Retired NBA Star Charged with DUI After Alleged Nap Behind the Wheel

In October 2020, NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce was charged with driving under the influence in California. The charges came 20 days after Pierce was allegedly found asleep in his vehicle on U.S. Highway 101 in Los Angeles.

According to the California Highway Patrol, officers responded to a multi-vehicle crash on the highway around 10:38 PM on October 7th. As they were reopening the lanes, they noticed Pierce's Range Rover stopped in the traffic. The officers reported seeing signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.

Pierce later addressed the incident on social media, claiming he had fallen asleep due to being "stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins." He said he was "old, tired, and fell asleep" while waiting in the gridlock.

However, the 48-year-old former Boston Celtics star now faces one count each of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more, both misdemeanors. His arraignment is scheduled for November 12th.

Pierce, who won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008, had a successful career spanning nearly two decades before retiring in 2017. After leaving the court, he worked as an analyst for ESPN but parted ways with the network in 2021 following a controversial social media post.