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In order to play any sport at the highest level, it takes a certain degree of irrational self-confidence. But former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce has taken that irrationality to new heights.
Make no mistakes, Pierce was a great player. Over a two-decade NBA career, he made 10 All-Star Game appearances, won an NBA Finals MVP and NBA Championship, and was named won of the league’s 75 greatest players of all-time.
In 2021, Pierce rightfully went into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. But while Pierce’s incredible confidence took him to remarkable heights, there are some times where in needs to be checked.
Like, for instance, the time he took credit for LeBron James’s greatness. But now he’s gone one step further.
Paul Pierce Says He’s The Greatest Scorer The NBA Has Ever Seen
For all of Pierce’s talents on the courts, the most impressive was undeniably his ability as a three-level scorer. Pierce ranks 18th in NBA history with 26,397 points. He was, at his best, one of the better scorers in league history.
But he certainly wasn’t the greatest of all time. Or anywhere close to it.
However, don’t tell Pierce that.
On a recent episode of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with Shannon Sharpe, Pierce argued that he was the greatest scorer the NBA has ever seen.
“You could say with Curry, take his shooting away. With Jordan, his fadeaway. What do you take away from me?” Pierce asked. “I did it all well. I won a 3-point contest, I’ve dominated games from the three. Steph Curry was in the contest. Is he the greatest shooter ever? Well, I beat him. Who’s the greatest scorer? Kevin Durant? I can do everything he can do.”
Notably, Pierce ranks 77th all-time in points per game with 19.66, one spot behind Kiki Vandeweghe.
Nobody denies that Paul Pierce was a great NBA player. He rightfully has a spot in the Hall of Fame. But in a league full of irrationally confident players, Piece might just top the list, and we’re not even sure there’s a close second.