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WASHINGTON DC, FEBRUARY 20: Washington forward Paul Pierce (34), right, draws a foul on Cleveland forward LeBron James (23) as the Washington Wizards play the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Verizon Center in Washington DC , February 20, 2014 (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON DC, FEBRUARY 20: Washington forward Paul Pierce (34), right, draws a foul on Cleveland forward LeBron James (23) as the Washington Wizards play the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Verizon Center in Washington DC , February 20, 2014 (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
LeBron James is one of the most distinguishable athletes to grace the sport of basketball. Loved by his fans who regularly anoint him the ‘GOAT’, he also attracts a fair share of dislike from ex-players, sections of the media, and the opposing fans.
Aside from the notorious Skip Bayless, Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce is also a known ‘LeBron Hater’. From calling him ‘Soft’ to not having him in his Top 5 Greatest Players to play the game, he displays all the symptoms of a certified ‘LeBron Hater’.
New Jersey Nets legend Kenny Anderson can attest to this. The ‘Truth’ and Kenny were teammates for four years at the ‘Green’ Team, so he knows him well. Speaking to Brandon Robinson, he said – “That happens. I think he doesn’t like him. The comments and some of the statements that he makes, he just doesn’t like him. He can say what he wants to say but, I don’t think that he likes him for whatever reason, you know?”
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Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) participates during a practice session before Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images)
What Started his Beef with LeBron James?
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The Ohio-native came into the league with a lot of hype and media attention, which the players disliked. Paul, playing the same position as LeBron at Small Forward, was balling in the league. Understandably, whenever someone steals your thunder, an element of insecurity can creep in. It was this insecurity that provoked a very disgusting action from Pierce in a pre-season game vs the ‘Cavs’ in 2004. For no good reason, he spat at their bench and shows no remorse for his action to this day-
“I’m glad social media wasn’t out then because I spit at they bench. I probably would’ve got fined.” @paulpierce34 confirms @KendrickPerkins‘ story that him spitting toward the Cavs bench started his beef with LeBron. pic.twitter.com/k1DbLKhcQq
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 22, 2020
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“You know the crazy thing about it was, it was a preseason game, that didn’t mean anything. I don’t know, me and LeBron going back and forth. The bench is yelling at something. And I look over at the bench, and I’m like, ‘That’s why Y’all are on the bench’ or something, and I spit at them.”
After all these years, he continuously tries to spit on Bron’s legacy with his astonishing claims. To that we can only say one thing – Let it go Paul, Let it go.
