By Jordan Long
Paul Pierce made the decision that this year would be his last season in the NBA, marking 19 years. According to ESPN, Pierce said, “This is it, my final season. It’s time to move on from the game of basketball. Just like any difficult decision, I think you’ve got to be at peace with yourself. I’m at peace with retiring, but I’ve got one more ride left. One more season. One more opportunity.”
Paul Pierce is one of the best small forwards to ever play in the NBA. Last season it looked like it could be his last year. I thought he lost a step because of his age at almost 39 years old. He only scored 6.1 points per game and averaged 18.1 minutes per game, both career lows. Once the season was over, Pierce took his time with the decision and decided to come back on Monday.
Pierce knows that the Clippers are a decent team. They finished with a record of 53-29, 4th place in the Western Conference. The Clippers faced Portland in the NBA playoffs and suffered a first-round exit in 6 games. Pierce averaged 10.8 minutes and 1.2 points per game in that series.
Flip the page to this season. Pierce knows he isn’t the player he once was and will be coming off the bench for the Clippers. He feels that this team is a title contender. Their roster includes Chris Paul, JJ Redick, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. It is an All-Star team and Pierce wants one last shot at a ring.
The Clippers will be able to get into the playoffs in the competitive West as a top 3 or 4 seed like they were last year. The only way to cap off Pierce’s career is to go out a winner. It will be tough, only because of the teams in the West. The Golden State Warriors are the team to beat. The San Antonio Spurs with a veteran team should still be a top three seed. The Clippers might be the second or third seed. Hopefully Pierce has an outstanding year to cap off his career even if it doesn’t end in an NBA Championship.
What do you think of Paul Pierce saying that this is his last year in the NBA?
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