Celtics Icon Paul Pierce Calls Himself ‘Best Pure Scorer’ In NBA History

Paul Pierce enjoyed a Hall of Fame career, but the Boston Celtics legend wants everyone to put more respect on his name.

LeBron James recently called Kevin Durant the “most equipped” scorer in NBA history. Responding to that claim on FS1’s “Speak,” Pierce petitioned to include himself in that discussion.

“I was probably the best pure scorer ever in the history of the NBA,” Pierce said Thursday. “I was pretty equipped when I think about it. I’m just saying, I need to be in this conversation.”

Undoubtedly a great scorer, Pierce averaged 19.7 points per game during his 19-year career. The 10-time All-Star led the NBA in points scored (2,144) during the 2001-02 campaign and made plenty of clutch buckets at the wire.

Still, “best pure scorer ever” may be a stretch for someone 23rd on the league’s all-time points leaderboard. Pierce also has a lower career field-goal percentage (42.3) than everyone ahead of him, including Durant’s 47.7.

Pierce acknowledged that he attempted more “bad shots” than Durant. The NBA champion gave the 36-year-old props when co-host Keyshawn Johnson noted Durant’s scoring efficiency.

“He’s a scoring champ,” Pierce said. “He can do it all offensively and at a high percentage. That’s tough.”

However, Pierce thinks his scoring game compares favorably to Durant. He encouraged younger basketball fans to look up his highlights.

“I can do all the things Kevin can do offensively,” Pierce said. “Probably had a little more because I was a better post-up player than him, as far as getting into the paint. He’s got his fadeaways, he got his jab, but I think I was a better post-up player than him. Pretty much everything else, I can do what he did.”