While some people are adamant that marriage is essential in a fulfilling life, retired NBA star and champion Paul Pierce believes that is not the case.
Pierce, 47, touched on the topic of marriage and the supposed disadvantages that come with it during an appearance on The Truth After Dark. The Boston Celtics legend also explained why he was never entering a relationship again.
“You know what I’m saying? Like, because I feel like every relationship shouldn’t be based off sex. But every relationship is based off of that. 100%. You can’t tell me nothing different. This is what I feel. And that’s why I’ll never be in another relationship, because it’s always based off of that,” he stated.
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“Because it’s going to be based off the sex. Once that wears down, you’re going to go find somebody else that’s better…. This is the thing. And listen carefully. Listen carefully.”
Pierce then claimed that marriage is for poor and old people because of the benefits that come with it. “Let me say what marriage is and who marriage is for. Marriage is for old people and poor people,” he claimed.
“Because when you broke, our parents, like my moms and all them, they married on a merit of like, okay, we’re gonna put our incomes together, have all these kids, and then when our kids, we’ll have five, ten kids, back in the 60s, all them, they got five, ten kids so they can work and bring income,” he added.
“So, you poor, so you marry for that. And now, when you get old, somebody’s gotta be at your side to take care of you. My mom never been married in my lifetime. She got married when she was 70. It was perfect. She had somebody by her side the whole way through.”
He also claimed that marriage does not pose any benefit to men as it is only “advantageous to a woman.” “Outside of that, there’s no advantage to a man. What does it do for a man when things go south? Like, we gonna have to give up half our this, pay child support, pay… It’s only advantageous to a woman. Like, it’s real talk,” he said.
Pierce said he doesn’t envision being in a long-term relationship until he’s 70 years old. “I don’t think it’s realistic long term until I turn 70. I’m 47 right now. Until I turn 70, that’s the only realistic part,” he said.
“It’s because we both old. We ain’t out in the streets, we at home watching TV. You go take me to the hospital, I’m gonna take you to the hospital. That’s it. But right now, I’m too cracking right now.”
Paul Pierce says marriage is for poor people and old people, and explains why it offers no advantage for a man.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 4, 2025
(???? The Truth After Dark/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/Wiqujr4Y0C
He, however, did not stop there as he said he does not believe a woman can bring peace her male partner’s life. “There’s no such thing as that,” Pierce claimed.
“There’s no such thing as somebody living with you on a day-to-day basis bringing peace. It’s always gonna be something, because you’re gonna have a bad day where I’ll have a good day, and that’s not gonna be peaceful for me. I’m gonna come home like, damn.”
He added: “Something’s gonna happen to where you go hijack my emotions, so that’s not peaceful. You feel me?” Peace is peace, and peace is me by myself.”
“I come home, I watch TV, I make my own food, I go to bed, I work out, I wake up at 5:30, I roll over in the bed, I’m leaned this way, I fart or whatever, I do whatever in my bed. That’s peace. I’m cool. I can live, snore or whatever. I ain’t got nobody complaining about nothing.”
Pierce and his ex-wife Julie married in 2010 before divorcing in 2023. They share three children. After they parted ways, Pierce took to X to announce he was single.
Pierce’s comments about marriage drew mixed reactions online. “Marriage offers no advantage to a man is absurd. Nothing brings out all the attributes that God has placed inside of a man like being a husband and a father. This narcissistic self centered culture only thinks about self. Whereas marriage is the epitome of love and sacrifice,” an X user wrote.
“This is the talk of a man who lacks wisdom,” another user said. “I think there’s more nuance to this than people are admitting. Sure it sounds bad on the surface, and I don’t agree with it.” a different user wrote.
“But for someone who’s been a millionaire / famous since a teenager, whose commitments were to training and basketball the whole time, things are different than for your average Joe. Nothing about NBA lifestyle is normal and he’s lived in this realm for decades.”
“Paul ain’t lying I was married for 2 years and that was the worst decision I ever made it took me 3 years after divorce to get back on my feet financially. I’ll never do it again in this society,” a YouTube user also said.
Hall of Fame NBA player Paul Pierce says there’s no such thing as a woman bringing a man peace, and explains how if a man lives with a woman, she’ll eventually hijack his emotions.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 3, 2025
(???? The Truth After Dark/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/jXTnkA7GOT
