On this day in 2017, legendary Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce signed a deal to rejoin the team long enough to retire a Celtic, a franchise he had played with for 15 seasons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.
After his time with the Nets, Pierce would play stints with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers before his symbolic return to the franchise that drafted him with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft out of Kansas.
Pierce would win a title with Boston in 2008 along with Finals MVP, make 10 All-Star teams, four All-NBA teams and All-Rookie first team in 1999 among several other honors.
He averaged 21.8 points, 6 rebounds and 3.9 assists while with the team.