In the discussion of basketball greatness, debates rage on about who truly deserves a spot among the all-time elites. These discussions often center around NBA legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, a recent statement by former NBA All-Star Paul Pierce has conveyed his fresh opinion by boldly crossing gender lines in his top-10 list.

In a recent episode of the All the Smoke podcast, one of the behind-the-camera crew brought up the fact that the recent game between the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury might have been the last game of the Mercury star Diana Taurasi. He then proceeded to ask the question, what was the view of Kevin Garnett and Pierce on the 42-year-old guard and they had nothing but praise for her.

“This is my take on Diana. Diana is one of the top 10 basketball players ever. And I’m talking about men and women decorated. Like, top 10 basketball,” Pierce on All The Smoke. While most of today’s sports pundits and fans would have chosen Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson, Pierce’s opinion gives a whole new perspective.

Diana Taurasi’s resume says a lot. There is no question about her effect on the sport, as she owns three WNBA championships, and six Olympic gold medals, along with the WNBA’s all-time scoring record. The powerful way the shooting guard competes and her key game performances have won her the title of The White Mamba, referencing the ‘Black Mamba’ nickname that Kobe Bryant coined himself.

Taurasi’s longevity in the sport, playing at an elite level well into her 40s, mirrors the careers of NBA greats like LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “Like, when you look at her career, like college and pro and all that, you add that all up. She’s one of the top 10 basketball players ever… say Jordan and Bron and Taurasi and Cheryl Miller or whoever’s in that conversation, you know, with men and women, she’s in the top 10,” added Pierce.

Through the 36 games she’s played this year, the guard has scored 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, quite similar to Michael Jordan’s final season numbers. His Airness had scored 20 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Jordan scored higher solely because he participated in 46 games more than her. However, Pierce didn’t share a reason for not adding Caitlin Clark’s name, yet it seems reasonable to expect that, as a rookie player, she still has much to accomplish before reaching Taurasi’s stature.

Even if a few might challenge Pierce’s viewpoint, there’s no question that Diana Taurasi ranks among the best basketball players in history. Her accomplishments on the court speak for themselves. Yet, even with the veterans not including Clark in the chat, OG Kevin Garnett had a recommendation tailored for her.

Kevin Garnett’s advice for Caitlin Clark

The Connecticut Sun (87-81) knocked out the Indiana Fever in game 2 of the first round, thus ending the remarkable year of Caitlin Clark. Though she scored 25 points in the game along with 9 assists and 6 rebounds, it wasn’t enough for her to pull the Fever from a devastating defeat. When asked in her post-game interview on Wednesday, the guard acknowledged she hasn’t yet set plans for what’s next, but will certainly hit the golf course.

Amidst this defeat, Garnett shared his words of wisdom for the young basketball player. “Caitlin Clark, listen, you gonna have to take your lumps early. You know the really, really, really crazy ones, or the special ones, who get on a special team and get on the ride but this is how your gains, your desire, all your dreams it gets beat up,” said Garnett during the podcast. Along with this, the former Boston Celtics players also praised the growth of women players in the league.

Garnett’s advice suggests that there is still room for growth, particularly in terms of handling setbacks and learning from mistakes. Only time will tell if Clark will go on with the 48-year-old veteran’s advice in the upcoming season.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger