Paul Pierce played basketball for the Boston Celtics.
Paul Anthony Pierce ( born October 13 , 1977 ) is an American former professional basketball player who played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . Pierce spent the first fifteen years of his career with the Boston Celtics , who drafted him with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft . Pierce was instrumental to the Celtics ' 2008 championship run , as he was awarded the Finals MVP after averaging 22 points per game .