Paul Pierce Confirms He Fathered 2-Month-Old Son King, Asks for Joint Custody
Paul Pierce Confirms He Fathered 2-Month-Old Son King, Asks for Joint Custody
Hannah SacksThu, April 23, 2026 at 7:04 PM UTC
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Princess Santiago; Paul PierceCredit: princess santiago/Instagram;Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty -
Paul Pierce confirmed he is the father of 2-month-old King Rafael with Princess Santiago
The NBA star also filed for joint legal and physical custody, however Santiago initially sought sole custody
Pierce shares three children with ex-wife Julie Landrum and was charged with a DUI last October
Paul Pierce is confirming he welcomed a son this past February.
According to a response to parentage petition obtained by PEOPLE, the NBA star, 48, confirmed he is the father of King Rafael, 2 months, whom he welcomed with Princess Santiago. Pierce went on to ask for joint legal and physical custody of King.
"I believe in growth, accountability and healthy co-parenting," Santiago tells PEOPLE exclusively. "Paul has finally made an effort to see King and I appreciate that. At this time, I am focused on maintaining stability and consistent, healthy decision-making for our son while he continues building a positive father-son relationship moving forward."
A rep for Pierce didn't immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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Princess SantiagoCredit: princess santiago/Instagram
In March, Santiago filed to establish a parental relationship for her son King Rafael Santiago Pierce. She also requested genetic testing from Pierce to establish that he is the baby's father.
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In addition, Santiago requested sole legal and physical custody of King with visitation for Pierce, as well as $29,811 per month in child support. She asked that Pierce obtain and pay for health insurance for King and one-half of all her pregnancy, birth and post-birth medical expenses.
Pierce played 19 seasons in the NBA. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1998 to 2013 and ended his career by playing with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2015 to 2017.
Paul Pierce in 2025.Credit: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty
The NBA Hall of Famer and his ex-wife Julie Landrum share three kids together: daughter Prianna and sons Prince and Adrian.
Last October, Pierce was charged with driving under the influence two weeks after he was allegedly found asleep behind the wheel in Los Angeles.
Pierce faced one count each of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08% or more, per California Superior Court records obtained by PEOPLE. Both are misdemeanors.
Pierce has pleaded not guilty in the case. TMZ was the first to report the news. PEOPLE reached out to a rep for Pierce for comment at the time.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
