It might seem hard to believe, but there was a moment when the future of Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce as a truly elite player was not set in stone, the Englewood native set in his ways and tuning out a new head coach in Doc Rivers. But Rivers persevered and finally broke through to a younger Pierce on how to change his game to win.
“Paul, I’m going to say this upfront, and I’m going to say it in front of everyone, just so everyone’s clear. I ain’t changing,” said Rivers via The Athletic’s David Aldridge. “I really believe I know what’s better for you.”
“And I’m not changing,” he added. “So call Danny (Ainge). Or the owners. And if you want to try and get me fired, I’m cool with that. But I am not going to allow you to waste what you are.”
“Then I’m not doing my job,” suggested Rivers. “And I have to coach you to who I think you should be some day, not to who you are today. If you can’t handle that, that’s cool. But … if you don’t move the ball and want to play right tomorrow, you’re sitting again.”
Mercifully for us all, The Truth listened to Doc, and as the saying goes — the rest is history.
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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire