NBA Hall-of-Famer Paul Pierce says he walked 20 miles in robe to pay off on-air bet
NBA Hall-of-Famer Paul Pierce says he walked 20 miles in robe to pay off on-air bet
(KTLA) – Don't let anyone ever tell you Paul Pierce isn't a man of his word.
On Thursday, the Boston Celtics legend and former Los Angeles Clippers player appeared to make good on a promise to walk to work in his robe from his home somewhere in the San Fernando Valley to the Fox Sports studio in Century City.
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The reason? Pierce's overconfidence in his former team.
After the Celtics blew a 20-point lead in Game 1 against the underdog New York Knicks earlier this week, Pierce proudly proclaimed he wasn't worried about the team's performance or the possibility that the upstart Knicks could dethrone the defending champions.
'If the Celtics lose Game 2 at home, I promise you, I'm walking here tomorrow,' Pierce boldly announced during an appearance on FS1, as his co-hosts could be heard trying to talk him out of it. 'I'm walking here. I'm walking here. 15 miles. I'm walking here. In my robe. No shoes on. Bare feet. If the Celtics lose.'
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Hindsight aside, Pierce had reason to be optimistic. The Celtics are the reigning NBA champs, have home court advantage over New York and were betting favorites to beat the Knicks. Plus, blowing a 20-point lead as the favorites in the NBA Playoffs is just a fluke… right?
Wrong.
On Wednesday, it was deja vu for Pierce and fellow Celtics supporters. The Knicks outscored the Celtics 30-17 in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, capped off with a game winning free throw by New York point guard Jalen Brunson and a clutch steal by forward Mikal Bridges to leave the crowd at TD Garden stunned.
FILE – Former NBA basketball player Paul Pierce smiles watching warmups before an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls, Nov. 14, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, file)
The New York Knickerbockers, by all counts the underdogs in the series, have a 2-0 lead as they return to the Big Apple.
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And with that, Pierce had to either follow through with his promise, or be vilified as a liar.
But Pierce took it in stride, posting a screenshot of his projected route to work shortly after the final buzzer went off. With two barfing emojis, the screenshot showed a 20-mile, eight-hour walk from his home to the Fox Studios.
And, on Thursday, before the sun came up, Pierce posted a video on social media that showed him heading out on his morning commute – robe and all. He wasn't barefoot, but we'll give him a pass.
Throughout the morning, Pierce checked in on Instagram, providing updates about his progress. He even took time to chat with some fans who found him on the street.
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As of 12:30 p.m., he was live on social media, responding to fans who tuned in for the final stretch.
'I think I lost five pounds,' he joked during the live-stream. 'My feet hurt, my toes. I need a shower.'
He also thanked fans who followed during his journey, giving him words of encouragement and even those who provided him with water along his route.
Some on social media questioned the veracity of Pierce 'walking the walk,' accusing him of not appearing sufficiently sweaty, but the 2008 NBA Finals MVP swears it was legit.
'I'm never going to do this again,' he laughed. 'You thought this wasn't real? It's real.'
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With the Fox Sports Studios in his line of sight, he channeled former teammate Kevin Garnett with one of the most beloved and iconic phrases in Boston sports history: 'Anything is possible!'
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