Paul Pierce is in legal trouble after being found asleep behind the wheel of his car. According to TMZ, the Boston Celtics legend was arrested early Tuesday morning when California Highway Patrol officers discovered him asleep in his Range Rover, which was stopped in the middle of traffic on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley.
“Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce was arrested on Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol said. Authorities found Pierce asleep while he was in the driver’s seat of his Range Rover as it was in the middle of traffic on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley,” reported TMZ.
Pierce has not been officially charged, but he was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under alcohol after a DUI investigation noted signs of impairment.
“Cops say lanes had been closed on the highway while a crash investigation occurred … and the sleeping Pierce was discovered following their reopening at around 11:35 PM,” TMZ added.
Pierce, a 19-year veteran, is a well-known Celtics legend and frequent face in the NBA media. Over 19 years in the NBA, he averaged 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 44.5% shooting. The Hall of Famer is a 10x All-Star, four-time All-NBA player, and 2008 NBA champion. At 47 years old, he’s been out of action for some time now but he’s filled the gap with media jobs at ESPN and FanDuel.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that Pierce has gotten himself mixed up in controversy. During his stint with ESPN, he got into trouble for an Instagram Live session, where he recorded himself intoxicated while gambling and surrounded by women. The event cost Pierce his job at the time, and his reputation took a massive hit.
This latest controversy is yet another hit to Pierce’s reputation. If he was really driving under the influence, then he was putting people’s very lives on the line and he should be thankful that nobody was hurt while he was on the road. In that case, more than his media career would have been in jeopardy.
For now, ‘The Truth” has yet to comment on this situation but there’s really nothing more to be said. He got caught drinking and driving and now he’ll have to pay the price before things can return to normal again. As sad as the story is, it’s a lesson to every player that nobody is exempt from the rules.
Even for a legend like Paul Pierce, mistakes can often have devastating consequences and he’s finding out in real-time just how serious those can be. Whether it’s fines, community service, or even jail time, Pierce is going to have to answer for his behavior one way or another and then he’s going to have to explain why we should believe he’ll never do it again.
Paul Pierce’s arrest is a tough moment for one of Boston’s greatest players. While his career on the court speaks for itself, his choices off it continue to overshadow his legacy. If he truly wants to move forward, Pierce will need to take accountability, accept whatever punishment comes his way, and prove that he’s learned from this mistake. At 47 years old, he’s not just representing himself anymore, he’s representing the history and respect that come with being a Hall of Famer.
