Paul Pierce says his time with Nets was 'horrible'

Wizards forward Paul Pierce said his time with the Nets was "horrible" and that he's much happier now with Washington.

Washington Wizards forward Paul Piercetold ESPN his time with the Brooklyn Nets was "horrible" and that he's "much happier" this season with the Wizards.

Pierce spent one season in Brooklyn in 2013-14 after 15 years with the Boston Celtics. The Nets went 44–38 and lost to the Miami Heat in the conference semifinals.

• PRINCE: Bulls easing Rose into the fold ahead of playoff push

"It was a tough situation [in Brooklyn] last year. Horrible, really," Pierce

told ESPN

.

"It was just the guys' attitudes there. It wasn't like we were surrounded by a bunch of young guys. They were vets who didn't want to play and didn't want to practice. I was looking around saying, 'What's this?' Kevin [Garnett] and I had to pick them up every day in practice.

"If me and Kevin weren't there, that team would have folded up. That team would have packed it in. We kept them going each and every day.''

Piece specifically called out Nets point guard Deron Williams, saying he doesn't believe Williams wanted to be an MVP candidate. 

"I think a lot of the pressure got to him sometimes," Pierce said. "This was his first time in the national spotlight. The media in Utah is not the same as the media in New York, so that can wear on some people. I think it really affected him."

• ​MAHONEY: Handing out made-up NBA awards around the league

After the 2013-14 season, Brooklyn let Pierce become a free agent and he signed with the Wizards over the off-season.

He's averaging 12.1 points, 2.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds for Washington this season. The Wizards are currently 46–34 and hold the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.

- Molly Geary