Paul Pierce makes list of top 40 NBA players of past 40 seasons

By Staff     May 31, 2017

article image
Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, center, dunks as Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, and center Anderson Varejao of Brazil, right, watch during the second half of Game 4 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, May 9, 2010, in Boston. The Celtics won 97-87, tying the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Debating where basketball players rank in the annals of history is a time-honored tradition in the NBA — like Marv Albert yelling “Yes” on a broadcast or the Los Angeles Clippers failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs.

So you can imagine the arguments ignited by [The Washington Post’s newly published list][1] of The Top 40 players since the ABA/NBA merger, 40 years ago, as constructed by Tim Bontemps. The Michael Jordan-LeBron James disputes, of course, are inevitable. But so, too, are the “Why isn’t Player X on this list?” and “Who put THAT guy on here?” dissensions.

Although others might debate his inclusion, University of Kansas basketball fans will be glad to know the Jayhawks are represented among The Post’s top 40 of the past 40 seasons, with Paul Pierce coming in at No. 36 — even ahead of a pair of hall of famers, Kevin McHale and Reggie Miller.

A recent retiree and future hall of famer himself, Pierce averaged 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals over the course of 19 seasons, after Boston made him the No. 10 pick in the 1998 draft. “The Truth” was a 10-time all-star, four-time member of one of the three tiers of all-NBA teams and the 2008 NBA Finals MVP.

Bontemps explains his place in NBA history:

> “Pierce’s quiet end to his career with
> the Los Angeles Clippers shouldn’t
> diminish what was a remarkable run,
> largely with the Boston Celtics, where
> he partnered with (Kevin) Garnett and
> (Ray) Allen to usher in a new era in
> the sport. He also had the most duels
> with James, and came out on the
> winning end more times than just about
> anyone else, too.”

As referenced by Bontemps, Pierce and LeBron put up some classic battles before the former KU star hit the declining years of his career arc. Pierce and the Celtics knocked James and the Cavaliers (the pre-Miami, pre-Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love incarnation) out of the playoffs in both 2008 and 2010. And although LeBron’s Heat teams would later defeat Pierce and company in three other postseasons (once after Boston traded him to Brooklyn), giving “King James” a 3-2 advantage over Pierce in terms of playoff series won (17-13 in postseason games), this generation’s greatest talent, who has since won three titles, learned much from his early battles with “The Truth.”

> “Obviously he gets a Cliff note or a
> couple notes in my book as far as guys
> that helped me get over the hump or
> kept me where I was at the time,”
> James said in 2015 of Pierce. “I knew
> I had to become much better
> individually. He’s one of those guys.”

That praise, along with Pierce’s many accomplishments, some may — you know — argue, should be enough to rank Pierce higher than 36th on this compilation of all-time greats.

[Check out The Post’s interactive top-40 graphic][2] and decide for yourself.

Among the 40 players highlighted, Pierce ranks 26th in points, 27th in rebounding, 25th in assists, 24th in steals and 25th in blocks.

[1]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/nba-top-40-players/
[2]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/nba-top-40-players/

PREV POST

KU athletic director's contract extension features $40,000 bonus for a winning football season

NEXT POST

50707Paul Pierce makes list of top 40 NBA players of past 40 seasons