Bold bet ends in painful reality: Paul Pierce walks 20 miles barefoot to work after Boston Celtics' shocking Game 2 loss vs. New York Knicks

Time of India

08-05-2025

The Boston Celtics aren't the only ones feeling the heat after a disastrous Game 2 collapse at home. Former Celtics star Paul Pierce, now an FS1 analyst, found himself literally walking the walk—barefoot, in a robe, and on a long 15-mile trek—after boldly guaranteeing a Boston win.
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His confidence turned into commitment when the Celtics blew a 20-point lead and lost to the New York Knicks, leaving Pierce with no choice but to follow through on his on-air promise.
'I'm cooked!': Paul Pierce walks 20 miles barefoot in bathrobe after bold Boston Celtics bet backfires
It all unfolded on Wednesday, May 7, during an episode of Speak on FS1. With all the swagger of a former NBA champion,
looked into the camera and said, 'If the Celtics lose Game 2 at home, I promise you I'm walking here tomorrow, 15 miles. I'm walking here in my robe, no shoes on, bare feet… Put the house on this game!'
Unfortunately for Pierce and anyone who actually followed that betting advice, the
did lose 91-90 at TD Garden in Boston after a shocking late-game collapse.
The
ended Game 2 on a 23-6 run, flipping what looked like a comfortable Celtics win into a gut-wrenching defeat.
By Thursday morning, Pierce began making good on his words. He posted a video to Instagram saying, 'I'm really walking out here like this. I can't believe it. I got a long walk to go.' Donning his bathrobe and no footwear, he was already several miles into what would become an all-day journey.
Pierce continued updating his fans as the walk dragged on.
'This is crazy, dog. I can't believe this,' he said in another Instagram video. 'C's got me out here like this. I'm sweating. So I'm about 4 miles in right now. So I think I got another 16 miles?'
He later shared a screenshot of his walking route, showing a projected time of eight hours and a total of 20 miles, captioning it with just three words: 'I'm cooked.'
Though Pierce's extreme commitment earned him a wave of social media reactions ranging from amusement to disbelief, he at least proved he was willing to back up his talk, even if it meant sore feet and public embarrassment.
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With Boston heading to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday, May 10, trailing 0-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the pressure is now squarely on the Celtics to respond. As for Pierce, he's already taken his lumps step by painful step. But after a loss like that, both the Celtics and their former Finals MVP might be wishing they'd kept things a little more low-key.