Paul Pierce, who had a fierce rivalry with LeBron James during their playing days, has now acknowledged that James may be the greatest basketball player of all time.

In an interview with The Volume, Pierce praised James for his longevity and numerous records. This comes as a surprise, as Pierce’s opinion has evolved since his playing days when he likely would not have made such a statement.

Back then, Pierce was one of the NBA’s biggest stars, often giving James a hard time on the court. Their head-to-head matchups resulted in Pierce having a slightly better regular-season record, while James prevailed in the playoffs.

Since retiring, Pierce has become a prominent voice in basketball commentary and has closely studied James’ dominance. Despite their competitive history, Pierce recognizes James’ greatness and praises his impact on the league.

It is a testament to Pierce’s growth and James’ extraordinary abilities.

This statement from Pierce suggests that James has made a lasting impression on him and many NBA fans, as they never expected Pierce to consider James as a contender for the greatest player of all time.