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SLAM 59’s cover story on Paul Pierce contains two perfect lines:
“Ask most people, fans or League folk why Paul Pierce is so deadly. You’ll most likely get the standard ‘because he can do everything.’”
The cover story dropped in April of 2002, right after Pierce had been selected to his first All-Star Game. At that moment in time, his fourth season was his best season yet. He wound up leading the League in total points scored that season. Plus, he averaged 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 40 minutes per game. Even better than the numbers, the once-downtrodden Celtics won a lot in ‘01-’02. They were miles away from Pierce’s rookie campaign, when they won just 19 times. Instead, that ‘02 entry in the Boston history books yielded 49 wins, the third seed in the East and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. With all due respect to Employee Number 8’s contributions, the truth is that The Truth had set the Celtics free.
There had been hard times in Beantown. Two of their players tragically passed away, the Legend had retired and the well of wins they had known for decades had completely dried up. Enter the slow-footed, loud-mouthed small forward whose self confidence knew no bounds. After that disastrous debut season, Pierce’s squad gained momentum. He upped his scoring from year one to year two by three and then by six from year two to year three. The Cs won 35 games and then 36 games, too.
Pierce was making good on the promise of his potential in ‘02. When his career at Kansas concluded with a spot in the top-five all-time Jayhawks scorers, he was a tantalizing prospect. When his name was mentioned in the ‘99 ROY race, he was showing signs.
SLAM 59 was the confirmation that Paul Pierce really could do everything.
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