Former NBA participant says he fears Paul Pierce greater than Dwyane Wade in a single key talent

Celtics

A former NBA participant weighed in on the notorious Paul Pierce-Dwyane Wade debate. And his take might shock you.

Paul Pierce raised some eyebrows when the Celtics legend mentioned that he was higher than rival Dwyane Wade. However some former gamers imagine that in sure facets of the sport, there’s some reality to Pierce’s claims.

ESPN analyst and former NBA participant Richard Jefferson has performed many video games towards each gamers of their primes. Due to that have, few folks on this planet perceive both participant’s sport greater than Jefferson does. On Monday, Jefferson gave a tackle his podcast, “Street Trippin,” that favored Pierce.

“I’ll say this,” Jefferson mentioned to co-hosts Channing Frye and Allie Clifton. “Ball within the arms for a last-second shot, I’d in all probability concern Paul Pierce greater than D-Wade.”

Jefferson was hesitant to reply this debate at first, and he did seem to lean extra in direction of the facet that claims Wade had the higher profession. However by way of needing to make a closing shot to win a sport, Jefferson would fairly have Pierce take it.

“I would like a bucket,” Jefferson mentioned. “Down by one, I would like a two, down by two, I would like a 3, tie sport, I’m taking Paul Pierce in that scenario over D-Wade,” mentioned Jefferson.

Pierce’s resume as a maestro within the closing seconds of video games speaks for itself. In 2020, The Ringer compiled a listing of the NBA’s leaders in game-winning buzzer beaters. They discovered that Pierce made seven last-second photographs all through his profession, two of which have been underneath the brilliant lights of the playoffs. He didn’t want a lot assist creating these photographs, as solely a type of buzzer-beating buckets was assisted.

Pierce has made himself very clear that he believes he was higher than Wade, claiming that he can be simply as profitable, if no more so, if he had All-Star teammates all through his profession like Wade did. Wade received three NBA titles with teammates like Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. Pierce received simply received title, however is seventeenth on the NBA’s all-time scoring record, greater than 3,000 factors away from Wade.

“For a very long time, my abilities went unappreciated as a result of I didn’t get to play with numerous nice gamers,” Pierce said in July. “After which I acquired to play with [Kevin Garnett] and Ray [Allen] previous their prime. 4 years earlier, you set me, Ray, and KG collectively, you assume we’re not strolling away with three [championships]?”

Pierce’s feedback have obtained damaging consideration, together with from Wade himself, who mentioned that Pierce lives “rent-free” in his head.