After 19 seasons in the league, The Truth doesn't have to worry about holding back anymore.
Paul Pierce is officially retired these days and he's turned his attention to broadcasting. You’ve probably seen him on ESPN for a second straight NBA Finals, offering up his completely honest takes on all things related to the Association including calling Kevin Durant the No. 1 player in the world right now and whether the Warriors are about to be crowned the greatest team in NBA history.
"I was asked if this is the greatest team ever," Pierce said, "and I was like, 'Hold on. Wait. No.'"
Between Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals, we caught up with the former Celtic, Net, Wizard, and Clipper in Cleveland to talk a potential Warriors dynasty, what the Cavs have to do going forward to catch Golden State, where his beef with Ray Allen stands, and why you're going to see him pop up on a popular YouTube cooking show.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
You’re officially retired, but you’ve been doing TV work with ESPN for the second straight postseason. Is this a role we could see you in long term?
I’m really embracing it. I had a chance to do it last year in the Finals and I really enjoyed doing it so they asked me to come and do it again this year. It’s just something I’ve always loved to do: talk basketball. It’s easy for me to give my perspective, my analyst approach to it because even when I played I would watch film, talk about the game. I’m a basketball junkie and a real historian of the game so for me to get a chance to express it and give my perspective on a national stage, I’m really enjoying it.
So if you’re a historian, give me an idea of where you’d rank this Warriors team.
I was asked if this is the greatest team ever and I was like, “Hold on. Wait. No.” They go 16-0 they’ll have the greatest record, but when you talk teams you’ve gotta look over the course of years, you have to look at dynasties. You’ve gotta look at teams like the 80s Lakers, the 90s Bulls, the Spurs, the early Celtics days and say is this team as good as those teams. Because this team is going to stay together just like those teams stayed together. If they win four or five championships then we can have this conversation.
"For the health of the game I’m upset. For the competitive nature of the game I’m upset. But at the end of the day he got to do what he got to do."
I know you’ve been leaning toward granting Kevin Durant No. 1 player in the world status over LeBron James.
I think it’s his time. I’m not saying he’s the better player. I’m saying he’s the better player now. Over the course of his career, LeBron’s the better player, obviously. He’s got more years than him. But I don’t see this Cleveland team as constructed winning another championship. I see this Golden State team as constructed, all under 30, KD being the best player, what are we going to be talking about if he wins three or four championships and a couple of MVPs? I just think his time is now.
This team is dynasty material?
Yes, because I don’t see nobody pushing the bar, like I don’t see if this team gets this player they’re right there. You’re talking about some unrealistic scenarios. So how does Cleveland beat Golden State? Well, you gotta get Kawhi [Leonard]. Well, they’re not getting Kawhi, you know what I’m saying? If you’re sweeping the best team in the East and sweeping every team in the West, nobody’s close.
So what does Cleveland need to do to get on their level?
If you get swept in the Finals something has to change. They can’t go backwards. They have LeBron, the best player, he probably has a window of maybe three years and he’s playing at a high level for a 32-year-old. He can probably keep this up another two or three years. As you get older, he’s not going to be able to keep doing this. If he’s doing this and losing, he needs to take a step back and get another star there. It’s going to take them either trading Kyrie or Kevin Love. Even if you got Paul George for Kevin Love, I still think that’s a lateral move. So when we look at all these scenarios, Golden State is probably about to go on a tear barring injuries or free agency in a few years when Klay and Draymond are up.
I know you were vocal about KD going to the Warriors earlier this year. Does it still bother you or are you completely over it?
For the health of the game I’m upset. For the competitive nature of the game I’m upset. But at the end of the day he got to do what he got to do. He went there to win a championship. If he didn’t win, serious backlash because a lot of people feel like he ruined the balance of the league. He’s stepping up, he’s being the best player on the best team so he went there to do what he needed to do.
What’s going to happen to your Clippers?
I don’t know, man. That’s a good question.
Time to blow them up?
The thing is, every year you look where you are and the Clippers have three All-Stars and they just haven’t been healthy. I wouldn’t blow that up. I would keep it as is because you have to figure what other team has three All-Stars. If they could add something to this, I think they’ve got something.
If you’re talking resumes, they might be closest to Golden State in terms of talent than anyone else in the West.
More so than anybody. The injuries have definitely set them back. Say you can add a Carmelo [Anthony] or Paul George to that? They’ve been a perennial 50-win team, a team that can be scary. Bad luck, injury, really haven’t had that chance after that Rockets meltdown. I would give it one more look. Plus, when you’re winning, people don’t know how hard it is to rebuild. If you’re the Clippers, you don’t have any draft picks.
So Chris is coming back?
I just think that’s the best scenario for him. He can make more money in LA and him going to San Antonio doesnt' close the gap with Golden State. He’s going to have to change the way he plays with [Gregg] Popovich.
What was it like playing for Clippers owner Steve Balmer?
I’ve never met a billionaire or been around a billionaire like that, the most down to earth guy. Most owners, you get around them you feel kind of awkward. Outside of Mark Cuban, around the rest of these owners it’s just kind of awkward. Wearing coat and ties and speaking about stuff you don’t even know about.
The comments you made about Ray Allen on Kevin Garnett’s Area 21, have you guys had any discussions with Ray or is that still it is what it is?
It is what it is. But it will smooth over with time. This team is going to be linked together forever. The owners from the Celtics call and say they wanna have a reunion on the floor and I’m sure the guys don’t want it to be awkward. Guys will grow out of it. It doesn’t bother me no more. It’s just going to take us all getting on the phone, let’s all go out to lunch, play some golf, air it all out and move on. We all grown, we all retired now, Rondo is the only one left. It will smooth over and I’m predicting in the next year or so.
How would the ’08 Celtics stack up against the Warriors?
It’s a different game. But understand we played small ball in a lot of our fourth quarters. I think we match up pretty good with them because we had shooting. I think the one area where we have the advantage is down low. Who are they going to put on Kevin? We were one of the toughest defenses in NBA history and we had a great offense. It’s a great debate. I think they would have a hard time with the ’04 Pistons.
Can you envision your Hall of Fame induction?
I haven’t put too much thought into it. Being retired, it’s fresh. Maybe I dreamed in the backyard of winning a championship, but never the Hall of Fame. Kids don’t dream about being in the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame is like forever. When I’m dead and gone, this is a legacy I leave behind. I don’t even know what my speech would be like.
And who was your MVP for this year?
Had to be Russell Westbrook. Triple-double, 30 points, you’re not going to see this happen again. He’s not going to be able to duplicate this again next year. He’s the best athlete in the league right now. I think it’s hands down. It’s crazy, we had a lot of people with amazing seasons, but none like this.
Tell me about the partnership with Barilla—you'll be appearing on the YouTube series While the Water Boils—and why you decided to team up with them?
Being that I’m a big pasta guy and being that I love to cook I just thought that it was great to partner up with Hannah Hart on her show While the Water Boils and give her my recipes.
Are you a great cook?
Oh, I’m a great cook.
What’s your specialty?
Pasta. It kind of like started when I was in college, but when you have kids you learn how to do different recipes. My kids actually think I’m a better cook than my wife. But my pasta definitely is. My spaghetti with meat sauce. My own sauce. The Truth Sauce as I like to call it.
