Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – Mementos of Paul Pierce’s playing days at Inglewood High School, where his jersey is now retired, still remain.
Look up on the wall along the baseline closest to the front door of the basketball gym, and his “No. 34” jersey is framed and hanging in plain sight.
On Wednesday night, Pierce’s presence was more than just a memory.
The Clippers forward and Inglewood mayor James Butts served as honorary coaches for an Inglewood High School varsity intrasquad scrimmage at the Midnight Madness basketball event.
“This is where it all started for me,” said Pierce, who donated and helped expand the facilities with an updated locker room and lounge area. “It’s always fun to come back.”
Pierce was once one of those varsity players at Inglewood, and the memories he holds from his time at the school are still vivid, most notably the rivalry with Morningside High School.
“Those were the biggest games every year,” Pierce said. “That was a big deal when I was growing up. Just seeing a packed house when they come here, then the next year we’d go to Morningside and play, so that was a huge deal for me.”
Now, the huge deal to Pierce is being able to reconnect and give back to his alma mater. He said the people he met at Inglewood High School were the ones who first pushed him and believed in him, putting him on the road to where he finds himself today.
One of those people who pushed him most sat next to him Wednesday night.
Before coaching the game, Pierce sat and chatted with friends and old acquaintances in the room his donations helped build. He talked to Patrick Roy, who’s in his 24th season as Inglewood’s high school basketball coach and was in his early years as the team’s coach when Pierce attended the school.
Roy recalled how at one point he cut Pierce from the varsity team, but Pierce eventually returned to the top squad to help Inglewood achieve some of its greatest feats, including a title. Roy and Pierce have remained close since, with Roy even flying out to watch Pierce’s games when he played in other cities, most notably Boston.
He won’t have to go as far anymore, and Roy said it means everything to the school and to Inglewood to see Pierce’s involvement and support for the place he grew up.
“It’s huge to have a potential Hall of Famer come back and put in his time,” Roy said. “He’s always really active with the kids, makes room for us. Now that he’s a Clipper, I’m at every single Clipper game.”
In the back of the room in block letters was a sign that read “The Truth,” which hung next to a Boston Celtics 2008 world championship banner. There were old trophies from Pierce’s career and framed jerseys from Kansas and Boston.
On this night, the updated room looked like a tribute to his entire journey, which began where he was standing Wednesday night.
“It’s always good when you come back and sort of be an inspiration to these kids, knowing I walked these same hallways, took these same bus routes to school, went to these same local parks and played ball,” Pierce said.
Those kids took their phones out, smiled, stood up and gasped in shock and excitement as Pierce came out of the room and addressed the crowd prior to coaching the game.
“What’s up, Inglewood!” Pierce said as he took the microphone. “It’s great to be home back in the ‘Wood.”
Those in attendance were just as thrilled.
“Whether it’s academically, whether you want to be an engineer or you want to be a doctor or you want to be a scholar, he shows what commitment is all about,” said Mayor Butts. “That’s the most important thing.”
Pierce laughed, took pictures and enjoyed the experience, though he didn’t take his coaching duties too lightly. He was directing the boys, even getting out near half court to tell them to get back on defense. A DJ played music throughout the night and local recording artists performed at halftime. One kid even hit a half-court shot to win tickets to Thursday night’s game.
“We’re very appreciative of his willingness to give up his time to come back,” said Inglewood state administrator Vincent Matthews. “He gives a positive message to the students.”