Pierce continued working for ESPN for two more years until he got fired in 2021. The 2008 NBA champion's infamous Instagram Live video was to blame for his dismissal.

ESPN fired NBA analyst Paul Pierce after the Boston Celtics legend posted a racy Instagram Live video over the weekend. The video featured Pierce in a room with exotic dancers. The cable sports network ended its working relationship with Pierce Monday, an industry source told CNN Business. ESPN declined to comment on Pierce leaving the network.

Pierce, 45, was dismissed from ESPN after footage from his Instagram Live showed he was smoking, drinking and partying with dancers. Since then, Pierce has commented on the firing, saying that it “ wasn’t a great fit ” with ESPN.

Paul Pierce was fired from ESPN in 2021. Jim Davis/Globe Staff Former Celtic Paul Pierce appeared on the “ I Am Athlete ” podcast, discussing a range of subjects that also included his 2021 firing from ESPN. Pierce, 45, was dismissed from ESPN after footage from his Instagram Live showed he was smoking, drinking and partying with dancers.

Paul Pierce has had quite the year in 2021, to say the least. It feels like this was ages ago, I know, but Pierce got fired from his job at ESPN earlier this year for sharing a video of himself live on Instagram drinking and smoking with exotic dancers.