via Imago
Kobe Bryant answers questions during a press conference held at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, Calif.. Thursday, July 15, 2004. Bryant chose the Lakers over the Clippers, remaining with the team he joined in 1996 at age 18 and later helped win three NBA championships. (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage)
via Imago
Kobe Bryant answers questions during a press conference held at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, Calif.. Thursday, July 15, 2004. Bryant chose the Lakers over the Clippers, remaining with the team he joined in 1996 at age 18 and later helped win three NBA championships. (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage)
It’s fair to say that NBA might have the most legends among all sports. Kobe Bryant?s fame is legendary. Bryant, famous for his Mamba Mentality and scoring abilities, has left a lasting impression in the archives of basketball history. Despite the lively talk of Bryant?s reign as a basketball king, one former giant from the NBA presents a view that goes against commonplace assumptions.
Legendary player Ryan Hollins compared Bryant to yet another legend, taking fans back to some incredible clutch moments in basketball history.
Clutch Paul Pierce’s rise to prominence
According to the veteran NBA player who used to wear the green jersey of Boston Celtics, Hollins has asserted that at one time Pierce, known as ?The Truth’, shone brighter than Kobe Bryant.
In an interview recently, Ryan Hollins, standing 7ft tall, asserted, so to speak. He believed that in a particular time period, Bryant fell short of the standard that fans have come to associate with him and was outperformed by Pierce.
Ryan Hollins says Paul Pierce was the best player in the world in 2008
“Clutch Paul Pierce outshined Kobe Bryant. People fail to realize Paul Pierce was maybe the best player on the planet for that year. Paul was really looked over because he had so many mediocre years until… pic.twitter.com/Bpkhnwygpw
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 11, 2023
“Clutch Paul Pierce outshined Kobe Bryant. People fail to realize Paul Pierce was maybe the best player on the planet for that year. Paul was really looked over because he had so many mediocre years until Kevin Garnett and those guys got there”.
In this argument, the emphasis is on a remarkable aptitude in clutch moments when Pierce makes his own shot. Hollins stated that in those hard moments on which the whole plan depended, Pierce played at such a level that was worthy of the title of the best player on Earth at that time.
According to Hollins, Pierce?s period out of the spotlight is what made him invisible in larger conversations and discussions surrounding basketball supremacy. Somewhat subduing Pierce?s brilliance, a series of less-than-spectacular seasons paved the way for the entry of Kevin Garnett and other notable players.
Pierce’s performance at the 2012 Eastern Conference finals
Hollins’ comparison would have also reminded fans of the pivotal moment that highlighted Pierce’s brilliance: the 2012 Eastern Conference finals. Paul Pierce, a pillar of the Celtics, proved his grit and gumption during this disputed battle. After five games, the Celtics led the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals at 3-2, positioning them for a possible championship win.
The tales Hollins tells are reminiscent of the core of the Paul Pierce legend. His clutch shot in the playoffs was just like Kobe?s. Like him, Pierce can do something when it comes to the highest stakes of basketball.
Read More: 1200 Days After His Death, Immortal Kobe Bryant Lives in the Hearts of 2.4 Million NFL Fans
The statement of Mr. Ryan Hollins, in which he claims that Paul Pierce was once better than Kobe Bryant, reminds us of all those clutch occasions when Pierce shined. Let?s turn back to Pierce?s legacy, and remember all the hardships before ?his moment? occurred. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Watch This Story:?40 Million Worth Patrick Mahomes Spectacular New Mansion Showcases his Passion For the Game Including a Private Football Field
