NBA Legend Paul Pierce Walks 20 Miles in Bathrobe After Failed Celtics Prediction

Former Boston Celtics champion and current FS1 analyst Paul Pierce made good on his unusual promise Thursday, walking 20 miles to work in a bathrobe after incorrectly guaranteeing his former team would defeat the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Pierce, nicknamed “The Truth” during his Hall of Fame playing career, lived up to that moniker in a different way by proving himself a man of his word after the Celtics suffered a stunning 91-90 defeat on Wednesday night. The 10-time NBA All-Star documented his lengthy journey through the Los Angeles area via Instagram Live, starting before sunrise at around 5 a.m. Pacific time for what turned out to be a nearly eight-hour trek.

The Bold Prediction

The saga began Wednesday on FS1’s “Speak” show when co-host Joy Taylor asked Pierce about his confidence level for the Celtics in Game 2. Pierce, who serves as a regular analyst alongside Taylor and former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson, didn’t merely predict a Boston win—he staked his dignity on it with an extraordinary vow.

“If the Celtics lose Game 2 at home, I promise you, I am walking here tomorrow,” Pierce declared on air, according to the Associated Press. “I guarantee this one. Put the house on this game.” Doubling down despite his co-hosts’ warnings, Pierce specified he would make the journey barefoot and wearing only his bathrobe, a prediction that would come back to haunt him after the Celtics blew a 20-point lead in their second straight home loss.

Making Good on His Promise

True to his word, Pierce embarked on his 20.2-mile odyssey early Thursday morning, though he wisely abandoned the barefoot portion of his pledge. Dressed in a bathrobe but wearing shoes, he began posting updates on Instagram Live, telling followers he was a “man of my word” while expressing disbelief at his situation: “I cant believe the Celtics got me out here like this, dog. I’m really walking out here like this.”

The former NBA Finals MVP maintained a good-natured attitude throughout the journey, even when encountering sidewalk hecklers who recognized him and his predicament. “You lost that bet, huh?” one passerby remarked, as Pierce took the ribbing in stride and continued his marathon walk. After approximately eight hours on foot, Pierce finally arrived at his workplace around 1 p.m. Pacific time, completing the unusual punishment he had imposed upon himself.

Celtics’ Collapse Leads to Pierce’s Plight

The circumstances that led to Pierce’s long walk were particularly painful for the Celtics legend, as Boston suffered its second consecutive collapse against the Knicks. After building a comfortable 20-point advantage midway through the third quarter, the defending champions appeared poised to even the series before unraveling down the stretch, just as they had in Game 1.

The Knicks outscored the Celtics 38-17 over the final 15 minutes of Game 2, securing a shocking 91-90 victory that sent Boston to an 0-2 deficit despite having home-court advantage. This marked the second straight game where New York overcame a 20-point deficit at TD Garden, a venue where the Celtics had been nearly unbeatable during the regular season. The stunning turnaround proved disastrous not only for Boston’s championship aspirations but also for Pierce’s commuting plans.

Social Media Sensation

Pierce’s unusual journey quickly became a trending topic on social media, with basketball fans and fellow analysts alike sharing clips of his bathrobe-clad trek. The viral moment represented a rare instance of a sports personality actually following through on an outlandish promise, earning Pierce respect even from those who might have doubted his sincerity.

“Paul Pierce may have been wrong about the Celtics, but he was right to honor his word,” wrote NBA analyst Mike O’Connor on X (formerly Twitter). “In an era where hot takes rarely come with consequences, seeing Pierce walk the walk—literally—is refreshingly accountable.” Other media figures and former players joined in praising Pierce’s commitment, with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley commenting on TNT that he “would’ve called in sick” rather than make such a journey.

Pierce’s History with Bold Claims

This isn’t the first time Pierce has made headlines for his outspoken basketball opinions since joining the media ranks after his 2017 retirement. The forward who spent 15 of his 19 NBA seasons with Boston has remained a vocal supporter of his former team, frequently predicting success for the franchise that drafted him 10th overall in 1998 and with whom he won the 2008 NBA championship and Finals MVP honors.

In February 2025, Pierce notably predicted on his podcast that the Celtics would “win it all this year,” adding they “got to” because “they’ve got the best record in the league” and “the deepest team in the league,” according to Fox Sports. While that prediction may still come to fruition despite Boston’s current playoff predicament, Pierce’s unwavering confidence in his former team has now cost him more than just credibility—it’s cost him a full day of walking and a healthy dose of public humiliation, albeit one he embraced with surprising good humor.