LeBron James Calls Paul Pierce Biggest Rival, Not Kobe

You might have expected Kobe Bryant to secure that title. Or Kevin Durant. Maybe even Carmelo Anthony would have made your list. Those are the players most often associated with James; those are the players who he is compared to most.

Speaking with Ahmad Rashad of NBA TV, however, James named Pierce as his biggest rival.

LeBron, when asked by Ahmad Rashad if Kobe is his biggest rival: “I would say Boston and Paul Pierce if I had to name just one guy”

— Jay O. (@MrTrpleDouble10) June 4, 2013

Surprised? You’re not alone.

More than ever, Pierce is pushed to the back burner of most conversations pertaining to superstars. He’s on the wrong side of 35, his future with the Boston Celtics is in doubt and the Celtics themselves no longer look like a championship contender. Naming Kobe, ‘Melo or the Durantula as his most notorious foe would have made more sense.

Only James was right.

Having been able to pick only one guy, he chose Pierce. And rightfully so. Bryant and Durant have spent their entire careers in the Western Conference. Anthony spent most of his there as well. It’s been Pierce that has been in the Eastern Conference all along, always serving as a viable threat to James’ title hopes.

The two have played 30 regular season games against each other, splitting the set, with each of their teams winning 15 of those contests. They’ve also played 25 playoff games against each other as well. James’ teams hold a slight edge there, with a 13-12 record. Boston also pushed the Miami Heat to the brink of elimination in last year’s Eastern Conference finals. There’s a lot of history there.

As for Bryant, James has yet to play him in the postseason. They can only meet in the finals. And in the regular season, James is 13-6 against the Black Mamba.

Moving right along to Durant, James has faced his Oklahoma City Thunder once in the finals and sent them packing in five games. He also holds a 9-2 regular-season series edge.

Then there’s ‘Melo. Anthony’s teams are 17-10 against James’ during the regular season, but they’ve met just once in the playoffs after the former joined the New York Knicks. James and the Heat dispatched them in five games.

Pierce has been James’ most consistent rival. There hasn’t been one season where the Celtics aren’t a potential hindrance to what James is trying to accomplish. Not one.

For the past 10 years, Pierce has been there, ready to take on James. Their teams have found similar levels of success against one another, yet the rivalry remains understated. And why? Perhaps it’s because Pierce is old. Because he really isn’t a part of James’ generation. Or maybe it’s just because players like Anthony, Bryant and Durant are considered better at the particular stages of their career. Who knows?

What we do know is that James isn’t downplaying the significance of their rivalry. One day, his most threatening adversary may hail from a different team and be a different person entirely. Thus far, it has been Pierce. Not Durant or ‘Melo or Kobe or anybody else.