Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce seemingly took another shot at Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar forward LeBron James. Pierce alluded to being responsible for James’ move from Cleveland to Miami early in his career as he talked about his 2008 Celtics NBA champion squad’s hypothetical chances against the reigning 2024 championship team that includes Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“The Truth” and “King James” matched up five times in the playoffs between 2008 and 2014, with LeBron finishing with a 17-13 advantage. Regardless of their standing, Pierce seemingly enjoys every chance he gets to take a jab at his former rival.
Pierce was a guest on Monday’s episode of “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.” The hosts asked him to choose who will prevail in a hypothetical matchup between Boston’s 2008 and 2024 teams. The ten-time NBA All-Star picked his old 2008 squad, saying they have a toughness advantage over the reigning champions.
“Our team, we knew how to break teams mentally,” Pierce said. “So, what we lacked in skill versus them, we had with will.”
Afterward, Pierce did not miss the chance to take a subtle shot at James. Referencing his 2010 Celtics’ 4-2 Eastern Conference semifinal victory over James’ Cavaliers, the one-time NBA champion bragged about demoralizing the four-time MVP so bad that he went to Miami in free agency in 2010.
“I’ve (been) known to break a few wills, sent some of them from Cleveland to Miami,” Pierce said.
Paul Pierce says the 2008 Celtics would break the current Celtics mentally, just like he did to LeBron in Cleveland
“I’ve been known to break a few wills—sent some of them from Cleveland to Miami.” 👀
(🎥 @LeBatardShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 2, 2024
Prior to his guesting on Le Batard’s show, Paul Pierce had also taken credit for influencing James’ career trajectory way back in July. On FS1’s now-discontinued show “Undisputed,” Pierce said he “truly feels responsible for taking LeBron to that next level.”
“I truly feel responsible for taking LeBron to that next level.” – Paul Pierce pic.twitter.com/53VHuVRzAv
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 12, 2024
Paul Pierce says he would break 2024 Celtics team’s will like he did LeBron James’
After subtly taking credit for breaking LeBron James’ will, causing him to move to Miami in 2010, Paul Pierce said that he would not hesitate to do the same to the Celtics’ 2024 squad in a hypothetical skirmish.
Still on the same “Dan LeBatard Show” episode, when host Dan LeBatard asked who Pierce would specifically target to break their will, he bluntly said, “All of them.”
“The Truth” appears confident in his team’s chances in today’s NBA, claiming that he and his 2008 squad can break the current Celtics roster. Unfortunately, that what-if game can probably only be realized in a video game simulation.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
