Paul Pierce: “Doncic will win the MVP next season”
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics legend and member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, answered questions from fans at a new Meet&Greet for NBA Fan Club members
Boston Celtics legend and member of the NBA 75th anniversary team Paul Pierce, faced questions from fans at a new Meet & Greet for NBA Fan Club members.
Green blood still runs through Pierce’s veins and he firmly believes that the Celtics “will win the Finals in seven against the Warriors, despite Golden State having had more time to rest for the game after beating the Mavericks in five games. Pierce aka “The Truth” also reflected on the similarities of Tatum and the Celtics team with the Boston ‘Big Three’ that Piece formed along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen: “Garnett was a better defensive player as was Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum reminds me of myself offensively and I think this team is one of the best defenses in the league, as we were back in the day”.
2010 Finals
One of the moments of his career that the former player was asked about was the 2010 Finals against a Lakers led by Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant: “When you go against some of the best players in history like Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, it’s not an easy task. We were a team with great players like Kevin and Ray and we had one of the best defenses in NBA history because we were healthy. By the time we got to the Finals we lost Perkins in the seventh and Pau had a great game, I really believe that if we had Perkins we would have won.”
On Giannis and Doncic
On the league’s current big name players, Pierce confessed his admiration for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game: “I think he’s been the best player in the NBA for the last three or four years. I love his tenacity, his hunger to win and everything he gives to basketball with his intensity and leadership, I would love to have been able to share the court with him”, and puts him above Luka Doncic, although he believes that the Slovenian “will be the MVP of the league next year”.
Pierce, now 44-years-old is still an avid fan of the game and a regular television analyst for the NBA. The former player is fascinated by the new generations of emerging talent in the league and highlighted the great talent coming from Europe in recent years: “I love the fact that players around the world are showing everyone that this sport can be played in any country. This also shows the reach of NBA programs around the world to help players develop (...) This is a global sport, you can play it from anywhere, all you need is a ball, a basket and some hard work”.