Former NBA star and Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after California Highway Patrol officers found him asleep behind the wheel of his Range Rover on the 101 Freeway.
Officers discovered Pierce, 47, around 11:40 p.m. in his SUV stopped in the roadway south of an unrelated multi-vehicle crash in the San Fernando Valley, according to California Highway Patrol.
CHP officers had closed four of the freeway’s six lanes while responding to the crash around 10:40 p.m. When they reopened the lanes about an hour later, they noticed Pierce’s Range Rover stopped on the highway with Pierce asleep in the driver’s seat.
Officers conducted a DUI investigation after they “noticed signs of alcohol impairment,” according to CHP. Pierce was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence.
Pierce responded to the arrest on social media, claiming he was simply tired, not drunk.
“I wasn’t drunk, I was just old and tired,” Pierce posted.
The Hall of Famer spent the first 15 years of his career with the Boston Celtics, where he cemented his legacy as the 2008 NBA Finals MVP while leading the team to its 17th championship. He also played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Clippers before retiring in 2017.
Pierce joined ESPN as an NBA analyst after retirement but was fired in 2021 after posting controversial videos of himself online. He was recently a co-host of “Speak,” a sports talk show on Fox Sports that was canceled in July 2025.
Pierce now hosts “The Truth After Dark” podcast.