After LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA scoring record, Paul Pierce has crowned the Los Angeles Lakers forward the GOAT.
“If LeBron get it tonight he’s the GOAT if not tonight #2,” he wrote alongside a crying-laughing emoji on Tuesday evening. “Can u dummies please give the ball to LeBron every time down #rudumorstupid.”
When LeBron bested the all-time scoring record, which was set by Abdul-Jabbar after he broke it in April 1984, Pierce made his opinions on LeBron clear.
“Honor to say I had a chance to match up with the GAOT [sic] I’ve alway never acknowledged u as King but u Truly the King," he tweeted. "#lRespect no player in NBA History had the pressure coming in the league to exceed expectations not only have u live up to it but u have surpassed it #allhailtheKing."
Pierce retired from the NBA in 2017, but he’s held a long-standing beef with LeBron ever since 2003. Their issues mostly stayed on the court, but by the time Pierce retired, it got personal with plenty of trash talking. As recently as May 2020, Pierce said that LeBron wasn’t a top five all-time player in the NBA.
He’s clearly changed his mind since then, though.
"To be able to be in the presence of a legend and great as Kareem, it means so much to me," LeBron said upon breaking the record on Tuesday. "Everybody that has ever been a part of this run with me the last 20-plus years, I want to say thank you so much because I wouldn't be me without all you. You all helped. Your passion and sacrifices helped me to get to this point."
When the record was broken, Abdul-Jabbar was in attendance and applauded the moment. "I thought it had every chance of being broken. It just had to have someone that the offense focused on continually," Abdul-Jabbar said after the game. "LeBron's career is one of someone who planned to dominate this game. You have to give him credit for just the way he played and for the way he's lasted and dominated."
