LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce confirmed Monday he will retire from basketball at the end of the season after nearly two decades in the NBA.
Pierce, who turns 39 next month, said on The Players Tribune website he hoped to sign off after 19 seasons with a championship.
“This is it, my final season,” Pierce wrote. “It’s time to move on from the game of basketball.
“Just like any difficult decision, I think you’ve got to be at peace with yourself. I’m at peace with retiring, but I’ve got one more ride left. One more season. One more opportunity.
“With the Clippers, in the city where I grew up, I feel like I have that opportunity on a great team. We’re hungry. We want to win a championship.”
Pierce joined the Clippers last year after spending the bulk of his career at the Boston Celtics, which included an NBA Championship in 2008.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers had hinted Pierce was leaning toward extending his contract earlier this month, insisting the player known as “The Truth” could still play a role for the team.
“If I don’t think they can play, then I tell them that. But I think Paul can play,” Rivers said. “I don’t know how much he’ll play, but he can play. I’ve always thought it’s easy for someone else to tell you to retire; I think that’s something that the player has to come to by himself.
“I just think Paul loves to play.”
Pierce said he planned to savor each moment of his final year in the sport.
“It’s hard to believe I’ll be playing in each arena for the last time,” he said.
“I’m going to enjoy every practice, every bus ride, every team dinner, every time running out through the tunnel. I’m going to do my part to give us a shot at the ultimate goal.”
Wall to be limited at Wizards’ camp, no timeline to play
Washington Wizards guard John Wall will be limited at training camp after undergoing knee surgery over the summer and the team has no timeline for his return.
The 26-year-old All-Star says he’s feeling great and has been able to play 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 with teammates. Coach Scott Brooks doesn’t know if Wall will play in any preseason games.
Wall and Brooks insist they’re “in no rush” with the focus on the point guard getting fully healthy. In May, Wall had a procedure on the patella tendon in his left knee and an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
The Wizards open training camp Tuesday in Richmond, Virginia. Brooks says Wall will participate in segments of each practice as he works to get back to 100 percent.
Pat Riley says Chris Bosh not in Heat’s plans for return
Heat President Pat Riley says he believes Chris Bosh has played his last game for Miami.
Riley says the team is “not working toward his return,” even though Bosh wants to continue playing. Bosh saw his season end in each of the last two seasons at the All-Star break because of blood clots, and he failed his preseason physical last week.
The Heat were flying to the Bahamas on Monday for Tuesday’s start of training camp. Riley says Bosh will not be on that trip.
In statements released in recent days, Bosh said he is ready to play and was written off by the team when the second bout with clots began last February. Riley strongly denied that assessment, saying the team worked to clear Bosh.
Pierce, who turns 39 next month, said on The Players Tribune website he hoped to sign off after 19 seasons with a championship.
“This is it, my final season,” Pierce wrote. “It’s time to move on from the game of basketball.
“Just like any difficult decision, I think you’ve got to be at peace with yourself. I’m at peace with retiring, but I’ve got one more ride left. One more season. One more opportunity.
“With the Clippers, in the city where I grew up, I feel like I have that opportunity on a great team. We’re hungry. We want to win a championship.”
Pierce joined the Clippers last year after spending the bulk of his career at the Boston Celtics, which included an NBA Championship in 2008.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers had hinted Pierce was leaning toward extending his contract earlier this month, insisting the player known as “The Truth” could still play a role for the team.
“If I don’t think they can play, then I tell them that. But I think Paul can play,” Rivers said. “I don’t know how much he’ll play, but he can play. I’ve always thought it’s easy for someone else to tell you to retire; I think that’s something that the player has to come to by himself.
“I just think Paul loves to play.”
Pierce said he planned to savor each moment of his final year in the sport.
“It’s hard to believe I’ll be playing in each arena for the last time,” he said.
“I’m going to enjoy every practice, every bus ride, every team dinner, every time running out through the tunnel. I’m going to do my part to give us a shot at the ultimate goal.”
Wall to be limited at Wizards’ camp, no timeline to play
Washington Wizards guard John Wall will be limited at training camp after undergoing knee surgery over the summer and the team has no timeline for his return.
The 26-year-old All-Star says he’s feeling great and has been able to play 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 with teammates. Coach Scott Brooks doesn’t know if Wall will play in any preseason games.
Wall and Brooks insist they’re “in no rush” with the focus on the point guard getting fully healthy. In May, Wall had a procedure on the patella tendon in his left knee and an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
The Wizards open training camp Tuesday in Richmond, Virginia. Brooks says Wall will participate in segments of each practice as he works to get back to 100 percent.
Pat Riley says Chris Bosh not in Heat’s plans for return
Heat President Pat Riley says he believes Chris Bosh has played his last game for Miami.
Riley says the team is “not working toward his return,” even though Bosh wants to continue playing. Bosh saw his season end in each of the last two seasons at the All-Star break because of blood clots, and he failed his preseason physical last week.
The Heat were flying to the Bahamas on Monday for Tuesday’s start of training camp. Riley says Bosh will not be on that trip.
In statements released in recent days, Bosh said he is ready to play and was written off by the team when the second bout with clots began last February. Riley strongly denied that assessment, saying the team worked to clear Bosh.
