34 Greatest Moments of Paul Pierce's Career with the Boston Celtics

Paul Pierce is arguably one of the more prolific scorers in both Boston Celtics and NBA history, and is a player known for his ability to win games.

His legacy with the Celtics only continues to grow, as recently, in 2008, he was crowned an NBA champion. Now with a title under his belt, Pierce starts to enter the talks as one of the better Celtics to play the game.

As his 34th birthday was earlier this month, it is only fitting to take the time to highlight some of the better moments in the career of Paul Pierce. Here are the 34 greatest moments of Paul Pierce's career.

No. 34: Getting Drafted by the Boston Celtics

It was June of 1998 when Paul Pierce officially became a Boston Celtic.

Over a decade later, with the success he has had throughout his career, it was evident that getting drafted by the Celtics was the right fit for the potential Hall of Famer.

No. 33: The Free-Throw Bounce

As mentioned in a more recent piece of mine, in the second-round of the 2009 NBA playoffs, Paul Pierce hit a free-throw that would hit the rim, bounce straight up and miraculously fell into the basket. That was the second of two free-throws that would help close out the Cavaliers in Game 7.

Later Paul Pierce told ESPN.com:

"The ghost of Red [Auerbach] was looking over us."

No. 32: Member of 2006 U.S.A. National Team

Paul Pierce was unable to be effective during his 2006 run with the U.S.A basketball team, as he was struggling to recover from a lingering elbow injury.

This would be the second time in his career making the U.S.A. national team, a feat that countless players never get the chance to do.

No. 31: Pierce Is an Active Member in His Community

Paul Pierce is a guy that makes a statement both on and off the court, as he is an active member in the community and has constantly made it a habit to help those around him.

Paul Pierce's Truth Fund, otherwise known as Paul Pierce's The Truth On Health, was founded in 2002 by Pierce to provide education and a better quality of life for under-served youth in the community.

No. 30: Member of 2002 U.S.A. National Team for FIBA Games

Paul Pierce and Ben Wallace were two of the members on the 2002 U.S.A. national team, where Pierce had a much better showing than he would later have in 2006.

In 2002, the team finished 6-3, with Pierce averaging 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

No. 29: Throws out First Pitch at Fenway

Aside from puffing on cigars and enjoying the summer of being a champion, Paul Pierce was given the honor of throwing out the first pitch at Fenway after the Celtics became NBA champions earlier that summer.

Pierce would be there along with Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Celtics team.

No. 28: 2010 Three-Point Contest Winner

In 2010, when people least expected it, Paul Pierce came out and took the final round by storm to win his first career NBA Three-Point Shootout.

Pierce put in a whopping 20 points in the final round, just edging out Stephen Curry and Chauncey Billups.

No. 27: 2011 World Series of Poker

Yes, believe it or not, Pierce knows a thing or two about playing his cards.

After making it to level 8 and being 20 minutes away from making level 9, he was eliminated from the 2011 World Series of Poker and outlasted over 2,031 other contestants.

It's crazy; who would've thought Pierce can play on the poker tables?

No. 26: The Nine-Steal Game

Against the Miami Heat in 1999, Pierce's second year in the league, he had not one, not two, not five but a whopping nine steals recorded in the regular season matchup.

The nine steals was tied with Larry Bird for the most by a Celtics player in team history in one game.

No. 25: 20 Free-Throws Against the New York Knicks

Paul Pierce drained a career-high 20 free-throws on Nov. 2, 2002 against the New York Knicks.

Pierce is notorious for his free-throw shooting ability, as throughout his career, he has constantly been a threat from the line.

No. 24: Career-High in Three-Point Shots Made in a Game

Against Seattle, Paul Pierce was able to knock down eight three-point field goals in one game, which marked a career-high for "The Truth."

No. 23: Toughing It out in Beantown

After several solid postseason runs from the Boston Celtics in the late 90's until 2002, the team then began to go in a downward spiral until things flipped around in 2007.

Paul Pierce was able to tough it out as a Celtic and play on a team that failed to meet expectations year after year, and in the end, it would pay off. The Big Three would soon form in 2007, and the four tough, losing seasons endured by Pierce would turn out to be worth the struggle.

No. 22: Rookie Season, 1998-1999

Paul Pierce had a rookie year to remember, failing to show much struggle to translate his game from college to the NBA.

In his first season in the league, Pierce averaged 16.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, one block and 1.7 steals per game. The production would ultimately lead to Pierce being selected to the All-Rookie team  in 1999.

No. 21: The 2001 Season

It was in 2001 that Paul Pierce shined on the scoring end, scoring over 2,000 points for the season.

The mark was hit for the first time since Larry Bird was able to score over 2,000 points in 1988, a drought that lasted 13 seasons for the Celtics.

No. 20: The 46-Point Game vs. 76ers

Against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2002, Pierce put together one of his better scoring performances of his entire career, going for 46 points in the contest.

It was a game that took place in the 2002 NBA Playoffs and was the first series the Celtics would end up winning since taking one in 1992.

No. 19: Going off Against the Indiana Pacers

Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics would put together an impressive second-half performance to top the Indiana Pacers 102-92.

Pierce would score 32 points...in the second half of the game. The mark set the record for the most points scored in one half of play by a Celtic, passing Havlicek and Bird, who both scored 30 in a half.

Twenty-one of the 37 points came in just the third quarter alone.

No. 18: 2006 Game Winner vs. Wizards

In 2006 against the Washington Wizards, fading out of bounds with All-Star Gilbert Arenas in his face, Pierce hit a game-winner to defeat the Wizards in stunning fashion.

No. 17: The Famous Buzzer-Beater over Al Harrington

Paul Pierce was toying with him, taunting him for what seemed like the longest time, until he would pull the trigger and hit what would be one of the better buzzer beaters of his career.

