Paul Pierce clutched a microphone and turned toward the smattering of fans inside the high school gym that nurtured him into a basketball legend through early adolescence and late, sweaty nights.
"What's up, Inglewood?" Pierce bellowed.
A favorite son was back, right on schedule for a city that hopes to experience NFL excitement but has already captured NBA glory thanks to the chubby kid who sprouted into a champion with the Boston Celtics and hopes to do the same after joining his hometown Clippers.
Pierce coached a midnight madness-style intrasquad scrimmage at Inglewood High on Wednesday night, which would lead some to the easy narrative of the star reconnecting with his alma mater.
The thing is, Pierce really never left.
His voice resonated inside the gym long after he went on to play for the Kansas Jayhawks and then the Celtics during an 18-year NBA career that has also included stops with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards before he signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Clippers last summer.
Pierce, 38, regularly worked out there in the summertime, showed up during the season whenever his schedule permitted and even talked to players via speakerphone before big games.
"It was actually a bad strategy," said Patrick Roy, who became Inglewood's varsity coach during the start of Pierce's sophomore season in 1992 and never left. "I think maybe it made them a little nervous."
What teenager wouldn't feel pressure to impress a 10-time All-Star who was most valuable player of the 2008 NBA Finals?
A banner from that Celtics championship season hangs in the Inglewood locker room that Pierce outfitted with a $32,000 makeover. Next to the green-and-white banner are large cutout letters spelling "The Truth," Pierce's nickname given to him in 2001 by the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal.
Just as striking is a parquet floor like the one inside Boston's TD Garden as well as framed Pierce jerseys from his time with the Celtics and Jayhawks. There are professional-caliber wooden lockers with various trophies and plaques resting on top, as well as a large flat-screen television that gives the room the feel of a lounge.
"We meet in there every day," junior guard Miles James said. "I think it's amazing, just to come up in a locker room like that."
Pierce triggered cheers when he emerged from the locker room Wednesday, waving his hand to acknowledge the small crowd. Wearing dark gray sweatpants, black Air Jordans and a white shirt with "(hashtag)Wood" in green, he posed for selfies with students, teachers, administrators and maintenance workers, some of whom were there when Pierce roamed the hallways.
His basketball career didn't seem to hold much promise when Roy prepared to send him back to the junior varsity early in his sophomore season. Then a handful of varsity players were unable to participate in a Christmas tournament and Pierce starred as a fill-in, making the all-tournament team. He would grow to 6 feet 6{ inches while leading the Sentinels to a Southern Section championship his junior season and three appearances in the title game.
Pierce does not hail from Inglewood, having been born in Oakland, but he quickly made Inglewood his home upon moving there in the fourth grade. His favorite postgame tradition involved a trip to Randy's Donuts on Manchester Boulevard for the hot cinnamon doughnuts that would not be available until 9 p.m. He still regularly invites Inglewood coaches and players over to his house for barbecued shrimp.
Pierce's mother, Lorraine Hosey, was a regular at Inglewood games until her presence became a bit much for her son.
"Every time I would fall to the ground, she was ready to run on the court," Pierce recalled with a laugh. "There were some nights I would tell her, 'Mom, I don't want you to be there because you make me nervous and you're the loudest one in the gym.'"
Pierce was routinely the last one in the gym, returning after practices to stay until 1 a.m. some nights in pickup games with his teammates and Roy.
It was pushing 9 p.m. Wednesday when Pierce broke a pregame huddle at the intrasquad scrimmage by asking, "Y'all ready?" The basketball was freewheeling, lobs usually failing to connect with their targets and defense being played sparingly. Pierce quickly benched one player after he failed to stay within the same time zone as his man.
"You going to get back on defense one time?" he asked junior guard Adrien Desire after subbing him out.
Things took a decidedly lighter turn at halftime when the emcee announced fans could purchase two shots from halfcourt to try to win tickets to the Clippers' game the next night. Then Pierce interrupted.
"This is Golden State-Clippers!" Pierce barked. "One shot!"
After the usual array of airballs and near-misses, Jimmy Dozier, a sophomore guard who was unable to play in the scrimmage because of bad grades, was the last contestant. He raced to the halfcourt line before flinging the ball from his chest with both hands. Swish.
Pierce smiled and placed his hands on his head in disbelief as the crowd roared. Winning the tickets was great, Dozier would say later, but the bigger prize was the presence of the man who returned after never really going away.
"It's good that he came back to the 'Wood," Dozier said, "because nobody else that got rich from out here came back, but he did."
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