Veteran Washington Wizards small forward Paul Pierce believes that he can play for another season in the NBA, but will have to do some thinking about his future over the summer.
The 37-year-old frontman has spent 17 seasons in the NBA, with his latest contribution seeing averages of 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists in a campaign in which the Wizards were eliminated during the post-season.
"These seasons, as you get older, they just are so long and draining," Pierce told radio station SiriusXM.
"This last playoffs really took a lot out of me, not only physically but emotionally, because I think I put so much into the game that it takes a piece of you.
"It's really all got to do with how my mental state of mind's gonna be this summer. Because I do feel like I can still play this game. I mean, I showed that this year, that I still have something left in the tank.
"But it's just the mental part of getting ready in the summer and getting ready for a long year. Those are the things I've got to think about."
The Wizards were knocked out of the playoff rounds following a 4-2 defeat by the Atlanta Hawks.
