LA Clippers Paul Pierce says he could never Play for the Lakers

Despite growing up a huge Lakers fan, veteran Paul Pierce, who is heading into his 18th season in the NBA, stated that he could never play for the Lakers after playing for the Boston Celtics for the majority of his career.

"It's a dream come true to be able to come home, finally," Pierce said at the NBA Players Awards, via The Boston Globe. "I grew up a Laker fan, but playing on all the Boston Celtic teams...there's no way I could go there - so this [the Los Angeles Clippers] was the next best choice. And it's always been a dream to play in front of my family and friends."

Pierce, 37, signed a three-year, $10 million contract.

Pierce also talked about DeAndre Jordan, who verbally agreed to sign with the Dallas Mavericks but changed his mind at the very last minute in order to sign with his previous team, the Clippers.

"I wasn't there last year with that team, so I kind of sat in and voiced what I thought but I was on the outside looking in," Pierce said. "I think guys cleared the air if there was any tension, but I think a lot of the media made it more than it was."

The tension that Pierce was referring to was allegedly between Jordan and point guard Chris Paul. Several reports surfaced in the offseason that Jordan did not appreciate being in the third spot after Paul and Blake Griffin.

Paul recently spoke about the rumors and Jordan's return.

He said, "DeAndre's like my big little brother. We talk a lot more than people ever realize. But it doesn't matter [what people say]. The only thing that matters is that he's back."

Jordan, who has apologized to Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, ended up signing a four-year, $88 million deal with the Clippers.