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

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 points 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 individuals on the 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 palms for a last-second shot, I’d most likely worry Paul Pierce greater than D-Wade.”

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

“I want a bucket,” Jefferson mentioned. “Down by one, I want a two, down by two, I want 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 remaining seconds of video games speaks for itself. In 2020, The Ringer compiled an inventory of the NBA’s leaders in game-winning buzzer beaters. They discovered that Pierce made seven last-second pictures all through his profession, two of which had been beneath the intense lights of the playoffs. He didn’t want a lot assist creating these pictures, 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 checklist, greater than 3,000 factors away from Wade.

“For a very long time, my expertise went unappreciated as a result of I didn’t get to play with loads of 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 suppose we’re not strolling away with three [championships]?”

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