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Paul Pierce has never been shy about living out loud and doing what he wants on the internet. A few years back he had an outrageous party he shared on Instagram live, featuring exotic dancers, a poker game and plenty more “entertainment.” That video led to his dismissal as a basketball analyst from ESPN. One has to wonder if his latest live stream escapades could lead to similar trouble with his latest employer. A certain personality from his former employer thinks Pierce could be in trouble.
On a live NBA Finals watchalong broadcast of “The Ticker & The Truth”, a Showtime video podcast featuring former teammates and friends Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, Pierce was off the rails with his behavior. He seemed to be intoxicated as he, Garnett and friends watched the game from a home theater. He also introduced Garnett to a companion he brought for the evening, Camille. Pierce later bragged that he found her “on a website where you can hire girlfriends for the day.”
Garnett attempted to stop him, growing more agitated as the evening progressed. Garnett continued to play peacemaker as Pierce showed off his expensive jewelry, lit a cigar, wanted to fight someone who threw him a lighter and hit him in the face with it, and more. What began as unfiltered access to some great basketball minds during the league’s championship series turned to cringe theater quickly.
The entertainment factor was there for the stream, but for all the wrong reasons. And Stephen A. Smith was none too pleased.
On his most recent episode of his self-titled podcast, the ESPN analyst and “First Take” host laid into Pierce for his behavior on Instagram while working for ESPN as well as his latest escapades.
“Somebody’s gotta tell Paul Pierce you’re a champion bro! Is that how you wanna be seen?” Smith said.
He further scolded Pierce for behaving in ways he didn’t when he was with the Celtics, representing a storied franchise versus representing companies like Disney, who owns ESPN.
“You mean too much to the game of basketball for us to see you like that,” Smith said.
While Smith is an orator known for his theatrics and over-the-top delivery, you can see his legitimate concern for someone he considers a friend.
Neither Pierce, Garnett nor Showtime has addressed The Truth’s behavior or anything from the live stream yet. The next episode of “The Ticket & The Truth” could be interesting well beyond how the two Celtics legends choose to address the rest of the NBA Finals.
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