PAUL Pierce this week got his revenge on LeBron James for ruining his jersey retirement ceremony nearly five years ago.
The 45-year-old was at Crypto.com Arena when the Boston Celtics snatched the win from the Los Angeles Lakers’ hands on Tuesday.
3
3
3
Pierce taunted James by doing the Lakers All-Star’s “silencer” celebration after the Celtics came back from a late fourth-quarter deficit to secure the 122-118 victory in overtime.
The tables had turned for the 2008 NBA champion as, back in February 2018, he was in a considerably less jubilant mood on the day Boston retired his no. 34 jersey – while James had the time of his life.
That night, the Celtics hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers in the former no. 1 pick’s last year of his second stint with the team.
And Cleveland demolished Boston, leading by as many as 29 points before claiming a 121-99 win.
Read more on the NBA
James nearly ended the clash with a triple-double, putting up 24 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in addition to a block and a steal.
And when off the court, the four-time NBA champion was seen wildly celebrating his teammates’ buckets, including Jordan Clarkson’s transition 3 and Larry Nance Jr.’s dunk.
Cameras caught Pierce with a long face on a few occasions as he watched the game with his daughter – despite the Celtics showing numerous tribute videos during breaks in the game.
The bitter loss made for an awkward lead-up to the retirement ceremony as his jersey went to the rafters at TD Garden only after the game.
Most read in Sport
James and the Cavaliers would upset the Celtics faithful again later that season, beating them 4-3 in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
The 18-time All-Star caused Pierce plenty of troubles even in Boston's legend's playing days.
While with the Miami Heat, James threw Pierce and his Celtics out of the playoffs in 2011 and 2012.
And he would end the forward's title pursuit again two years later after Pierce was traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
