4 Incredibly Dumb Comments Paul Pierce Has Made as an NBA Analyst

Any basketball fan that stumbles across Paul Pierce on ESPN programs like "NBA Countdown" or "The Jump" had better prepare for a scorching take. Like many players before him, the former Boston Celtics great has transitioned to a career as an analyst. While the Worldwide Leader can't get enough of him, Pierce manages to antagonize NBA Twitter each and every time he's in front of cameras.

In honor of his latest boneheaded assertion about LeBron James (more on that later), let's take a closer look at some of the former 10-time All-Star's most moronic comments as an analyst.

4. Saying the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals Was Over After Celtics Beat the Bucks in Game 1

The Boston Celtics trounced the Milwaukee Bucks 112-90 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semis last year, prompting Pierce to claim that the series was "over." Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. must have caught wind of Pierce's assessment, because they proceeded to win each of the next four contests to eliminate the Celtics. Three of the Bucks' dubs were by double digits, and two were by more than 20. Their convincing statement laid the groundwork for Kyrie Irving's eventual exit from Beantown. Pierce was subsequently eviscerated by fans and the media for this alarmingly premature prediction, and rightfully so.

3. When He Said He Was a Better Shooter than Klay Thompson

Pierce once again triggered basketball Twitter when he asserted that he was a better wing shooter than Klay Thompson. While the former Kansas Jayhawk was a marksman in his own right, he isn't regarded as one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. At 30 years old, the Golden State Warriors superstar already ranks No. 18 in 3-pointers made, almost 400 behind Pierce, who ranks No. 9 on the all-time list. Health withstanding, you can book it that Thompson will surpass Pierce's 2,143 tally in two seasons. To put this debate to bed, the Warriors winger boasts a career 41.3% shooting percentage from the beyond the arc. The former Celtic's clip is a ways behind at 36.8%.

2. When He Claimed His Career Was Better Than Dwyane Wade's

These claims REEK of insecurity from No. 34, and they're entirely erroneous. Both players have a Finals MVP to their names -- Pierce in 2008 and Wade in 2006. Outside of that, the Miami Heat legend's resume takes the cake in a landslide. Not only does Wade have more rings (three to one), but he has more All-Star appearances (13 to 10), All-NBA team nods (eight to four), All-Defensive teams (three to zero), a better career scoring average (22.5 to 19.7) and career shooting percentage (48% to 44.5%). Wade literally has Pierce beat in every single category that pundits use to contrast careers. Flash also took home the scoring title in 2007-08 to boot. Sit down, Paul.

1. LeBron Isn't a Top Five Player of All Time

Nothing like using your platform to take a former rival down a peg, right? LeBron and Pierce matched up in the playoffs countless times in their respective careers, and the former almost always outplayed the latter. For reasons we'll never understand, that hasn't stopped Pierce from ripping LeBron, who is the undisputed second-best player of all-time. There's an enormous population of basketball diehards that believe James is the GOAT, and you really can't fault them for that stance. At the very least, "The King" is on basketball's Mount Rushmore. Pierce saying that he isn't one of the sport's five greatest players is so dumb that it's funny. The former champ's takes are becoming so fraudulent that the NBA community should consider revoking his nickname "The Truth."