The finalists, the entire class of 2021 including those selected by the direct Elect committees, will be unveiled on May 16th.

So we have the finalists here, and the first finalist for the class of 2021 is the man sitting two seats over from me.

That's true.

Here's why we didn't tell you this was happening today.

What is going through your mind here?

What would it mean to you to be inducted into being strained into?

You know, uh, you don't know what to do with my hands right now, uh, to the Hall of Fame.

I mean, that's the endgame for all.

And end all be all and, uh, for a basketball player to have their name, you know, even having my name's in the Raptors in Boston.

Uh, I thought was enough.

But then they get into the Hall of Fame.

If I was to get in there, that's just the end of the story book.

Uh, and it's forever.

And I'm greatly honored just to be mentioned, You know, to have that opportunity because you're coming to the game because when you come into the game, you go, you work as hard as you can.

And then at the end of your career, you see what the results are.

And clearly, I've worked hard enough to be in this position from a person that has guarded him since my rookie year.

Throughout his entire career, he was a Hall of Famer years and years ago.

This is, in my opinion, is just a formality, right?

It's like, you know, And you can see guys nowadays.

There you're in the Hall of Fame, but it is still, uh, forming out and just playing against him, watching him, you know, do what he did again, as great as he was.

And you know, I hate giving this man compliments.

As great as he was in the regular season, he made his name in the postseason, and it wasn't all just championship or bust.

He made his name from some of his performances in the postseason in the Garden, and so this is well deserved and the clutch play Paul, right?

I mean, the fact that when the game was on the line, you were the one everyone went to and you could deliver.

Yeah.

The thing about and all the kids who are putting this because you can't be afraid of the moment.

You can't be afraid to fail.

You know what?

When it was times because I've missed more game winners than I've made.

But there was times when I missed and the thing I would tell my teammates, I'll make the next one.

And I showed that confidence.

Because if you don't believe in yourself, they won't either.

Well, it has led you to the doorstep of the Hall of Fame.

You are a finalist.

Congratulations.

So, Paul, one of your former teammates from the Celtics current teammate here on the jump, wanted to congratulate you on being a Hall of Fame finalist.

We got a big baby.

True.

Hey, look, you can thank RJ for being a finalist because I know you was giving them that.

Hey, listen.

Hey, Rachel.

RJ, Look, y'all sitting next to a bad man, if you see Paul Pierce in a fight with a value No, What you gotta do right there.

No, no, no.

You got to pull honey on Paul Pierce because he's trying to attract more faster.

Hey, hey, Congratulations.

Truth was the same, man.

I'm proud of you.

I'm happy to be a part of it because I spent 8.5 years with you, wanted championship with you, And you was, you know, a very, very great influence on my life, man.

Overall, this big brother and boo to for life.

My brother, my brother.

Hey, Jay, don't like that?

Don't you hate?

I'll say nothing.

Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content.

Subscribe to ESPN, plus.