Former NBA star Paul Pierce has been named in a newly filed paternity lawsuit brought by a Los Angeles event planner who is asking the court to order a DNA test.
According to court paperwork dated January 12, Princess Santiago filed the petition seeking genetic testing to determine whether Pierce is the biological father of her son. The filing does not include requests for child support or financial damages at this stage, focusing solely on establishing paternity.
Santiago, who works as an event director in Los Angeles, says she attempted to handle the situation outside of the court system before moving forward legally. In a statement shared with TMZ, she said, “I filed for paternity papers after multiple attempts to resolve this privately. Paul Pierce is the father of my son, King, and I am simply asking for a paternity test so the truth can be confirmed. This isn’t about drama or attention, it’s about accountability and doing what’s right for my child.”
Pierce, 48, has not publicly addressed the lawsuit. His attorney declined to comment, and court records show no hearing date has been scheduled so far.
The filing comes during an eventful chapter in Pierce’s life after basketball. In late 2024, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Prosecutors later charged him, while Pierce pleaded not guilty and publicly disputed the circumstances surrounding the stop.
Pierce retired from the NBA in 2017 following a decorated career that included a championship with the Boston Celtics and ten All-Star appearances. Pierce was previously married to Julie Landrum Pierce, with whom he shares three children. The couple separated in 2023.
