Paul Pierce Says He’s Responsible for Taking LeBron James to the ‘Next Level’

In a recent episode of Undisputed, Paul Pierce took some credit for pushing LeBron James to become one of the greatest NBA players of all time.

"I truly feel responsible for taking LeBron to that, taking him to that next level," said Pierce, which was met with a dismissive hand gesture by co-host Keyshawn Johnson. "When he went to Miami, Game 6 in Boston when we had them on the ropes to go back to the Finals, I think that was the game that took LeBron to the next level."

Skip Bayless asked if it was because he was against him, and he admitted that his teammate Brandon Bass was doing some guarding against LeBron during that game, too. “It wasn’t a lot against me,” he continued. “I was a little older, so we switched off a little. I guarded him a half. Brandon Bass was guarding him. But, I think that, right there, Game 6, I believe it was his first year in Miami, we [were] up 3-2 at home to go to the Finals, and that’s when it took him to the next level.”

Earlier this year, Pierce received one vote in The Athletic's annual survey of anonymous NBA players in which they voted for who they believe is the greatest NBA player of all time. Michael Jordan and LeBron James led the poll, with Kobe Bryant in third, but Pierce said on Undisputed that perhaps it with LBJ who voted for him.

"I did play against him, He must think something," he said. "What do you think about that? We had a lot of battles. We had some tough battles."