The Brooklyn Nets landed Paul Pierce via a blockbuster trade in 2013, expectations skyrocketed as a future Hall of Famer joined a roster built for a deep playoff run — all overseen by then-rookie head coach Jason Kidd.
Instead of a smooth transition, though, questions quickly surfaced about Kidd’s decision to keep the veteran swingman on tight minutes restrictions. One voice who chimed in was Pierce’s former Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers.
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Rivers pointed to the issue
Pierce’s struggles were already under the spotlight just over a month into his Brooklyn tenure. Naturally, Rivers was drawn into the conversation, having coached him for nine seasons in Boston — a partnership that culminated in a 2008 title.
Essentially knowing Pierce better than anyone, Rivers quickly pointed to why his former protege appeared to be in decline — Kidd‘s strict minutes management.
Doc certainly wasn’t alone in that view. It had long been clear that The Truth relied on rhythm, needing steady stretches on the floor to find his scoring touch. That flow, the legendary coach argued, was almost impossible under Kidd’s rotation plan.
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“Paul doesn’t work under those type of minutes — at least in my opinion he doesn’t,”said Rivers, per ESPN. “He’s a guy that needs rhythm to play.”
The numbers bore it out. Pierce went from nearly 35 minutes per game in his final Celtics season to just over 29 with the Nets. His production fell accordingly, with scoring dropping from 18.6 points to 13.5. Not only was this the lowest of his 10-time All-Star career, but it also came with poor efficiency, as Pierce shot just 36 percent from the field.
Garnett was also affected
Even though Pierce was just a year removed from his legendary Boston tenure, it cannot be overstated how much a single season can affect a player in his mid-30s. For Rivers, however, the issue wasn’t that Pierce was past his prime — it was how he was being used or misused.
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The 2000 Coach of the Year emphasized that Pierce could still score from anywhere on the court. Yet, Kidd’s short-minute approach left him uncomfortable and unable to show that prowess.
Interestingly, seeing the same pattern with another Nets veteran, Kevin Garnett, strengthened Rivers’ claim.
One of the best forwards ever, KG came over in the same trade as Pierce and faced even stricter restrictions, averaging just 22.7 minutes per game — a career low. Like Pierce, Garnett’s production suffered and his impact on both ends was muted. Ultimately, Rivers’ observations about Pierce could have applied equally to the league’s 2004 Most Valuable Player.
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“In Kevin’s case, on a 20-minute restriction, of course his numbers are going to be down. So I think at some point, he probably is going to have to play more minutes to improve, so he can get a better rhythm himself,” said Doc.
Players in the twilight of their careers, carrying the bruises and bumps from decades, do benefit from rest. But it’s tricky — without rhythm, they struggle to switch it on when it matters most, namely in the postseason.
Perhaps Rivers knew that or was simply frustrated that his former players seemed suddenly ousted. What’s clear, though, is that Kidd’s rotation plan wasn’t working, as the Nets’ disappointing 8-14 record at the time showed.
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Ultimately, Kidd, Pierce, Garnett and the rest of the Nets finished the regular season 44-38, later falling to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Pierce missed an All-Star nod for the first time since 2007, while Garnett earned the 15th and final All-Star selection of his iconic NBA career.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.