Former NBA star Paul Pierce was arrested late Tuesday, October 7, on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI after police allegedly found him asleep behind the wheel on a Los Angeles freeway.
According to the California Highway Patrol, officers responded around 10:40 p.m. to a multi-vehicle crash on northbound U.S. Highway 101 near Universal City. When lanes reopened, officers noticed a Range Rover stopped south of the collision scene.
“When officers approached, they found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep at the wheel,” the CHP said in a statement. “Officers noted signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.”
Authorities said Pierce appeared to show signs of alcohol impairment. He was detained and taken to a nearby CHP station, where he underwent a field sobriety test. Pierce was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI and later released, pending review by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.
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The CHP said the former basketball star was “cooperative” with officers throughout the arrest process.
On Friday, October 10, Pierce issued a statement via Threads, claiming the situation happened because he is “old and tired.”
“Imagine being stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins and falling asleep,” he wrote. “I’m old, I’m tired, and I fell asleep. I’m good y’all thanks for the love.”
He posted a photo alongside the statement showing him stuck in traffic behind multiple cars. He did not address the alleged misdemeanor DUI charges.
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether to file formal DUI charges. Under California law, a first-time misdemeanor DUI conviction can result in fines, probation, mandatory education programs, and up to six months in jail.
As of Thursday morning, no court date had been scheduled.
Nicknamed “The Truth,” Pierce spent 19 seasons in the NBA, including 15 with the Boston Celtics, where he earned 10 All-Star selections and won the 2008 NBA Championship alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. That same year, he was named NBA Finals MVP after averaging 21.8 points per game in the series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Pierce retired in 2017 after final stops with the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Clippers. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, cementing his status as one of the Celtics’ all-time greats.
Following his playing career, Pierce transitioned into broadcasting as an analyst for ESPN’s NBA Countdown and The Jump. He was dismissed from the network in 2021 after streaming a profanity-filled Instagram Live video that showed him partying with friends. In recent years, he appeared periodically on Fox Sports and other basketball-focused digital platforms.
Pierce’s arrest adds to a list of off-court controversies that have trailed him since his retirement. Earlier this year, he was sued by cryptocurrency investors who accused him of misleading endorsements related to EthereumMax, a token he promoted on social media in 2022. Pierce settled the charges with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for unlawfully promoting crypto assets on social media, agreeing to pay over $1.4 million in penalties.
Despite those issues, Pierce has remained active within the basketball community, frequently attending Celtics events and mentoring younger players. The Hall of Famer has also hosted basketball clinics in Los Angeles and Boston.
