Paul Pierce (Peter Casey-Imagn Images)
Paul Pierce is saying the quiet part out loud.

When it comes to the NBA and NFL, many of the rosters are filled with African-American or Black players. However, as we have seen in many drafts, a number of them tend to date outside of their race.

That number has seemingly increased over the years.

One of the more prominent and current players is Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Anna Congdon and Saquon Barkley have been together since 2017 and share two kids.

The NFL star announced the couple’s engagement in February 2025.

“I have an amazing fiancée,” he said. “I can’t be the athlete I am and have the success I have without the help of her.”

The backlash towards him stems from him not only dating white women but also knowing that she has some old racist tweets in her past.

For former NBA player Paul Pierce, the reason that NBA players date outside their race is quite clear.

“Why do you feel like men, especially NBA players, get with white women? Is it because they’re ‘easy?’” Co-host Azar Farideh asked.

Paul Pierce responded with: “I honestly think that maybe they appreciate maybe more. And they apologize more,” he said while laughing.

Pierce added, “They don’t mind being held accountable.”

 

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Pierce made it clear that he wasn’t sure, while the female host told viewers that all the Celtics legend does is date Black women.

Paul Pierce Was Married For A Long Time

Paul Pierce (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Paul Pierce talks about many things, but not many may know that he was once a married man.

Not many fans would’ve guessed that since he was fired from ESPN for recording himself around strippers on Instagram Live a few years ago.

Pierce married his longtime girlfriend, Julie Landrum, with whom he has three children, in 2010.

However, it seems they’re no longer together, as he officially stated their apparent breakup in 2023.

“I’m single what’s up,” he wrote in 2023 on X.

Pierce’s NBA career came to an end on April 30, 2017.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’