When you think of all-time Boston Celtics greats, Paul Pierceās name rightfully belongs near the top. Widely regarded as one of the premier small forwards of his generation, Pierce led the Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship, earning Finals MVP honors. A Hall of Famer, 10-time NBA All-Star, he is also one of just three players in franchise historyāalongside Larry Bird and John Havlicekāto score over 20,000 points in a Celtics uniform.
“The Truth” was also renowned for his clutch scoring, delivering multiple game-winning shots in the playoffsāincluding memorable ones against LeBron James in the 2008 and 2010 postseasons. A remarkable stat that highlights his late-game impact: Pierce either made or assisted on 12 game-winning buzzer-beaters, the most in NBA history. That total (7 made, 5 assisted) puts him ahead of iconic names like Michael Jordan (9 buzzer-beaters), Kobe Bryant (8), and LeBron James (8).
Given his confidence and career resume, it’s no surprise that Paul Pierce took issue with a recent comment made by LeBron James on FS1ās “Speak.” During the segment, James claimed that the NBA had never seen a scorer “as equipped” as Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets. Pierce, never shy about defending his legacy, offered a pointed rebuttal:
āI was probably the best pure scorer in the history of the league, because I was pretty equipped,ā Pierce said on FS1. āWhen I think about it, Iām just saying, I need to be in this conversation.ā
Paul Pierce was undeniably a crafty scorer, known for his smooth mid-range game, clutch shooting, and ability to create his own shot. He finished his career with 26,397 points (19.7 PPG), placing him among the NBAās top 15 all-time scorers, with solid shooting splits of approximately 44% FG, 37% 3PT, and 81% FT. But does that place him in the same elite conversation as legends like Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Let us know in the comments.
