dagger.
I like Al Harrington. But man. (HT: @Kyle_Ramos)
2. Pierce slays the North
Let's jump to 2014, and the Raptors have hopes of #WeTheNorth advancing to the second round and capping an emotional, heartwarming story of a year. They get the ball to their best player, Kyle Lowry, who always delivers in the clutch, and then(with a little help from a KG interruption of his dribble)...
You the North, but He the Truth. (HT: TBG)
3. Pierce and his headshake vs. LeBron
Pierce and LeBron James have had some battles. They have gone back and forth at each other so much over the past seven years, the Celtics were one of the few teams that LeBron would admit he has a rivalry with. It's not one of those friendly "hug after and share your respect" rivalries, either. It's mean. Pierce knocked out James in 2008, 20010, and almost had him out in 2012 after he did this to him:
That head shake is just mean. When a guy is so good he laughs at you after doing exactly what you knew he was going to, that's downright cold. (HT: @ColeH0705)
4. Daggerin' ATL
Pierce has a history with the Hawks, who he faces in Game 5 Wednesday night, including a big gamewinner in 2012. How long has Pierce been daggering Atlanta? Tebow was still a thing.
Even when he's corny, he's awesome.
5. The Wheelchair Game
OK, let's get this over with. It's become so cliche that I very seriously get physically ill when it pops up in my Twitter timeline, but maybe the most famous Paul Pierce moment of all time was... the wheelchair game.
I would love for Pierce to actually talk about what happened. Whether it was just an injury that felt more painful than it was, or if it was something he did because he needed a breather or to lift his team (kind of risky for one of the best players to leave the game for that long, but sure) or if he really was hurt that bad and just played through it, I'd love to hear Pierce's take on that game. He really just needs to narrate a special on NBA TV about his career big moments after he hangs it up.
6. Why he's there
Here's a simple one. That's why they brought him there. (They probably didn't bring him there to not attempt to re-sign him later and then throw their team under the bus, but still!)
7. Hey, in this day and age of blockbuster films, everybody likes a sequel!
8. Flying over the Knicks
This is regular season, but you have to love this one, where Pierce does the airplane bit, knocks Nate Robinson off like he's shrugging a tackle, then later does the bow to the crowd on the opponent's floor.
Woo.
9. Children are not exempt from Pierce's wrath, just so we're clear
Yeah, he just "didn't see him." Poor kid.
10. Calling it in D.C.
And of course, Pierce just added to his lore last weekend, with the all-time line, "I called game."
Sure, we'll pretend he meant to bank that. Don't mess with the narrative! It's fun!
