On this day in 2017, Boston Celtics 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.”
The former Jayhawk brought a championship to Boston in 2008 — the first in decades for the storied franchise — and won many other honors in his time in green and white.