In a way, Paul Pierce was part of the move that sparked the current era of NBA “super teams,” starting with the formation of the Boston Celtics’ new “Big Three” in 2007.
But Pierce, entering his second season since departing Boston, still sees a distinction between him and the league’s new guard.
“This is a different era,” Pierce, now with the Washington Wizards, said on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” radio show Tuesday morning, via the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog. “Guys are playing a lot more together in the summer. You see more friendships in the league. It’s not like in the ’80s when you had enemies, or you couldn’t stand this guy, and there were fights all the time.
“These guys, they all get along. It’s a new generation. They all want to play with each other. They all want to win. They’re in USA Basketball all summer, they play in the summer leagues all summer, so they get to know one another and they try to join one another and try to win a championship. It’s a new era that we’re seeing, and this is the way it’s going to be, guys, we’ve just got to accept it.”
Well, maybe not completely accept it.
“I still can’t stand none of these guys,” Pierce added, referring to LeBron James’ generation. “I want to beat all of them.”
On the court, the combination of three singular talents in Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen might not be all that different from the combination of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat or James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The difference is in how the players came together; the way in which the Celtics’ title team was built is perceived as organic, whereas the Miami squad and Cleveland’s powerhouse-in-the-making are perceived as being primarily James’ workings.
Either way, it’s a treat that someone like Pierce still exists in the NBA. As the league’s stars become more chummy, the game needs a few last stars who have true contempt — if begrudging respect — for their opponents.
Photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
