On this day in Boston Celtics history, legendary forward Paul Pierce was “waived” by the Celtics as the 15-season veteran of the team retired with the franchise that drafted him out of the University of Kansas with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft.
Pierce had signed a one-day contract with the team the day prior for this reason, hanging up his sneakers for good the following day. “The organization and city took me in and made me one of their own, and I couldn’t imagine ending my career any other way,” explained the Oakland, native in a statement at the time (via the NBA). “I’m a Celtic for life.”
