NBA great Paul Pierce has been accused of not repaying a loan to play in a private poker game.
According to TMZ, which obtained a copy of the recent lawsuit, Pierce allegedly has so far refused to pay a six-figure debt from a poker game he lost heavily in.
Pierce had career earnings of nearly $200 million during his NBA career.
The plaintiff, Stephen Carmona, claims that in January he was hosting a poker game and Pierce was a participant. Pierce allegedly asked for a loan to play.
Carmona claimed in the suit that he gave Pierce $150,000 that the basketball player promised to repay within seven days. In that poker game, Pierce allegedly lost $140,000, and when he left the poker game he returned $10,000 of the loan.
Carmona claimed that in February Pierce returned for another poker game. Again Pierce allegedly asked for money to play. This time, Carmona allegedly gave Pierce $40,000 to play in the poker game, despite still owing Carmona $140,000.
According to the suit, Pierce lost the $40,000 and left the poker game. He allegedly still owes the $180,000 from the two separate poker games earlier this year.
Carmona is seeking the $180,000 plus interest, according to the lawsuit.
It’s widely known that Pierce has a love for poker. In 2014, the NBA legend made a somewhat deep run in the World Series of Poker Main Event.
His poker playing apparently landed him in some hot water at ESPN in 2021. Pierce was reportedly let go from the network after posting social media content involving a raunchy poker game. Over the years, Pierce has amassed about $1,300 in live tournament poker earnings.
