By now, it’s no secret iconic former Boston Celtic forward Paul Pierce had a complicated relationship with LeBron James.
Former teammate Kenny Anderson recently shed light on the relationship during an interview with Heavy.com’s Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on the “Heavy Live With Scoop B Show.”
Anderson joined the Celtics in the summer before Pierce was drafted in a trade with Žan Tabak and Popeye Jones for John Thomas, Chauncey Billups and Dee Brown after refusing to report to the Toronto Raptors. He was on Boston’s roster with The Truth during his first few seasons in the league.
While the Georgia Tech product was long gone by the time James entered the league in 2004, Pierce and he have kept in touch over the years.
“I just don’t think he likes LeBron James,” shared Anderson.
“That happens. I think he doesn’t like him,” added the former Celtic floor general. “The comments and some of the statements that he makes he just doesn’t like him. He can say what he wants to say but, I don’t think that he likes him for whatever reason, you know?”
This should probably come as no surprise to fans who followed the team closely in that era, with Pierce always extra motivated to take on the younger wing as he ascended the ranks of NBA stardom.
Paul Pierce reveals his 5 scariest players to guard for Halloween https://t.co/7LWOdl6izm
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 1, 2020
It’s also something confirmed by other sources, such as former Celtic big man Ryan Hollins.
But, in the present, it’s quite possible the competitive spirit LeBron’s meteoric rise elicited in Pierce has diminished somewhat, as the move to the media and time tends to do.
And it certainly doesn’t hurt when an entire fictional series names you the G.O.A.T.
