Paul Pierce is a man of his word.
The Boston Celtics legend and current NBA analyst walked 20 miles from his home to the Fox Sports studio after his former team lost Game 2 of its Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the New York Knicks.
Pierce, 47, promised to make the trip on foot after the Celtics blew a 20-point lead to the Knicks in Game 1, dropping the series opener at home.
“If the Celtics lose Game 2 at home, I’m walking here tomorrow, 15 miles!” he said on TV after the game. “In my robe, no shoes on, barefoot. … Put the house on this game.”
He added that fans had a better chance of “seeing a dinosaur” outside than the Celtics losing Game 2.
Amazingly, the Celtics blew another 20-point lead in Game 2 as the Knicks escaped with a 91-90 win.
Pierce began his trek — robe and all — on Thursday morning, May 8, documenting the walk for his followers via Instagram.
“Alright, time for me to get to steppin,” he said in his first post, around 5 a.m. ET.
He continued to update followers on his progress, stopping along the way to take pictures with fans, do some sponsored content for DoorDash, say hi to friends and ask followers who may encounter him on the street to bring water.
Pierce arrived at the studio at 12:38 p.m., confidently promising, “I’m never doing this again.”
His Fox colleagues even had an inflatable dinosaur waiting for him, causing him to joke, “I guess they’re real.”
Speak, the show he hosts on FS1 with Keyshawn Johnson and Joy Taylor, had some fun at Pierce’s expense. The show shared video of Pierce entering the studio in a wheelchair as the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme played in the background and fans waved Celtics-colored pom-poms lining his path.
“I made it, y’all,” Pierce proudly declared as he approached the desk.
Pierce also shared screenshots of his phone from his journey, which showed the path he took on the 20.2-mile walk, which took him eight hours and two minutes. He took 33,465 steps along the way, according to another screenshot.
One day later, Pierce seems to be feeling the effects. He posted, “Damn my feet huuuuuurt,” via X on Friday afternoon.
The Knicks vs. Celtics series now shifts to New York City as the two teams will square off in Game 3 Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET.
