During an appearance on FS1’s Speak, Hall of Famer Paul Pierce passionately responded to LeBron James calling Kevin Durant the “most equipped scorer” in NBA history on his Mind the Game podcast podcast with KD and Steve Nash
Pierce didn’t hold back:
“I was probably the best pure scorer in the history of the NBA… I need to be in this conversation,” he declared emphatically, ticking off his scoring arsenal: elbows, three-pointers, post moves, and turnarounds
He admitted that Durant has the edge in efficiency—.554 eFG% compared to his .500—but attributed that to Durant’s height advantage, which makes it easier for KD to get clean shots over defenders
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Pierce also credited Durant for revolutionizing perimeter play:
“He pretty much changed the game on the perimeter… he don’t really see defense… that’s why he’s so efficient.”
Nonetheless, Pierce kept his own reputation in the limelight:
“I shot more bad shots than Kevin … but shoot, you gotta put me in that talk when it comes to most equipped scorers now. Come on, Bron.”
He quietly earned backing from a surprising voice—Kevin Durant himself, who reportedly acknowledged, “I didn’t really see a weakness in Paul’s game.” Veteran Matt Barnes echoed, “PP didn’t have any holes in his offensive game!!”
essentiallysports.com
📊 What It All Means
Player Pierce’s Claim
Kevin Durant “Most equipped scorer”—physical tools + elite skills
Paul Pierce Pure scorer with diverse offensive tools, wants rightful mention
LeBron James Started conversation by praising KD on his podcast
This back-and-forth underscores how subjective greatness can be—KD’s efficient, skill-based dominance, Pierce’s scoring versatility, and LeBron’s respect for both legends.
🗣️ Fan Reactions
Social media is alive with debate—some fans mock Pierce’s bold claims, others commend him, and many see this as classic NBA binary: KD vs. The Truth
🏀 Final Take
LeBron kicked off the discussion by elevating KD’s scoring credentials.
Pierce countered with a case for his own scoring legacy—and rightly inserted himself into the conversation.
KD and Barnes responded positively, signaling mutual respect among elite scorers.
This debate spotlights the crazy range of top-tier scoring in NBA history—from KD’s perimeter efficiency to Pierce’s all-terrain scoring. Now the question is: who else will weigh in?
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