NBA nicknames are a mark of honor. While players celebrate legacies, nicknames are a unique distinction that a select few get. Even though some might involve a bit of trolling, the all-time greats all have incredible nicknames. Whether it’s King?LeBron James, or?His Airness?for Michael Jordan, nicknames are a part of the game. Perhaps, the most famous of them all is Kobe Bryant.?The Mamba.?

However, it was against Bean that another NBA legend, playing for the Boston Celtics, got his immortal nickname.

Matchup against Kobe Bryant will get you a nickname

At the beginning of the century, the NBA landscape ran through the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether you were tanking, excited, or a contender, your path went through LA. Because at the peak of their powers stood the superstar duo of Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

To put up a stellar outing against that team meant cementing your standing in the league. For Paul Pierce, that breakout came in 2001. On March 13, 2001, in a matchup between LA and Boston, Pierce tallied 42 points on 13-for-19 shooting.

After the game, Shaq pulled a reporter aside and told him. “Take this down. My name is Shaquille O’Neal and Paul Pierce is the motherf***ing truth. Quote me on that and don’t take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn’t know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is The Truth.”?

Appearing on the All The Smoke podcast, Pierce revealed how he came to know about the story. The reporter, Steve Bullpet told Paul about the entire incident. As Pierce reveals, the next day, all the papers read the same thing, “Paul Pierce is the Truth.”?

Thus, a nickname, and a legend, was born. However, living up to it was just as important.

Living up to?The Truth

While Paul had already cemented himself as a genuine bad*ss, the moment changed everything for him. From there on, he went on to 2 NBA Finals, even winning one against Kobe himself. However, for all the accolades, it could be traced back to that moment.

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As soon as the name was bestowed upon him, Pierce knew he had to live up to it. While arguments between him and Dwyane Wade will continue to rage on, his legacy in the NBA is firmly secure. However, it all began with Diesel’s?comments.

“So I got to live up to this now. Next night, I think I dropped 40 again…I think I dropped back-to-back forties after that. My confidence was through the roof. If you got Diesel giving you a nickname, that’s respect.”

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For Paul, the moment brought about a shift that resulted in an uber-successful NBA career. And, a nickname that will live on.