NBA legend Paul Pierce taken to hospital with gruesome injury

NBA legend Paul Pierce has revealed he is in hospital with a gruesome finger injury.

The Boston Celtics legend shocked fans as he took to Instagram to share a photo of him lying in a hospital bed.

He also shared pictures of a horrifying finger injury that showed severe cuts and blood covering his hand.

It is unclear what happened but Pierce's fingertip appears to be facing away from the rest of his finger.

The NBA Hall of Famer, 46, added: 'I'm good by the way just broke a couple fingers gonna have surgery on one.'

NBA legend Paul Pierce has revealed he has been taken to hospital with a gruesome injury

Pierce posted two pictures of his finger, which was cut and looked like it had bent awkwardly 

Pierce also posted a picture of him lying in a hospital bed but did not explain how it happened

Earlier on Friday, Pierce posted a short clip of him in the Fox Sports studio as he prepared to appear on 'Undisputed'. 

Pierce, a ten-time NBA All-Star who won a ring with the Boston Celtics in 2008, played 19 seasons in the NBA, averaging nearly 20 points, six rebounds, and four rebounds. 

It comes at the end of a tumultuous week for Pierce that also saw him get accused of saying a racial slur live on air.

In an 'Undisputed' segment on the Pacers' 121-89 win over the Knicks, Pierce was astounded by the box score line for New York's Donte DiVincenzo.

Pierce did appear to say the N-word in clips of the incident and it led many to post on social media in surprise - as Pierce's flub could be yet another setback for Fox's struggling morning sports talk show.

The Fox Sports basketball analyst was accused of saying the N-word on air earlier this week

Pierce was discussing the Knicks-Pacers game when clips showed he appeared to say it

It wasn't the first time Pierce had got into trouble for his public actions while working in television.

He was previously fired by ESPN back in April of 2021 for going live on Instagram during a poker game.

During that live stream, he was seen surrounded by women wearing bikinis who were twerking and rubbing his shoulders. In the video, Pierce was also seen drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

He was canned by ESPN three days later, ending a relationship that began back in 2017.

Pierce started and ended his career as a Celtic. He spent his first 15 years with the team, winning the 2008 NBA title and being named to 10 All-Star teams.

Pierce, a ten-time NBA All-Star, won a championship ring with the Boston Celtics in 2008

Only John Havlicek played more season with the Celtics, who retired Pierce's No. 36 jersey.

Pierce ended as the Celtics' all-time leaders in three-point field goals (1,823), free throws (6,434) and steals (1,583), and his 24,021 career points trails only Havlicek.

He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013, spent 2014-15 with Washington and played his final two seasons for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Pierce re-signed with Boston in 2017 so he could retire as a Celtic.

He was a first-time nominee for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame with the Class of 2021.