"I said, Oh, no, not the Celtics," he told members of the media at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati yesterday during his second visit here under Nike sponsorship. "But the organizations been great. I got to meet Red Auerbach, Bill Russel, Bob Cousy, some really great people. I wouldnt trade the experience for anything in the world." After leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals in 2002, the 66" swingman was made to wait for success again, as Boston started a string of trades that replaced more than half the team this season.
"If we keep going on the path were on, getting younger players, it will take a while for us to get there again," Pierce admits. "Young players today dont know what it takes to win. Getting into the NBA is all about building a reputation. Theyre filling up the stat sheets. Theyre not willing to sacrifice."
And if he were to choose his own starting teammates?
"Thats easy," he chuckles. "Shaq, Garnett, Kobe and maybe Iverson. But itll take a lot of money to bring those guys together." While hes busy here fulfilling his endorsement obligations as a Nike endorser, Pierce continues to be dumbfounded by the passion Filipinos have shown for basketball.
"Im still amazed at the warm reception, and how excited people are about basketball," the Celtics leader says. "If I had never been to the Philippines and somebody had told me it was the number one sport here, I wouldnt have believed them."