Antics on social media apparently claimed another victim. ESPN and its NBA analyst Paul Pierce have parted ways in the wake of his wild Instagram Live, which includes pot-smoking and scantily clad exotic dancers.
The Associated Press confirmed the rift tonight.
Neither party has confirmed the reason for Paul’s departure, but sources told Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy today that the former Boston Celtics All-Star has been released.
Pierce tweeted this cryptic track just after 4:20 PM with the caption, “” Big Things coming soon stay tuned, make sure you smile #Truthshallsetufree “:
Great things are coming soon stay tuned, make sure you smile # Truth must be free pic.twitter.com/YIaJMcNQoH
– Paul Pierce (@ paulpierce34) 5 April 2021
And just an hour ago, Pierce followed up with another tweet that read, “I can’t lose, not even if I lose.”
I can not lose, even if I lose, I win 🤔🤔😳😃😃😃
– Paul Pierce (@ paulpierce34) 6 April 2021
Pierce joined ESPN in September 2017, a few months after retiring from the NBA after 19 seasons. He was an NBA analyst for the Worldwide Leader and has appeared on programs such as The jump and NBA countdown.
He started and ended his career as a Celtic. He spent his first 15 years with the team, winning the NBA title in 2008 and being named to ten All-Star teams. Only John Havlicek played more season with the Celtics (16), who beat Pierce’s no. 36 jersey retired.
Pierce finishes as the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer in 3-point field goals (1,823), free throws (6,344) and steals (1,583), and his 24,021 career points are Havlicek only. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013, spent 2014-15 with Washington and played his last two seasons for the Los Angeles Clippers. Pierce signed with Boston again in 2017 so he could retire as Celtic.
He is a first nominee to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame with the class of 2021.