Celtics legend Paul Pierce was in Boston Sunday to participate in the first annual Causeway Classic event for season-ticket holders at TD Garden.
The 10-time All-Star participated in a 3-point contest with ex-teammates from the 2008 championship season Brian Scalabrine, Leon Powe and former Celtic Evan Turner, as Pierce made it to the finals and beat the "White Mamba" to become the inaugural winner of the competition.
The 2008 NBA Finals MVP spoke to the media following his big win and advocated for Jaylen Brown, who's averaging 28.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game this season -- which are all-career highs, while also setting a new franchise record for the most consecutive 30+ point games at nine so far -- to win league MVP of the 2025-26 campaign.
"Brown is having an MVP season," Pierce said to reporters. "Not enough is being said on how he's held down the fort pretty much all year. To still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time, guys are who they are by the time they are in their fourth or fifth year.
"But just to see his maturation process at this stage. And it's just unfortunate that he’s not in MVP talks like he should be."
Pierce also gave some metaphorical flowers to Joe Mazzulla just days after another Hall-of-Fame Celtics legend Robert Parish also praised the Coach of the Year candidate, as the C's find themselves with the second best record in the Eastern Conference at 47-24 despite all the turnover this past summer and Jayson Tatum being out the first 63 games with a torn Achilles.
"This is just a testament of Coach Mazzulla; he's hands down the Coach of the Year," Pierce said. "Coach Mazzulla hasn't gotten enough credit for what he's done to develop some of these young guys."
While many former Celtics such as Parish have stated their not surprised by the success of Mazzulla and the Celtics this season, Pierce has no issues admitting he did not see this team playing at such a high level so quickly as they have.
"A lot of us was like, you know, not this year, maybe next year," Pierce said. "Now, we're weeks away from the playoffs, talking about we can actually win the East and be in the Finals."
Pierce knows and understands the responsibility to stay connected to the Celtics organization -- just as franchise legends did before him, whether that means staying in contact with Brown and Tatum on the road or seeing them in person when he comes through Boston -- something Mazzulla has encouraged since becoming head coach.
"When I was coming up, there'd be times when I'd always look up, and I'd see Bob Cousy, I'd see John Havlicek, JoJo White -- so it's always been like that," Pierce said. "And these guys will come to our practice also. And it was always open arms to the former players who helped build this place, who helped decorate this place. And that's what Celtic culture is -- it lives on through our history, through our culture. That's something that's always gonna be, no matter who's here, as players or coaches or owners -- the former players who helped build this arena, they always will be invited back, no matter who's here."
Despite having a front row seat during the Celtics 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday at TD Garden with the playoffs just around the corner -- with the team looking to make another run towards the Finals -- Pierce acknowledged that team success doesn't necessarily equal to individual recognition, especially in the cases of Brown and Tatum or the C's overall.
"I'm happy for them when they reach certain accomplishments," Pierce said of Tatum and Brown on Sunday. "Always pulling for them in the media. When I see things that I don't feel are right, because I feel like Boston players don't get their just due, for the most part.
"Obviously, Brown not being in the Olympics, Tatum not getting the minutes. I'm always advocating and pushing for them and fighting for them. So that's just what it is, and I love to see these guys be successful."
As to why does Pierce believe Boston across all four major sports team don't get their due? The Hall-of-Fame forward simply laughed and listed envy as the most likely culprit for the success Boston teams have sustained for well over the last 20-plus years.
"I mean, I'd be jealous if they had everything," Pierce said. "We have everything. We got the most championships. I mean, probably the best sports city in all of America. I mean, we are. When you look at it from baseball, football, basketball, hockey. There's gonna be some animosity there. Some resentment toward us."
Joel Pavón
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