He played college ball with Steve Nash
Pierce shared a backcourt with the future Hall of Famer during his time playing for Santa Clara University. He credits Nash for helping him improve as a player and expand his knowledge of the game. Pierce says Nash would routinely give him encouragement and offer pointers during practices, describing the two-time NBA MVP as a “player development coach” before they existed.
“One day, he taught me the in-and-out move,” Lloyd wrote in an op-ed for The Undefeated. “For most players, the in-and-out is created by a flutter of steps that lead to the ball handler manipulating the basketball in a “circle” of sorts, hoping to move the defender positionally. He visually explained to me how incorrect this approach was and decided to demonstrate.”
After playing professionally overseas, Pierce returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2003. He was a finalist to be named the school’s head coach in 2016 before being edged out by Herb Sendek.
