Former Boston Celtic Paul Pierce was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI in Los Angeles.
Police reports say they found the NBA Hall of Famer asleep behind the wheel of his SUV on Tuesday night on the 101 Freeway after the cops responded to a multi-vehicle crash in the San Fernando Valley.
The lanes were initially shut down to investigate the crash, but once they were reopened, they found Pierce’s Range Rover.
“When officers approached, they found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep at the wheel,” the California Highway Patrol said in a statement. “Officers noted signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.”
Pierce was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and his case will be submitted to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office for review.
Pierce reacted to his arrest in an Instagram post.
“Imagine being stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins and falling asleep [face palm emoji] I took this picture that night because I never been in stand still traffic for this long. I’m old, I’m tired, and I fell asleep,” he wrote alongside a picture of the gridlocked traffic. “I’m good y’all thanks for the love.”
The Basketball Hall of Famer enjoyed a standout 19-year run in the NBA, earning 10 All-Star selections along the way.
Best known for his years with the Boston Celtics, Pierce captured the 2008 NBA Finals MVP after helping lead the team to its first championship in over two decades.
Since stepping away from the game after the 2016–17 season, the former Kansas star has bounced in and out of sports media.
Pierce, now 47, spent nearly four years as an analyst at ESPN before being let go in 2021, following the release of Instagram videos that showed him partying with dancers and appearing to smoke marijuana.
