Paul Pierce made franchise history on Tuesday night when he surpassed Larry Bird for second-place on Boston’s all-time scoring list. Pierce did so with a three-pointer early in the third quarter.

Doc Rivers, who has coached the Celtics since the 2004-05 season, more than half of Pierce's career, took some time to reflect on the player’s accomplishments following the team’s 94-84 victory over the Bobcats.

“Here is the part I wish people wrote more about Paul,” Rivers said. “He had a chance to leave us when we were bad and instead of moaning that he wanted to go to a championship team, he stayed and said that he wanted to be a Celtic and he trusted that we would win a championship one day.

“He had no reason to believe that at that time, we were pretty awful. I wish people talked about his loyalty more because I think that’s special, especially in this day and time. Everybody jumps from team-to-team and that’s their right, I don’t begrudge that, but I do think it’s special that Paul Pierce decided he wanted to be a Celtic for his life. In this day and time, in any sport, that’s special.”

Pierce added that he shares a special bond with the fans in Boston because of all they have been through together.

“We have great fans. They’ve seen it all from my early days, my trials and my tribulations to this point today,” said Pierce in the locker room after the game. “All the ups-and-downs, to be here at this point, it’s really special.”

The days of players spending their entire career with one team are nearly a thing of the past, but Rivers said there are still some holdovers.

“There are guys that are staying in one place and again I don’t begrudge guys who leave, they’ve played themselves into those opportunities so they have those chances,” the coach said.

“I do like it when guys say, ‘You know this is my team, I’m going to make it work and stick it out.’ I love when I see that. I think you’ll still see some, but not as many clearly. Kobe [Bryant] and [Dwyane] Wade too. He’s added some friends, but he’s never left Miami. There are other guys. I would be shocked to see [Derrick] Rose ever leave Chicago.”