Paul Pierce says he was just tired. The California Highway Patrol says he was under the influence.
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The NBA Hall of Famer was arrested late Tuesday night after officers allegedly found him asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover on the 101 freeway in the San Fernando Valley.
According to a CHP statement released Thursday, traffic lanes had been closed due to a multi-car crash, and when they reopened, police noticed Pierce still sitting in his car, asleep. After conducting an investigation, officers determined Pierce appeared impaired and took him into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence.
Not long after, the 47-year-old addressed the situation himself on Threads — and offered a very different version of events.
"Imagine being stuck in standstill traffic for 45 minutes and falling asleep," Pierce wrote, posting a photo he said he took that night. "I took this picture because I've never been in standstill traffic for this long. I'm old, I'm tired, and I fell asleep. I'm good y'all, thanks for the love."
Pierce didn't respond to the police claim that alcohol played a role, instead framing the incident as a case of fatigue after an unusually long delay. Whether that defense holds up remains to be seen.
A 10-time All-Star and 2008 NBA Finals MVP, Pierce averaged 19.7 points per game across a 19-year career, most of it with the Boston Celtics. Since retiring in 2017, he's worked in broadcasting — first with ESPN, then FOX — though his post-playing career has featured its share of controversy, too.
