Survived 11 Stab Wounds, Then Trash-Talked Michael Jordan: The Story of How Paul Pierce Made History and Became 'The Truth'
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He spent 15 years with the Celtics, from 1998 to 2013. The pinnacle of his tenure came in 2008, when Boston captured the NBA title and Pierce was named Finals MVP.
Yet long before reaching basketball's summit, he survived a horrifying ordeal that nearly ended not just his career, but his life. In September 2000, during a night out at a Boston nightclub, Pierce was brutally attacked—stabbed 11 times across his back, neck, and abdomen, while a bottle was smashed over his head.
One of the stab wounds came within millimetres of his heart. Following emergency surgery, he miraculously survived.
While multiple versions of that fateful night in 2000 have circulated, the official account states that Pierce was talking to a woman at the club, which angered three men, at least one of whom was related to her.
"People don't know this, but I was so paranoid afterward that I carried a gun with me for two years. I kept it in my car and always had it nearby. I couldn't be in large crowds anymore. It was deeply traumatic. I couldn't sleep, constantly waking up in the middle of the night. I had 24-hour police surveillance outside my house because of the paranoia. An experience like that fundamentally changes you. You don't know where to look, you're constantly on edge, and you find yourself thinking about what you'd do if you had to defend your life."
How He Became 'The Truth'
Despite the severity of his injuries, Pierce made a stunning recovery and was ready for opening night just a month later.
Remarkably, he went on to become the only Celtics player to suit up for all 82 games that season, averaging an impressive 25.3 points per contest.
Just four months after the attack, Pierce torched the powerhouse Lakers for 42 points, prompting Shaquille O'Neal to christen him with his legendary moniker, 'The Truth.'
"Take this down: My name is Shaquille O'Neal, and Paul Pierce is the motherf***ing truth. Quote me on that, and don't take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn't know he could play like this."
Pierce's swagger surged to such heights that he even dared to talk trash to Michael Jordan.
After draining back-to-back three-pointers over Jordan and blocking his shot at the other end, Pierce had a message for the GOAT:
"Old man, go ahead and retire—this isn't your league anymore."
Glory Years in Boston
Pierce carried the Celtics franchise on his shoulders for years, despite originally being disappointed when Boston drafted him.
"Growing up, I hated the Celtics. Magic Johnson was my idol, and I snuck into the Forum several times just to watch him practice. When draft night came, I told myself: 'Those nine teams that passed on me are going to deeply regret it.' I knew how hard I worked and how badly I wanted to succeed. I never backed down from a challenge. Every single day in training, with every shot I took, I'd rattle off: Golden State, Vancouver, Toronto, Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia... I even called out the names of their head coaches. Five years later, I realized all nine of those coaches had been fired. It was crazy, but it felt great." – Paul Pierce
He was never the fastest or most athletic player on the floor, but he possessed an extraordinary basketball IQ and feel for the game.
The turning point arrived in the summer of 2007, when Boston orchestrated blockbuster deals to acquire Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, forming the iconic 'Big Three.'
In the championship decider, Boston overpowered their arch-rivals, the Lakers, as an unstoppable Pierce fulfilled his childhood dream of lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy, capping it off with Finals MVP honors.
In the twilight of his career, he had stints with Brooklyn, Washington, and the LA Clippers, though another championship ring proved elusive.
VIDEO: LeBron and Philadelphia silence New York on opening night
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