NBA legend Paul Pierce was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after police found him asleep at the wheel on a Los Angeles freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said officers had been investigating a multi-vehicle crash on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in North Hollywood around 10:40 p.m. when they later noticed a Range Rover SUV idling in the middle of traffic on the opposite side of the freeway. “When officers approached, they found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep at the wheel,” the agency said in a statement. “Officers noted signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.”
Pierce, 47, was cited and released after being booked on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office will review the case and determine whether formal charges will be filed. Authorities have not said whether Pierce underwent a chemical test or what his blood-alcohol concentration was at the time of his arrest.
The arrest adds another off-court controversy to the Hall of Famer’s post-NBA life. Pierce, a ten-time All-Star and 2008 NBA Finals MVP, spent 19 seasons in the league, most notably with the Boston Celtics, where he earned the nickname “The Truth.” He ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in points, games played, and three-pointers made.
Born in Oakland and raised in Inglewood, Pierce starred at Kansas before being drafted tenth overall in 1998. He helped lead Boston to the 2008 championship and said during his Hall of Fame induction, “I’ve always taken pride in being part of that team that brought Boston basketball back.”
After leaving Boston in 2013, Pierce played for the Nets, Wizards, and Clippers before retiring in 2017. He then joined ESPN as an NBA analyst, but was fired in 2021 following an Instagram Live video. Pierce later joked on social media, “I can’t lose my truth.”
In 2024, he joined Fox Sports 1 as a co-host of Speak, which was canceled in July 2025. Pierce told fans he planned to pursue digital ventures and podcasting, saying, “Basketball was my first chapter; I’m still writing the next.”
Tuesday’s arrest now introduces a new complication for Pierce’s most recent plans. The CHP said it would submit the results of its investigation to prosecutors once lab work and witness statements are completed. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles City Attorney declined to comment on a potential filing timeline.
Pierce’s representatives have not issued a public statement, and his social-media accounts have remained silent since the arrest. On X (formerly Twitter), fans expressed a mix of disappointment and support. “Paul Pierce made mistakes, but he’s still The Truth,” one user posted. Others called the arrest “sad but not surprising,” citing his recent struggles in adapting to post-career life.
Sports law expert Michael McCann told Sports Illustrated that first-time DUI cases in California typically result in fines, probation, and mandatory classes rather than jail time. “However,” McCann added, “for public figures, the real penalty is reputational — endorsement losses and the erosion of trust that come from repeated controversies.”
Despite the setback, Pierce’s basketball legacy remains secure. A 2021 Hall of Fame inductee and one of the Celtics’ all-time greats, he remains a fixture in Boston sports lore. Yet Tuesday’s arrest highlights the challenges faced by high-profile athletes navigating life after the game — when, as Pierce himself once said, “You don’t have the crowd cheering anymore; you just have yourself to live with.”
