Former NBA star Paul Pierce was arrested late Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after being found asleep at the wheel on a Los Angeles freeway, authorities said.
California Highway Patrol officers responded around 10:40 p.m. to a multi-vehicle crash on northbound U.S. Highway 101 and closed four of the six lanes to investigate.
About an hour later, as lanes were being reopened, officers saw a Range Rover SUV stopped in traffic lanes just south of the crash site.
“When officers approached, they found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep at the wheel,” the CHP said in a statement.
Officers “noticed signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation,” the statement said.
Pierce was arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge. His case will be forwarded to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for review.
He was booked at the CHP’s Central Los Angeles area office.
Pierce, 47, has not made a public statement about the incident.
Career Highlights and Media Role
Pierce played 19 seasons in the NBA, with 15 of those for the Boston Celtics. He also had stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Clippers before retiring in 2017.
A 10-time All-Star, Pierce earned Finals MVP honors in Boston’s 2008 championship run. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
After retiring, Pierce turned to sports media. Most recently, he cohosted the Fox Sports talk show Speak, which was canceled in July 2025.
On Thursday, Pierce addressed the incident on the social media platform Threads. He claimed fatigue and heavy traffic caused him to fall asleep behind the wheel.
“Imagine being stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins and falling asleep 🤦🏾♂️,” Pierce wrote.
He added: “I’m old, I’m tired, and I fell asleep 🤷🏾♂️ I’m good y’all thanks for the love.”
He did not address the DUI allegation in that post.
Legal experts say Pierce’s comments may be viewed as an admission of sorts in a DUI case, but prosecutors will determine if the evidence supports criminal charges.
No court date has been announced. Authorities have not released whether a breath or blood test was performed.