Paul Pierce’s child support fight is putting a spotlight on just how much money he’s still bringing in after his NBA career.
Pierce is challenging ex-partner Princess Santiago’s request for $30,000 per month in child support, saying a figure closer to $4,000 per month makes more sense. Court documents obtained by TMZ show why the issue has become such a financial tug-of-war: Pierce reported earning an average of about $128,000 per month in 2025, with that number rising to roughly $165,000 per month in the first half of 2026.
The filings break down where that money came from. Pierce said he made approximately $1.5 million from Fox in 2025, plus another $713,000 from a show he hosted on the network before it was canceled. He also reported $350,000 in commissions during 2025 and another $386,000 in the first half of 2026.
Beyond that, the documents list several other income streams. Pierce reported $92,000 in DraftKings royalties, $60,000 from Fanatics, $29,000 from NBA Properties, $10,000 from YouTube, and about $281,000 from his YouTube basketball show, No Fouls Given.
The filing also shows significant spending on Pierce’s side. He reported about $121,000 in legal fees during the first six months of 2026, along with travel, meals, security and other business-related expenses.
Pierce did note in the filing that he earned far more during his playing days. Still, he argued that his current income does not come close to the salary level he had while starring for the Boston Celtics across a 19-year NBA career.
In Other News...
Steph Curry Trade Talk Just Raised A Wild New Celtics Debate
The Warriors quiet offseason has only sharpened the conversation around where they go from here, and why the pressure feels so immediate with Stephen Curry moving deeper into the later stage of his career. Golden State has not made any major roster upgrades, which has left plenty of frustration around the direction of the franchise and renewed the broader question of how long the team can keep threading the needle between honoring Currys championship window and planning for what comes next.
Boston has suddenly entered that discussion in a way few expected, with speculation around a possible trade framework that would reshape both teams futures. For the Celtics, any scenario involving Curry is the kind of star-level debate that can alter the whole roster conversation, but for Golden State the bigger issue remains whether staying the course is still enough or whether the front office eventually has to make a painful choice about moving on before the window closes completely. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Fans Already Have A New Paul George Debate
When the Celtics moved Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, the immediate question shifted from what Boston gave up to what it might eventually do with Georges contract. His player option for the 2027-28 season gives the Celtics a major salary piece to work with, and that alone has already opened the door to a fresh round of speculation about where the roster could go from here.
Boston is clearly mindful of the risk in tying up so much of the cap in two players, even if the talent level is obvious. That is why the conversation has already drifted toward the kind of blockbuster paths Georges deal could theoretically unlock, with names like Trey Murphy III, Donovan Mitchell and Nikola Jokic floating into the discussion as the Celtics weigh whether to keep building around the current core or use the flexibility of an expiring contract to chase a different kind of centerpiece. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics May Have A Veteran Scoring Option Worth Watching Around Tatum
DeMar DeRozans availability has suddenly become one of the more interesting ripple effects around the league, and its easy to see why teams with real playoff ambitions are taking a look. The Sacramento Kings waived the 17-year veteran and six-time All-Star, putting one of the most reliable midrange scorers of his era back on the market at a time when several contenders are still sorting out their perimeter and half-court options.
Miami, Denver and Cleveland are among the teams said to have shown interest, and Boston has also emerged as a possible landing spot as the Celtics think about how to round out their offense around Jayson Tatum. The fit is still mostly theoretical, but the idea of another proven scorer who can also help with secondary creation is the kind of conversation that tends to stick as long as the market stays open. [Read more 🡒]