Boston Celtics[1] great Paul Pierce has been arrested on a drunk-driving charge, according to the California[2] Highway Patrol.
The retired NBA[3] champion was found asleep in the driver’s seat of his Range Rover while it sat in the middle of traffic on the congested 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley on Tuesday. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The case now moves to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office for review.
CHP officials said several lanes of highway had been closed down to allow a crash investigation to occur. When the highway was re-opened at around 10:30pm local time on Tuesday night, Pierce was found sleeping at the wheel just south of the crash.
‘Officers noted signs of alcohol[4] impairment [in Pierce] and conducted a DUI investigation,’ read a department statement. ‘Pierce was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, a violation of California Vehicle Code 23152(a), and taken to the CHP Central Los Angeles[5] Area office.’
Pierce has since posted a photo of standstill traffic, claiming he took the shot on Tuesday night before nodding off.
‘Imagine being stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins and falling asleep,’ Pierce wrote on Instagram. ‘I took this picture that night because I never been in stand still traffic for this long. I’m old, I’m tired, and I fell asleep. I’m good y’all thanks for the love.’
Boston Celtics great Paul Pierce has been arrested on a DUI charge, according to the CHP
Pierce has since posted a photo of standstill traffic, claiming he took the shot on Tuesday night before nodding off: ‘Imagine being stuck in traffic for 45 minutes and falling asleep’
Since retiring in 2017, the 47-year-old California native has worked as an NBA analyst for two sports cable stations, both of which ultimately fired him.
In 2021, Pierce was let go by ESPN after livestreaming himself playing poker with bikini-clad women[6] as the group enjoyed some alcohol and marijuana.
The Truth, as he was known during his playing days, resurfaced at FS1 in 2024, where he served as a regular contributor on Undisputed with Skip Bayless. That show was later cancelled and Pierce moved to another show, Speak, which was also shut down.
Pierce’s playing career is best remembered for his Finals MVP performance in 2008, when he won his first and only NBA title with the Celtics alongside Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and James Posey.
The 10-time All-Star would later be packaged in an infamous deal that sent him and Garnett to Brooklyn, where he and the Nets would reach the second round of the NBA playoffs in 2014. The Celtics, meanwhile, used the draft capital acquired in that deal to assemble a roster that ultimately won the 2024 NBA crown – the franchise’s 18th.
Pierce and his ex-wife Julie Landrum have three children: two daughters and a son.
Daily Mail has reached out to Pierce’s agent from his playing days for comment.
References
- ^ Boston Celtics (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ California (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ NBA (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ alcohol (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Los Angeles (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ livestreaming himself playing poker with bikini-clad women (www.dailymail.co.uk)