National Basketball Association

Paul Pierce explains why he didn't like Kevin Durant's decision to join the Warriors

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:56 p.m. ET

Brett Pollakoff

Paul Pierce played for the Celtics for 15 seasons, and very few of those teams were capable of contending for titles. As someone who stuck it out through the good times and bad, Pierce has an old-school mentality when it comes to switching teams -- which is why he wasn't a fan of Kevin Durant's decision to join the Golden State Warriors.

"I could have left Boston years ago but I stuck it out," Pierce said, in an interview with SiriusXM (via HoopsHype). "I just feel like when you're that close as a competitor, you don't go join the team that just pushed you out. That's just me personally but we're living in a day and time where there's a new generation. Guys I don't think they are as hungry or competitive as my generation was, and that's why you'll probably see more of that."

It may be true that Pierce chose to stay, but he benefitted greatly from two other players who did leave their situations to join him in Boston. The arrivals of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in 2007 created a dominant team that won 66 games in the regular season and beat the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. This iteration of the Celtics was also a consistent contender for four more years.