Paul Pierce hates the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Boston Celtics legend has never been shy about coming out against his archrival, whom he famously beat in the 2008 NBA Finals and won Finals MVP.
But in a moment of objectivity, Pierce fired back at LeBron James' agent and close friend, Rich Paul, on his statement during his "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman that the current Lakers squad has no shot at winning a title this year.
Pierce even went as far as to say that Austin Reaves, the former undrafted free agent who has risen to superstardom, shouldn't just be an All-Star or be in talks for Most Improved Player - he should be in the race for MVP.
"Rich Paul is just trying to come off unbiased in his first media appearance," Pierce said on a recent podcast. "…If Austin Reaves is playing like he is right now, he should be in the MVP talks. The way he is playing right now, let's keep it 100."
Pierce would go on to say that although LeBron James has been slow to start in his first few games back in Los Angeles, being a third option makes the Lakers a dangerous threat to even the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 10-time NBA All-Star believes that once James is back in form and shakes off the rust, the Lakers could go on a deep run in the Western Conference and beyond.
The Los Angeles Lakers currently sit in second place in the West, behind the 23-1 Thunder, with a 17-6 record. On Wednesday, the Lakers will attempt to reach the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, facing the San Antonio Spurs in a quarterfinal matchup.
Newsweek