Paul Pierce: Isaiah Thomas Shouldn't Get Tribute on My Jersey Retirement Night

When the Boston Celtics retire Paul Pierce's No. 34 on Feb. 11 prior to a meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he hopes the pregame ceremony doesn't also include a tribute video to former point guard Isaiah Thomas. 

Pierce discussed the topic during Thursday's episode of The Jump on ESPN. 

“I’m not saying Isaiah shouldn’t get a tribute video … but on February 11, the night I get my jersey retired, I’m not sure I want to look up at the JumboTron and see Isaiah highlights," Pierce said, via ESPN's Chris Forsberg.

Pierce also brought up being in Los Angeles when the Lakers retired Kobe Bryant's No. 8 and 24 jerseys earlier this year. 

"I enjoyed watching that throughout the game," he said, via Forsberg. "Hopefully the Boston Celtics will do that for me. I'm not sure I want to see an Isaiah video that night."

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said on Thursday's Toucher and Rich radio show, via Forsberg, that a planned tribute video to Thomas will air during the Feb. 11 game after Thomas sat out Wednesday's game between the two teams. 

Thomas became a fan favorite during his two seasons in Boston after being acquired from the Phoenix Suns in February 2015. He made two All-Star teams in 2016 and 2017, set a career high with 28.9 points per game last season and led the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference last season. 

The Celtics traded Thomas to Cleveland during the offseason as part of the package that brought Kyrie Irving to Boston. 

Pierce spent the first 15 years of his NBA career with the Celtics. He ranks second in franchise history with 24,021 points, third with 1,102 games played and 7,882 field goals made.