"I said "Oh, no, not the Celtics, anyone but the Celtics," pag-amin ni Pierce. "But the organization’s been great. I got to meet Red Auerbach, Bill Russel, Bob Cousy, some really great people. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world."
Matapos ihatid ang Celtics sa Eastern Conference finals noong 2002, napilitang maghintay muli ng tagumpay ang 6’6" swingman, nang ipagpalit ng koponan ang mahigit kalahati sa kanilang manlalaro.
"If we keep going on the path we’re on, getting younger players, it will take a while for us to get there again," sabi ni Pierce. "Young players today don’t know what it takes to win. Getting into the NBA is all about building a reputation. They’re filling up the stat sheets. They’re not willing to sacrifice."
At kung siya naman ang papipiliin ng nais niyang maging kakampi?
"That’s easy," halakhak niya. "Shaq, Garnett, Kobe and maybe Iverson. But it’ll take a lot of money to bring those guys together."
Habang abala siya sa pagtupad ng mga obligasyon niya bilang endorser ng Nike, nagugulat pa rin siya sa tindi ng kaalaman at pagmamahal ng mga Pilipino sa basketbol.
"I’m still amazed at the warm reception, and how excited people are about basketball," pag-amin niya. "If I had never been to the Philippines and somebody had told me it was the number one sport here, I wouldn’t have believed them."
Sa katunayan, hiniling ni Pierce na bumalik sa Pilipinas, dahil sa init ng ating pagtanggap sa kanya. At muli siyang umalis na may dalang magandang alaala.