This offseason, superstars Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett all retired from the NBA. Duncan and Garnett opted for the more subdued exit, retiring in the offseason while Bryant, true to form, had a more ostentatious retirement, going on a season-long farewell tour last year. Each way of retiring has its merits but for Clippers forward and future Hall-of-Famer Paul Pierce, he is hoping his last and final season doesn't become a huge production like Bryant's.
However, if opposing teams decide to give Pierce farwell gifts, he will gladly take them.
From Dan Woike of the Orange County Register:
Pierce, who plans to retire at the end of the season, said he didn't think he would have a "farewell tour" around the league this season. He did say, with a laugh, he would accept going-away gifts from any team that wants to offer.
Pierce may not have the same rabid fan base as Bryant had, and still has, but he is a beloved player -- especially in Boston, where he helped to lead the Celtics to their 17th franchise title. The Celtics will surely have something special planned for Pierce when the Clippers head to Boston on Feb. 5. And it wouldn't be surprising to see the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets have something similarly planned, albeit to a lesser extant, when the Clippers come to town.
You have to imagine, whether he wants it or not, a lot of teams are going to honor Pierce. He is a 19-year veteran, 1o-time All-Star, NBA champion and Finals MVP. His career definitely deserves praise.
