| | SportsTicker
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics exercised the option year
on the contract of swingman Paul Pierce for the 2001-02 season.
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| Pierce |
The extension will bring Pierce at least $1.603 million next
season, according to the terms of the collective bargaining
agreement. He is entering the third year of the contract he
signed as a rookie, which will pay him at least $1,282,400.
Pierce, who is recovering from stab wounds to his face, neck and
abdomen suffered outside a nightclub this summer, was second on
the team in scoring last season with 19.5 points per game, and
his 2.08 steals per game was second-best in the NBA.
A first-round draft choice of the Celtics in 1998 out of Kansas,
Pierce is considered one of the Celtics' best players and has
remained with the team despite a series of personnel changes
made during the tenure of coach Rick Pitino.
The 22-year-old made his return to full practice drills Friday.
He had been participating only in light running and shooting
drills since being released from the hospital. | |
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Pierce back at Celtics practice after stabbing
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