'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABdAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAIABgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAEDAAIEBRIxBhMhBxEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAURAQEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMhEf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Ax9xe+UV1oLpS1y2i35rKuhSVuUtZnO8TnuU/hO4u4+bXGQYv5PW9o8Z1pXhkN4+DyEIF3BCk87ik1SD7n//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Paul Pierce's infamous "Wheelchair Game" will never be forgotten by basketball fans. The Boston Celtics legend had a fantastic scoring performance in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals, yet almost everyone remembers him leaving the game in a wheelchair.
The former NBA champion has talked about this moment many times. In 2019, Pierce admitted that he "just had to go to the bathroom." However, it appears that he's changed his story once again.
Pierce recently spoke to Jayson Tatum, Kevin Garnett and Jaylen Brown, saying he sprained his MCL during the game.
Paul Pierce used the wheelchair because he sprained his MCL
When Jaylen Brown asked Paul Pierce what happened during the third quarter of Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals, here is what the Celtics legend had to say:
"I sprained my MCL," Pierce said after laughing. "Don't believe all the rumors."
"Everybody talking about I had to take a sh**t. Get the f**k outta here," Pierce added.
Pierce blamed people on social media for spinning the story and making their own narratives. However, he claims that he sprained his MCL, which is why he held his knee during the game.
According to the Celtics legend, the doctor told him to avoid putting weight on it, which is why he was carried to the wheelchair. Pierce wanted to stand up and leave the game, but the doctor didn't recommend it.
"I didn't ask for that," Pierce said. "I didn't say, 'Go get the wheelchair.'"
A few years ago, Paul Pierce confessed that he had to go to the bathroom. When Chauncey Billups asked him why he had to get a wheelchair, Pierce said that "something went down."
You may be interested in reading: Paul Pierce's net worth as of February 2023: How much is the former NBA player worth and how will the crypto charges impact him?
Pierce tried to change the story in 2021 as well, so it's not surprising that he now claims to have sprained his MCL.
Pierce had a great shooting performance in Game 1
The 2008 NBA Finals featured a legendary matchup between the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers. With 6:49 left in the third quarter, Pierce collapsed to the floor after defending Kobe Bryant.
Despite the wheelchair incident, Pierce had a fantastic performance. In 31 minutes on the floor, he scored 22 points on 7-for-10 shooting. He was also 3-for-4 from the long range and 5-for-7 from the charity stripe.
Pierce helped the Celtics win the first game of the series by 10 points. In the end, Boston defeated the Lakers in six games and Pierce was named the Finals MVP.
You may be interested in reading: Kobe Bryant refused help after tearing his Achilles as a shot at Paul Pierce
In six games, the legendary forward averaged 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. He was also deadly from the 3-point line, converting 39.3% of his shots from there.
