Paul Pierce is one of the more outspoken NBA analyst around right now.
Whereas all basketball talking heads try to push the line in some capacity, Pierce has no filter whatsoever.
This week, the Hall of Famer made headlines once again – this time for arguing that Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic isn’t an all-time great center yet.
“Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), (Shaquille O’Neal), (Hakeem Olajuwon), David Robinson,” Pierce said.
“… I think he’s ahead of (Patrick) Ewing. I mean he got three MVPs and then a chip. So he’s in elite company, Wilt (Chamberlain). I don’t got him in the top five yet cuz I just named Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, David Robinson, (Bill) Russell, that’s six. And then I’m sure there’s some other ones out there that I’m missing.”
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That said, Pierce did give Jokic some flowers.
“But he’s in elite company when we talk about one of the greats,” Pierce continued. “Right now, if he retired today, he’ll be (a) top 50 player… I mean, he could be one of the top 25, I don’t know yet.”
It will be interesting to see how the Nuggets perform in this year’s playoffs.
At one point, it really seemed like the Minnesota Timberwolves had their number. But Game 3 proved that the defending champs are still very much in the series.
What happens next will likely dictate the outcome.
If the Nuggets can win a second game on Minnesota’s home floor – that will complete alter the momentum in the series.
Will Jokic and the Nuggets be able to prove Pierce and the rest of the haters wrong, win another championship, and cement themselves in NBA lore? Time will tell.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.