Paul Pierce explains why he wanted to be the No.1 pick in the 1998 NBA Draft: "I actually called the Clippers if I could do a second workout"

Paul Pierce was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1998 NBA Draft . He also spent most of his Hall of Fame career there and led the Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship, in which he was named Finals MVP.

But before he ended up wearing the iconic green jersey, Paul was expected to be taken much earlier in the draft. Not only was he a seasoned college player from Kansas, but he also had a physique that was considered NBA-ready.

"I've always thought I was going to Vancouver," recalled Pierce. "I thought I had a lot of good workouts with different teams cuz the No.1 pick was Clippers, Vancouver, Denver, and then I believe it was either Toronto/Golden State or Golden State/Toronto in that order. I worked out for all 5 of those teams."

Pierce preferred to play for the Clippers

Paul only worked out for those five teams because, heading to Draft night, most Mock Drafts projected him as a top-five pick, with some even saying he could go as high as No.2 or even No.1. Pierce believed he was a sure pick for the Grizzlies, who picked second, but he had a personal reason for wanting to be the top overall pick.

Being from Inglewood, Pierce grew up as a huge Lakers fan. But with the Lakers not picking that year until 26, Paul was okay with playing for their cross-town rivals Clippers , as long as he could stay close to home.

"Clippers was my hometown, and I was projected number two," added the Celtics legend. "But I actually called the Clippers and asked if I could do a second workout because I really wanted to go the No.1 pick. They didn't give me the second workout so I knew they wasn't gonna pick me. But I thought I had a great workout with them. They said I had a great workout, too."

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Elgin Baylor gambled with Michael Olowokandi

But the Clippers ended up drafting Pacific's Michael Olowokandi with the first overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft after he had a dominant senior season. Clippers GM Elgin Baylor later said that their choice was down to Olowokandi and Arizona's Mike Bibby. But Baylor said they chose the ' good big man over the good little guy .'

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies chose Bibby over Pierce. According to Paul, that was a result of a power play done by Bibby's agent , David Falk. Because Vancouver passed on the versatile wing, the teams after them thought the Grizzlies found out something bad about The Truth and took a pass, too. The domino effect caused Paul to fall in the order.

At last, the Celtics picked Pierce with the No.10 pick. The rest, as they say, is history. Although he had his reservations early on as a Lakers fan, Paul would go on to become one of the most beloved figures in Boston's history.

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