If you haven't already seen it, check it out above! Definitely one of the more clutch shots in the career of Paul Pierce.

No. 16: Pierce Hits Buzzer Beater in Madison Square

With a screen from Kevin Garnett at the top of the key and a quick step-back move in the paint, Paul Pierce was able to get a shot off on Amare Stoudemire that would be the go-ahead bucket in the game.

The Celtics would defeat the New York Kicks 118-116 in what was a game to remember in the 2010-2011 season.

No. 15: NBA Scoring Leader in 2002

In 2002, Pierce proved he was a man on a mission, scoring the most total points in the entire NBA that year.

Pierce would record a total 2,144 points that season.

No. 14: Yes, Another Game-Winner

Certainly notorious for his buzzer-beater shots, wouldn't you say?

This shot came against the Miami Heat in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, as the shot would give the Celtics the 110-108 win and a 3-0 lead in the series. The Celtics would eventually win the series in five games, as Dwyane Wade and the Heat would take the next game.

No. 13: Game-Winning Shot vs. Bulls in 2009

With the series tied at 2-2 and the Celtics needing a scoring boost late in the game, Pierce decided he would come to play and carry the team on his back in the final seconds.

His usual jumper from the top of the key would be nothing but net, giving the Celtics a 3-2 lead in the series in the 2009 playoff matchup.

No. 12: Carrying C's to 2010 NBA Finals Appearance

Despite being able to get out to a 3-2 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics would lose the series in seven games. The Lakers would take care of business at home in the final two games and stun the Celtics.

Getting to the NBA Finals was quite the accomplishment for the team, as many predicted Boston did not have what it took to get back the Finals after 2008.

No. 11: The Game 1 Comeback, 2008

In Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals, Pierce was sent off in a wheelchair in what looked like a season-ending injury for the veteran and the end of any title hopes for the Celtics.

Sure enough, later that game, the TD Garden crowd would erupt late in the second half, as Pierce made his way out of the locker room on two feet and came back into the game.

Upon entering the game, Pierce hit back-to-back three-pointers to help life the Celtics to victory when everybody in the building least expected it.

No. 10: Surviving Against All Odds

In September of 2000, Paul Pierce was out a night club where he would be stabbed in the neck, face and back multiple times.

An inside source, although not a confirmed fact, had said his leather jacket was ultimately the reason he survived that night. Miraculously, when the world thought Pierce may never dribble a basketball again, he was out scoring the basketball and helping his team win on the court.

No. 9: Shaq Gives Pierce the Name of "The Truth"

Back in the day in 2001 when Shaquille O'Neal was a member off the L.A. Lakers, Paul Pierce had himself a heck of a game and lit up the scoreboard offensively.

Sure enough, this is what the great Shaq had to say about Pierce after the game:

"Take this down. My name is Shaquille O'Neal, and Paul Pierce is the [expletive] 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. Paul Pierce is the truth."

A unique way to get the nickname to say the least.

No. 8: Raising the Banner in TD Garden in 2008

On what was arguably the more emotion-filled day of Paul Pierce's career, the Truth and the Boston Celtics would lift up a 17th banner in TD Garden in honor of their 2008 championship run.

The ups and downs Pierce had in Boston were all soaked in in that one moment, as his emotions undoubtedly got the best of him.

No. 7: The LeBron James vs. Paul Pierce Duel, Part 1

In 2006, the two met in a classic duel, where Pierce would get the best of LeBron James, scoring a career-high 50 points in the contest.

Unfortunately, the performance of Pierce was not good enough to win the ball game, yet it was certainly one of the better individual performances of his career.

No. 6: LeBron James and Paul Pierce, Part 2

In 2008, LeBron James and Paul Pierce added a bit of legacy to their rivalry, again putting together two jaw-dropping offensive performance in what was a Game 7 to be remembered.

Pierce went for 41 points in what was a five-point victory for the Boston Celtics and a series victory that would put the Celtics one step closer to an NBA championship.

No. 5: Getting 20,000 Career Points vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 2010

Paul Pierce joined the 20,000 points club in the 2010 season, as a 28-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks got him over the hump.

It was a moment that put Pierce among the greats to ever play for the Boston Celtics and to ever play in the league.

No. 4: The Game 4 Comeback for the Ages

Paul Pierce would score 20 points and grab seven rebounds in what would be the most crucial win for the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals.

Just when it seemed like the Lakers had full control of the game and series, Pierce and the Celtics stepped up  the level of play in a hurry. Down as many as 24 in this one, the C's rallied their way back to take a lead midway through the fourth quarter and eventually win the game.

No. 3: The 21-Point Comeback Against the Nets, 2002

Paul Pierce and his troops came into the fourth quarter down by 21 points and won the game. That's right, the Celtics had pulled off what was the biggest fourth quarter comeback in NBA history.

Alongside All-Star forward Antoine Walker, Pierce and the C's were able to make history in the 2002 NBA Playoffs.

No. 2: 2008 NBA Finals MVP

After the Celtics were able to top the Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Paul Pierce and company were officially NBA champions and Pierce was able to make history.

Following the game, he would be named the 2008 NBA Finals MVP.

So of course, it would only be right to have this No. 1...

No. 1: Winning an NBA Championship

It was a matter of blood, sweat and tears, as the Celtics toughed out several seven-game series matchups and a tough L.A. Lakers team to hoist the 2008 NBA championship trophy.

Paul Pierce was a big factor in the Celtics being able to overcome the adversities they faced, as he was rewarded with a 2008 NBA Finals MVP award.

This was easily the greatest moment of Paul Pierce's career and more than arguably the most memorable.