The league’s greatest scorer debate took a turn when Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce declared himself “probably the best pure scorer in the history of the NBA,” a direct response to LeBron James recently calling Kevin Durant the “most equipped scorer” the game has ever seen.
Pierce made the statement during an episode of FS1’s Speak, where he co-hosts. With a straight face and signature confidence, he said,
“I was pretty equipped when I think about it. I need to be in this conversation… I must have been one of the most equipped.”
“I was probably the best pure scorer in the history of the NBA.”
– Paul Pierce
(🎥 @SpeakOnFS1 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 3, 2025
The spark for Pierce’s proclamation came from LeBron James’ comments on his Mind the Game podcast with JJ Redick. In that episode, LeBron praised Durant’s scoring versatility, calling him the most “equipped” scorer in NBA history.
Durant, a four-time scoring champion and two-time member of the exclusive 50-40-90 club, has long been considered one of the most unguardable players in league history. His ability to score from anywhere on the floor, over any defender, has made him a nightmare matchup for nearly two decades.
Pierce’s claim, while eyebrow-raising, wasn’t entirely out of left field. Over a 19-year career, he averaged 19.7 points per game, scored over 26,000 points (18th all-time), and had five seasons averaging 25+ points. He won the 2010 Three-Point Contest, was a 10-time All-Star, and earned Finals MVP honors in 2008.
But calling himself the best pure scorer ever? That’s where the conversation gets complicated.
Pierce argued that Durant’s efficiency is aided by his 7-foot frame, which allows him to shoot over defenders with ease.
“Kevin, because he’s 7 feet, he can get his shot off on anybody. He don’t really see defense,” Pierce said. “That’s why he’s so efficient.”
He added that he, by contrast, took more difficult shots and still got buckets. Statistically, Pierce’s claim doesn’t hold up against the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or Durant. He never won a scoring title, never averaged 30 points in a season, and his career shooting percentages—44.5% from the field, 36.8% from three—are not elite.
Durant, by comparison, has averaged over 27 points per game for his career, ranks in the top 10 in all-time scoring, and boasts a career field goal percentage above 50%. Jordan and Kobe, meanwhile, combined for 17 scoring titles and countless iconic scoring performances.
Still, Pierce’s supporters point to his versatility: he could score from the post, midrange, three-point line, and the free-throw stripe. He was a master of footwork, pump fakes, and clutch shot-making. And in an era dominated by physical defense, he consistently found ways to get his.
Paul Pierce has never lacked self-belief. From calling game-winning shots before they dropped to dubbing himself “The Truth” (a nickname given by Shaquille O’Neal), Pierce has always embraced the spotlight—and the controversy that comes with it.
