The Truth hurts now; the question is how he'll feel when it comes time to decide whether he's coming back.
The Washington Post reported that Washington Wizards guard Paul Pierce may have played his last NBA game, based on his comments following the Wizards' heartbreaking, 94-91 loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals that ended Washington's season.
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Pierce's game-tying 3-pointer came a small fraction of a second too late. According to the Post, after referees disallowed his basket, he saluted the Washington crowd three times, threw his headband in the stands, followed by his wristband.
He then turned philosophical in his postgame comments.
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"Truthfully, what was going through my mind is, I don't have too much of these efforts left, if any," Pierce said. "These rides throughout the NBA season, throughout the playoffs, are very emotional. They take a lot out of not only your body, but your mind, your spirit."
The 37-year-old Pierce has just concluded his 17th NBA season that includes a 2008 title with the Boston Celtics. But he talked about the toll the game has had, not only on him, but also his family.
"I don't even know if I'm going to play basketball anymore," Pierce said.
"It affects not only you, but the people around you," he added. "Days like this, you go home and you're around your family, you don't feel like talking to them or doing anything because of what the game does. It takes a bit out of you. You go home, and it's not a good day. It affects the people around you. It's tough. People think you just play basketball, go home and your body is sore. No. Mentally, the people around you, it affects. I know I'll go home and won't have any words for my wife or my mom. Probably the only thing that can through to me right now is my kids. They bring me joy."
Wizards coach Randy Wittman said he thought his future Hall of Famer would return.
"I'd love him back. I think he wants to be back. I don't know, I won't put words in his mouth, but I'd be surprised if he didn't," Wittman said in another Post article. "I think what he saw with these guys and the heart this team has. Why wouldn't you want to play the end of your career with a group like that?"
Besides, Pierce has a flair for the dramatic in the moment, as his exit in a wheelchair in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, only to return and lift the Celtics to victory would attest.
Anything he says or does now may not indicate what he will actually do when it comes time to decide.
Do you think Paul Pierce will return to the Washington Wizards in 2015-16 or retire? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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