03 June,2010 08:31 AM IST | | AFP
Paul Pierce wears his Boston Celtics' green jersey with pride but it hasn't always been that way for the veteran NBA star.
Growing up in the south central Los Angeles suburb of Ingelwood, Pierce's favourite team was Los Angeles so he has fond memories of the 'Showtime' Lakers of the 1980s led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
"I had dreams of wearing a Laker uniform at (age 12)," Pierce said. "But I am able to be in the NBA and continue on with the rivalry that I grew up watching and the rivalry that got me interested in basketball.
"I am one of the few that accomplished my dream of going to the NBA."
Pierce, an eight-time NBA all-star, will lead his Celtics into their second NBA finals in three years when Boston visits Los Angeles for the first game of the best-of-seven series Thursday.
Heading into the 2010 NBA finals, the Celtics and Lakers have met 11 times with the Celtics winning nine including a dominating six-game victory two years ago.
The 32-year-old Pierce was selected by the Celtics 10th overall in the 1998 entry draft. This is his second appearance in the NBA finals after being named MVP of the championship series in 2008. ufffd
