In a current episode of Fox Sports activities’ Communicate, Paul Pierce pushed again in daring style after LeBron James declared Kevin Durant the NBA’s “most geared up scorer” in historical past. Pierce unapologetically inserted himself into the talk – and followers shortly fired again.
The Backstory: LeBron, KD, and the “Most Geared up” Moniker
LeBron James, recognized for his considerate evaluations of NBA expertise, lately known as Kevin Durant probably the most “geared up” scorer the sport has ever seen. That reward got here on LeBron’s podcast, Thoughts the Recreation, the place he credited Durant’s mixture of size and ability—his potential to get photographs off over anybody—as giving him a novel scoring edge.
Paul Pierce’s Response on Communicate
Through the July episode of Communicate on FS1, co-host Keyshawn Johnson prompted Pierce about LeBron’s Durant remarks. Pierce jumped in:
“Shoot, you gotta put me in that dialog whenever you discuss probably the most geared up scorers, c’mon Bron.”
“I shot extra unhealthy photographs than Kevin… However I can do all of it. Pull up from the elbow, knock down the three, turnaround, dunk – I might do all of it.”
Pierce conceded Durant’s effectivity benefit—he admitted, “I shot extra unhealthy photographs than Kevin” as a result of Durant is 7 ft tall and might shoot over almost everybody. However Pierce insisted the breadth of his scoring arsenal certified him simply as a lot as KD, if no more so.
Watch the Second
Right here’s the clip of Pierce making the case on Communicate:
Web Reacts: Followers Misplaced It
Paul Pierce’s assured claims went viral instantly. NBA followers on social media reacted with shock, disbelief, and loads of trolling:
- One fan wrote, “He’s not even a high 50 scorer of all time.”
- One other quipped, “For a man nicknamed The Fact, he certain does lie loads.”
- One other remark: “I like the Fact, however he must decelerate.”
The reactions have been cruel—media shops coated the backlash with headlines like “NBA followers ruthlessly troll Paul Pierce” and known as it maybe the worst take of the offseason.
Kevin Durant’s Respectful Reply
Kevin Durant himself weighed in—with out mockery. On Instagram, KD wrote that he didn’t actually see a weak spot in Pierce’s sport, and he appreciated the place the boldness got here from. That response contrasted sharply with many followers’ scathing responses.
Placing It in Perspective: Pierce vs. Durant
Profession Scoring Profile
- Paul Pierce: 19 12 months NBA profession (1998–2017), largely with the Boston Celtics. Profession scoring common: 19.7 ppg, whole 26,397 factors. A ten-time All-Star, NBA champion, Finals MVP, and member of the NBA seventy fifth Anniversary Workforce.
- Kevin Durant: Nonetheless lively—36 (born 1988), enjoying for the Phoenix Suns. Profession common ~27 ppg, four-time scoring champion, NBA MVP, two-time Finals MVP, among the many high 10 all-time scorers as of 2025.
What Pierce Means by “Geared up”
When Paul Pierce makes use of the time period “most geared up,” he’s referring to versatility—his potential to attain from all areas of the court docket: from mid-range elbow jumpers, catch and shoot threes, post-ups, mid-post jab steps, floaters, and drives. He argued he had extra quantity and vary than Durant in some areas (like put up strikes), though Durant had the benefit in dimension and effectivity.
Why Followers Exploded On-line
Pierce’s bravado struck many as nostalgic hero worship or a misplaced sense of hubris—backed by a profession stable however not elite in effectivity:
- His profession discipline purpose proportion (44.5%) trails Durant’s 50.1% by a large margin.
- Whereas Pierce ranks twenty third in all-time scoring, his peak and quantity don’t at all times match as much as legends like Durant, Jordan, Kobe, or LeBron.
- Followers felt he overstated his place in historical past—resulting in rapid-fire memes and takes throughout X, Reddit, and fan boards.
Why the Debate Issues
Conversations like this faucet into broader NBA fandom dynamics: respect for generational icons, debates over peak effectivity vs. quantity, and the way context shapes “greatness.” Pierce’s boldness reignited dialog not nearly Durant vs. LeBron vs. Kobe, however about what parameters outline “most geared up.”
Was Pierce merely attempting to reclaim his legacy? Or was it a real perception in his numerous sport? Both manner, it labored: individuals are nonetheless speaking.
Paul Pierce didn’t maintain again. On Fox Sports activities’ Communicate, he inserted himself into the dialog LeBron began—calling himself one of the “geared up” scorers ever. His feedback have been met with blistering fan criticism, but additionally drew a respectful nod from Durant himself. Ultimately, the talk reveals: in terms of NBA scoring debates, nothing sparks the web like confidence from a legend.