Here is what Kansas legend Paul Pierce told the Jayhawks ahead of title game vs. UNC
Paul Pierce’s No. 34 jersey is hanging from the rafters at Allen Fieldhouse after he scored 1,768 points and grabbed 676 rebounds in three seasons with the Kansas men’s basketball team. He was also a consensus first-team All-American.
A first-round pick of the Celtics, Pierce played 19 NBA seasons, mostly with Boston. He was a 10-time All-Star, helped the Celtics win an NBA championship, was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame a year ago.
Despite the accolades, Pierce never had the opportunity to play in the Final Four, but he has remained an ardent Kansas supporter.
On Sunday night, Pierce spoke to the Jayhawks and stressed the importance of the national championship game Monday night against North Carolina.
Here is what he told the team, as captured in a video on the Kansas men’s basketball Twitter account.
“You all have a chance to do something special, that’s gonna last forever. That’s gonna last forever. They’re gonna talk about it forever,” Pierce said. “You all represent guys like me who didn’t have a chance to play in this game. Because when you all go out there, I feel like I’m winning. I feel like I won last night, I’m jumping up in front of people looking at me crazy, no matter where I am.
“To win at this period, it’s about sacrifice. You all represent family, you represent the culture and you all represent a tradition. I know you all don’t seen me a lot prior to games, but former players, we watch from afar. We always keep up. That’s what Kansas basketball is about: we’re a culture, we’re a family.
“When we’re out on the street, anybody who ever went to Kansas University is always, ‘Rock Chalk Jayhawk,’ and keep walking baby. They understand that. That’s an understanding they have.
“Enjoy the moment. These moments don’t come around like this. Like I said, I didn’t have a chance to play in this game. This is big. Soak it all in, enjoy with friends and family, get you’re rest. Know what you’re all here to do, though. Know what you’re here to do: Accomplish something special that’s going to last the rest of your life.”
This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Here is what Kansas legend Paul Pierce told the Jayhawks ahead of title game vs. UNC."
