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Pierce: I Can Still Guard LeBron James!
11 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Paul Pierce claims he can still guard LeBron James today.
- Pierce retired from the NBA eight seasons ago in 2017.
- James holds a slight edge in their 69 career matchups.
Eight years after his retirement from the NBA, former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce has boldly declared his ability to still guard LeBron James. Pierce, who last played in the 2016-17 season, made the assertion during a podcast discussion, even specifying he could guard James' current form, not his peak performance.
This statement has drawn considerable reaction from basketball fans, with many criticizing Pierce for what they perceive as delusion and obsession with James. The two legendary players have a storied history, having faced each other 69 times across regular season and playoff games. LeBron James holds a narrow 35-34 advantage in their head-to-head matchups.
While Pierce has a winning record against James in the regular season, James has historically performed better in playoff encounters. James averaged 29.2 points against Pierce, who averaged 18.8 points in their games. Pierce's recent comments have reignited discussions about their enduring rivalry and his confidence in his current abilities.
