Paul Pierce spent 15 years as the face of the Boston Celtics. Here is a look at his Celtics career as he now heads to the Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Celtics Draft Pierce In 1998
The Celtics drafted Pierce 10th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft after he had a strong three-year career at Kansas. Pierce was named the Big 12 Conference Tournament MVP twice, and was named to the All American First Team before declaring for the draft as a junior. (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images)
Strong Rookie Season
Pierce played in 48 games during his rookie campaign -- which was shortened by a work stoppage -- averaging 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds. The Celtics though went 19-31 for the year. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Comeback From 2000 Stabbing
Pierce was stabbed 11-times in September of 2000 while breaking up a fight in Boston, and had to undergo lung surgery to repair the damage. He made a speedy comeback though, and was the only Celtic to play all 82 games that season -- averaging 25.3 points per game. (Photo Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)
"The Truth" Is Born
After dropping 42 points on the Los Angeles Lakers in a Celtics loss, Shaquille O'Neal gave Pierce his nickname: "The Truth." (Photo Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport)
First All Star Game In 2002
Pierce was named to his first All Star Game in 2002, scoring 19 points off the bench. (Photo By:Andy Hayt/NBAE/Getty Images)
Playoffs In 2002
Pierce helped lead the Celtics to the playoffs in 2002 for the first time in seven years. Pierce led Boston with 46 points in their deciding Game 5 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Boston beat the Detroit Pistons in five games in the Eastern Conference Semis to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by John Mottern/AFP/Getty Images)
Playoff Comeback vs. Nets
The Celtics fell to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference FInals in 2002, but the series will be remembered for Boston's historic comeback in Game 3. The Celtics trailed the Nets by 21 points in the fourth quarter, but stormed back to take the game 94-90. Pierce led the way for Boston with 28 points, scoring 19 of them in the fourth quarter. (Photo by: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)
Dominating Pacers In 2003 Playoffs
After averaging 25.9 points per game in the regular season, Pierce brought his game to a new level in the first round of the playoffs in 2003. He torched the Pacers for 40 points in Game 1, 37 points in Game 4, and 27 points in Boston's series-clinching Game 6 win. Things did not go as well the next round though, as Boston was swept by the Nets.
(Photo by John Mottern/ AFP PHOTO)
Poor Playoffs In 2005
Things did not go as well for Pierce and the Celtics the next two times they met the Pacers in the postseason. Indiana swept Boston in 2004, and then in 2005 took the series in seven games -- winning Game 7 on the Garden floor. Pierce was ejected in Game 6 of that series, and took the podium with tape wrapped around his jaw after an altercation with Jamal Tinsley. It was one of the lowest points of Pierce's Celtics career. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
New Career-High In 2006
The Celtics missed the playoffs in 2005-06, but Pierce set a new career high averaging 26.8 points per game. He scored 50 points against LeBron James and the Cavaliers in February, and averaged 33.5 points over 11 games that month. He set a new franchise record with eight straight 30+ point games that season. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Injured In 2007
For the first time in his career, Paul Pierce missed significant time in 2007 due to an injured foot. He averaged 25 points in the 47 games he was able to play, but Boston had one of their worst seasons in franchise history -- finishing with a 24-58. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Big Three Assembles
Reinforcements arrived for Pierce the summer of 2007 though, with Danny Ainge trading for Ray Allen on draft night and Kevin Garnett a month later. Together, they formed Boston's "New Big Three." (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Fun In Rome
The Celtics held training camp in Rome prior to the 2007-08 season, and as you can see, Pierce had some fun while there. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Title Run In 2007-08
No longer the focal point on offense with Garnett and Allen by his side, Piece focused on his defense during the 2007-08 season. He averaged 19.8 points per game, as Boston finished the regular season with the best record in basketball at 66-16. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Duel With LeBron James
After a hard-fought seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics advanced to face LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Semis. Pierce went head-to-head with James throughout the series, but their Game 7 duel will go down as one of the greatest in NBA History. Pierce scored 41 points as the Celtics beat the Cavs 97-92 to advance to the Eastern Finals. James scored 45 points for Cleveland. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Beasts Of The East
The Celtics would beat the Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals against the Lakers. Pierce averaged 19.5 points over the six games, scoring a team-high 27 points in their Game 6 win in Detroit. (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Pierce Goes Down In Game 1...
Celtics fans held their breathe when Pierce hit the floor in the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers.... (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
... But Returns In A Big Way
... but breathed a huge sigh of relief when Pierce returned in dramatic fashion. He would score 15 points in the third quarter -- 11 coming after he was carted off the floor -- and finished with 22 in Boston's 98-88 victory. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Finals MVP
Pierce went on to average 21.8 points as Boston beat the Lakers in six games for the franchise's first title in 22 years, and was named the series MVP. (Photo credit: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)
Pierce's New Best Friend
The MVP Trophy rarely left Pierce's hand in the weeks after Boston won the title. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Doc's Gatorade Bath
Pierce hit a number of big buckets that postseason, and was the mastermind behind pouring Gatorade on head coach Doc Rivers after the Game 6 victory. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Falling Short In 2008-09
The Celtics looked primed to repeat as NBA Champs, but Kevin Garnett was unable to return for the playoffs after missing half of the regular season with an injury. Pierce and the Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls in seven games in the first round, but fell to the Orlando Magic in seven games in the Eastern Semis. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Three-Point Champ In 2010
At the 2010 All-Star Game in Texas, Pierce became the first Celtic since Larry Bird to win the Three-Point Shootout. (Photo credit: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)
Game-Winner Over Heat
The Celtics finished the 2010 regular season 50-32, but made lots of noise in the playoffs. In the first round, the Celtics beat the Heat in five games with Pierce hitting a 21-footer at the buzzer of Game 3 for the win. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
C's Fall To Lakers In Finals
The Celtics reached the NBA Finals for the second time in three years in 2010 after beating the Cavaliers and Magic following their win over the Heat. They met up with the Lakers once again, but fell in seven games -- letting a fourth quarter lead slip away in Game 7. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Pierce Passes Bird
In February of 2012, Pierce passed Larry Bird on Boston's All-Time scoring list, moving in to second place behind John Havlicek. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Bringing Heat To The Brink
Pierce and the Celtics went on another spirited playoff run in 2012, beating the Hawks and 76ers before meeting the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics took a 3-2 series lead after Pierce hit a clutch shot over LeBron at the end of Game 5, but were blown out in Game 6 at the TD Garden and lost Game 7 in Miami 101-88. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Final Game As A Celtic
After an up-and-down 2012-13, the Celtics made the playoffs as the seven-seed in the East. They met up with the New York Knicks, falling behind in the series 3-0, and eventually lost in five games. Pierce's final game as a Celtic was a 88-80 loss, with Pierce scoring 14 points on 4-for-18 shooting. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
