Paul Pierce has spoken out following his recent DUI arrest, attributing the incident not to alcohol but to exhaustion and age.
The Hall of Famer was taken into custody late Tuesday night after California Highway Patrol officers reportedly found him asleep behind the wheel of a Range Rover SUV stopped in the middle of U.S. Highway 101 in Los Angeles.
In a statement shared Thursday on Threads, Pierce explained his version of what happened, saying that a traffic jam caused by a crash investigation left him stranded for nearly an hour – long enough to nod off in his car.
“Imagine being stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins and falling asleep 🤦🏾♂️,” Pierce wrote. “I took this picture that night because I never been in stand still traffic for this long.”
He went on to insist that fatigue, not intoxication, was the reason for the incident. “I’m old, I’m tired, and I fell asleep 🤷🏾♂️,” Pierce continued. “I’m good y’all thanks for the love.”
The post included a photo Pierce said he took that night, showing rows of vehicles with their brake lights glowing, reinforcing his account of being stuck in unusually long traffic.
Notably, Pierce’s statement did not directly address the allegations from authorities that he had been drinking before dozing off.
For now, it remains unclear whether he will face criminal charges. The CHP has said it is preparing a case to present to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for review.
The 47-year-old Celtics legend, who won an NBA championship and Finals MVP in 2008, framed the ordeal as an unfortunate situation tied to getting older – but the outcome will depend on how prosecutors interpret the evidence.
Paul Pierce Breaks Silence On DUI Arrest, 'I Fell Asleep' | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/siBqvxH7rk pic.twitter.com/wIUmz77KEr
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) October 10, 2025
