Celtics
“When I think about it, I'm just saying, I need to be in this conversation."
FILE - Former NBA basketball player Paul Pierce smiles watching warmups before an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls, Nov. 14, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Paul Pierce believes he was the best pure scorer in the NBA. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, file)
By Conor Ryan
July 8, 2025 | 8:35 AM
1 minute to read
Paul Pierce is a Hall of Famer in his own right.
But the Celtics legend and 2008 NBA Finals MVP also has a track record of stealing headlines via some lofty proclamations and ill-advised comments.
Since becoming a TV pundit, Pierce has gone viral after declaring a Celtics’ victory over the Knicks during the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals — while also crediting himself as being “responsible” for helping LeBron James reach his “next level” after multiple playoff meetings against the Cavaliers and Heat.
But “The Truth” really turned heads last week during an appearance on FS1’s “Speak.” During a segment where the panel discussed James’ comments about how the NBA “hasn’t had a scorer as equipped” as Kevin Durant, Pierce doled out a bold claim about his own offensive arsenal.
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“I was probably the best pure scorer in the history of the league, because I was pretty equipped,” Pierce said on FS1. “When I think about it, I’m just saying, I need to be in this conversation.”
Pierce was a standout player throughout his career in the NBA, averaging 19.7 points per game across 19 seasons. Beyond being able to score in the paint and sink mid-range shots, Pierce was also capable of drilling shots from 3-point range.
Still, ranking Pierce over as other offensive standouts like James, Durant, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar seems like an exercise only carried out by Pierce himself.
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Even though Pierce had many moves in his toolkit when it came to scoring, his highest-scoring season was in 2005-06 when he averaged 26.8 points per game — with the forward never winning a scoring title in his career.
Pierce’s resume speaks for itself when it comes to his spot in Springfield as one of the top players of his generation.
But there’s not a lot of truth to his claims that he has a stronger offensive skillset than the likes of James, Durant, Jordan, and others.
Profile image for Conor Ryan
Conor Ryan
Sports Writer
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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