Paul Pierce is no stranger to bold bets and even bolder consequences. Not long ago, he turned heads (and sore feet) with a wild promise that had him walking 20 miles in a bathrobe. But what do you do when you’re still catching your breath from that disaster? If you’re Paul Pierce, you dive right back in—this time with a bottle-filled bet that left Kevin Garnett stunned.
After the Celtics lost back-to-back games against the Knicks, Pierce stayed true to a wager he made on Speak: if Boston blew it at home, he’d walk nearly 20 miles to the FS1 studio. And he did — bathrobe, sneakers (he caved on barefoot), sweat and all. Kevin Garnett even popped up mid-journey from a car sunroof just to clown him. It became one of the most viral “walks of shame” in recent NBA memory.
But here comes the tricky redemption attempt! So, it all went down on the KG Certified show, where things started off light, with Pierce and Kevin Garnett diving into playoff talk. They discussed Golden State’s shaky position, especially with Steph Curry dealing with injuries. “They don’t have room for error,” Paul Pierce pointed out. “If you lose Curry, even for a week, that hamstring… You ain’t feeling comfortable with that.” Kevin Garnett agreed, but then the conversation swerved straight into a heated All-Star debate about Bam Adebayo.
And that’s when the fire lit up again. Paul Pierce confidently said, “People forget, though… Tyler Herro was an All-Star this year.” Kevin Garnett wasn’t buying it. He pushed back hard. “I’m talking about when they went to the Finals… Bam wasn’t an All-Star.” Paul Pierce clapped back, “He was an All-Star. Two, three years ago.”
Kevin Garnett never backed down, and raised the stakes: “Bet the 18,000 bottles of wine you owe me!” With the studio buzzing and everyone double-checking facts, the host finally confirmed, “He was an All-Star in 2023.” Just like that, Pierce got his win back. “Yeah, ‘cause 22 was Warriors vs Boston. Then next year was Heat vs Nuggets,” Pierce added with a smile.
It wasn’t just about basketball. It was a redemption arc wrapped in sarcasm. Paul Pierce had lost the 20-mile bet, sure! But now, armed with knowledge and a whole lot of memory of 2022 and 23, he took back the bragging rights. KG was left holding a wine debt he didn’t see coming. And for Pierce, it wasn’t about the wine—it was about proving he still had the game, at least on the mic.
That 18000 wine bet might not have left blisters, but it definitely left a mark on Kevin. Still reeling from the shock, Kevin Garnett tried to brush it off. But you could tell, Paul had landed a rare punch. And this time, it wasn’t about the walk, the wardrobe, or the weather; it was about pride. “I got good money,” what Kevin said mid-bet, was now gone, and so was his confidence. But for Paul Pierce, this time, it paid off in full.
Paul Pierce recalls a rough 20-mile loss
Two games, two losses, and one of the wildest bets in recent memory. That’s how Pierce found himself walking nearly 20 miles to the FS1 studio, barefoot (metaphorically) in a bathrobe (he did sneak shoes on). The Celtics’ collapse against the Knicks wasn’t just a playoff heartbreak. It became the stage for Pierce’s viral walk of shame. And boy oh boy, what a walk it was!
He had gone on Speak and boldly claimed he’d walk the distance if the Celtics lost. They did, and not just once, but twice at home. Pierce didn’t flinch. He stuck to his word and walked the miles with a camera and sweat. Kevin Garnett himself popped up from a car sunroof just to clown him mid-journey. It was once in a blue moon scene as Paul made this whole journey in the heat of the LA summer..
“Be careful out here!” KG joked while Paul smiled in agony, “I’m halfway in.” It wasn’t just a friendly roast, it was a walk soaked in legacy and loyalty. Pierce later said on Instagram Live, “I ain’t never putting a bet on something like this ever again.” But if you know Pierce, you knew that wasn’t true.
Because just days later, there he was again—betting against Kevion Garnett, this time with knowledge instead of steps. And winning. That one All-Star fact? It felt heavier than all 20 miles he had just walked. Maybe next time, Pierce should bet on memory, not miles!
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