Peter Casey / Imagn Images
Hall of Fame basketball player Paul Pierce was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after being found asleep behind the wheel of an SUV on a Los Angeles highway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Pierce, a 10-time All-Star who played 15 of 19 seasons with the Boston Celtics, was found in a Range Rover in traffic lanes south of an unrelated multi-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 101, the CHP said in a statement. Officers said they had reopened lanes after the crash around 11:35 p.m., when they saw an SUV stopped on the highway.
“When officers approached, they found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep at the wheel,” the CHP said. “Officers noted signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.”
Pierce, 47, was arrested and booked at the CHP Central Los Angeles area office on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was later released. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for review.
Pierce earned the NBA Finals MVP after leading the Celtics past the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008. He also played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and LA Clippers before retiring in 2017. Four years later, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pierce recently worked at FS1 before Fox Sports canceled “Speak,” a show he co-hosted with Joy Taylor and Keyshawn Johnson. In 2021, ESPN parted ways with Pierce as an NBA analyst after he posted videos on Instagram Live with exotic dancers. He worked on the “NBA Countdown” and “The Jump” shows.
Pierce, whose nickname is The Truth, now hosts “The Truth After Dark” podcast on YouTube.
Oct 10, 2025
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle