In the latest episode Fox Sports’ SpeechPaul Pierce delayed it in a bold way after LeBron James announced Kevin Durant as the “highest-equipped scorer” in NBA history. Pierce inserted himself into the debate without hesitation and the fans were fired soon.
Backstory: KD’s LeBron and the “Full-equipped” nickname
LeBron James is known for his thoughtful assessment of NBA talent, and recently called Kevin Durant the most “equipped” scorer of the game’s all-time. LeBron received praise from his podcast, Mind the gamehe thinks Durant’s combination of length and skill (he has the ability to shoot on anyone), which gives him a unique scoring advantage.
Paul Pierce’s response
In the July episode say On FS1, co-host Keyshawn Johnson prompted Pierce to introduce LeBron’s Durant remarks. Pierce jumps into:
“Shot, when you talk about a well-equipped scorer, come on, you have to let me in that conversation.”
“I shot worse than Kevin…but I can do all the shots. Pull it up from the elbow, knock down 3, turnaround, dunk – I can do everything.”
Pierce acknowledged Durant’s efficiency advantage – he admitted: “I shot worse than Kevin” because Durant was 7 feet tall and could almost shoot. But Pierce insists that the breadth of Arsenal he scores makes him qualify as much, and even more, as KD.
Watch this moment
This is Pierce’s clip say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv9ejhxd_h4
Internet reaction: Fans are lost
Paul Pierce’s confidence proposition was immediately rife. NBA fans on social media were filled with shock, incredible and a lot of troll reactions:
- “He’s not even the 50 scorers of all time,” one fan wrote.
- Another joked: “For a guy nicknamed the truth, he must have lie.”
- Another comment: “I like the truth, but he needs to slow down.”
These reactions are ruthless – media outlets masked headlines like “NBA fans of ruthless trolls Paul Pierce” and called it “the worst offseason.”
Kevin Durant’s respectful reply
Kevin Durant himself did not laugh at it. On Instagram, KD wrote that he didn’t really see the weaknesses in Pierce’s game, and he thanked the source of confidence. This reaction is in stark contrast to the harsh reactions of many fans.
Think of it as: Pierce vs. Durant
Career Score Overview
- Paul Pierce: 19 years NBA career (1998-2017), mainly with the Boston Celtics. Average score for career scores: 19.7 points, totaling 26,397 points. Ten-time All-Star, NBA Champion, Finals MVP and NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
- Kevin Durant: Still active -36 (born in 1988), playing for the Phoenix Suns. Career average ~27 points, four-time scoring champion, NBA MVP, two final MVP, and as of 2025, they are in history ten.
Pierce means “equipment”
When Paul Pierce used the term “most equipped,” he refers to versatility – he was able to score from all areas of the court: from mid-range elbow jumpers, capturing and shooting threes, later, back posts, mid-post jab steps, floaters and drives. He believes that even if Durant has advantages in size and efficiency, he has a larger number and range in certain areas (such as postal movement) than Durant.
Why fans explode online
Pierce’s Bravado hits many with nostalgic hero worship or a sense of arrogance, which is caused by the effectiveness of a solid career rather than the elite:
- His percentage of professional shooting (44.5%) lags behind Durant’s 50.1% at a big margin.
- Although Pierce is ranked 23rd in history, his peak and volume don’t always match legends like Durant, Jordan, Kobe or LeBron.
- Fans feel he exaggerated his position in history – leading the fast shooting meme and occupying X, Reddit and fan forums.
Why debate is important
Conversations like this involve a wider range of NBA fanatic dynamics: respect for generations icons, debates about peak efficiency versus volume and how context forms “great.” Pierce’s boldness reignited the conversation, not only inspiring Durant’s conversation with LeBron and Kobe, but also involved which parameters define “the highest-equipped”.
Is Pierce just trying to restore his legacy? Or is it a true belief in his diverse game? Either way, it worked: people are still talking.
Paul Pierce did not back down. At Fox Sports sayhe inserted himself into the conversation that LeBron began, one of the most “device” scorers of all time. His comments have been criticized by avid fans, but have also attracted Durant himself to the top of his respect. Finally, the debate shows that when it comes to the NBA scoring debate, nothing can cause the Internet as much as the legendary confidence.
