Paul Pierce joined the Fred Roggin Show on Los Angeles’ the Beast 980 and talked about the adjustment of playing in a reduced role, something he felt Kobe Bryant would have a tough time accepting.
The former Boston Celtic didn’t hesitate to take a shot at his longtime rival even if it was in a somewhat joking manner.
"That will be tough on some guys in L.A. to take on that (reduced) role *cough* Kobe *cough* I mean, you know, we get older." —Paul Pierce
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) September 25, 2015
Pierce and Bryant’s last great exchange came in the 2010 NBA Finals in which the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics 4-3. It was the second time in three years the two met on the grandest stage.
The two teams split their championship encounters with Pierce and Bryant each walking away with a NBA Finals MVP. The future Hall-of-Famers have only met a hand full of times since, and it was also the last time these two storied franchises were on top.
The Celtics effectively ended Pierce’s 13-year reign as the face of their franchise when they traded him to the Brooklyn Nets on June 27, 2014.
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The “truth” experienced a hard fall from grace with the Nets right out of the gate as the team got off to a 10-21 start. The Nets would recover and finish 44-38 before LeBron James and the Miami Heat eliminated them in a competitive five-game series during the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Pierce signed with the Washington Wizards the following off-season after the Nets showed no interest in retaining the 37-year-old. It was the second time in as many seasons his role was reduced.
Pierce averaged career-lows in points, rebounds and assists for the second year in a row behind just 26.2 minutes of playing time.
In what expects to be his final destination, Pierce signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. Ultimately, the Inglewood native decided to reunite with head coach Doc Rivers.
Pierce doesn’t expect to be a huge factor for the team or the rivalry, but that doesn’t mean he can’t add fuel to the fire in the interim. Meanwhile, the Lakers are in the process of transitioning into the next face of their franchise.
The Lakers and Clippers will square off in the “Battle of Los Angeles” on Christmas Day.
Next: Jackson on Kobe: 'It May Be His Last Year as a Laker'
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