“No, no, no! Shut up man, we seen what you looked like at the end. We be acting like we finished averaging 30, no we finished averaging 4 and 5, ten years ago. Crazy as hell. Hell nah,” said Arenas.

It’s not uncommon for players to overestimate their basketball ability, but it’s a major stretch for a guy as old as Pierce (46 years old) to claim he can still hang with the players today.  Clearly, Arenas wasn’t feeling the take at all despite being a former All-Star himself.

Ungraceful Ending For The Truth

Over 19 years in the NBA, Paul Pierce put together a pretty solid career. As a 10x All-Star, 4x All-NBA player, and 2008 NBA champion, “the truth” cemented his legacy in Celtics history and he remains the last player to lead the franchise to four wins in the Finals. Even so, Pierce didn’t end things on the best of terms in Boston. As his stat began to plummet in the mid-2010s, the Celtics felt they had no choice but to start over and wipe the slate clean.

While there was much buzz and excitement at the time regarding the mega trade that sent Piece to Brooklyn, he was never the same after leaving the Celtics and his impact faded drastically in the final years of his career. In his final season with the Clippers, he was relegated to a bench-warming role averaging just 3.2 points in 11.1 minutes per game. So, considering where he left off, it’s unlikely that Pierce could have played three years ago, much less anytime in more recent NBA history. The game has passed him by at this point, and only LeBron James has shown any ability to extend his career to indefinite lengths.

LeBron James Is The Exception

As LeBron James gets closer to his 40s, his continued longevity in the NBA only gets more impressive. This season, at 39, he’s making history with his play and setting a new standard for how athletes should age in the league. In 41 games for the Lakers, he’s averaging 24.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game on 52.0% shooting. With over 20 years of greatness under his belt, James is on an unprecedented track right now and it’s anyone’s guess how it will end.

But the fact that James is even still playing in the league when most of his peers have long been retired, speaks volumes about his work ethic and the amazing natural durability of his body. Paul Pierce and Gilbert Arenas were not able to achieve this level of longevity but they shouldn’t feel too bad because we may never see it again…

In a recent episode of “KG Certified,” former Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce, now 46 years old and retired since the 2016-17 season, made headlines by asserting that he could score 20 points against either the San Antonio Spurs or the Detroit Pistons if he played against them today. Pierce expressed his confidence in the absence of formidable defense from these struggling teams, labeling them as “slump-busters” for opponents.

“I can score a dub on either of these teams right now as we speak. Their defense like ain’t nothing there. I can get you a dub and the game right now, today against Detroit and against San Antonio, 20-piece nuggets.”

“Because I swear every team looking at them, they’re slump-busters. If you’re in a slump, you play Detroit, you’re out of it.”

“If I’m in a slump, I can’t wait to see Detroit or San Antonio. Slump-busters, that’s what I call them. I don’t need to be in shape against a 20-game losing streak.“

The Pistons and Spurs, with a combined record of 6-47, have endured a challenging start to the 2023-24 NBA season, ranking among the worst teams both offensively and defensively. Despite their struggles, Pierce’s claim is met with skepticism, considering his retirement and the defensive potential of rising stars like Cade Cunningham for the Pistons and Victor Wembanyama for the Spurs.

Pierce’s bold statement drew attention to the defensive deficiencies of the Pistons and Spurs, with Detroit ranking 26th and San Antonio 30th in defensive rating. However, Pierce’s assertion may be viewed more as banter and hyperbole, as he has been out of the league for several years, and the NBA landscape has evolved since his playing days.

While Pierce’s comment serves as a humorous take on the struggles of these teams, it also highlights the defensive challenges they face. Both the Pistons and Spurs have promising young talents but are yet to find success on the court. Pierce’s claim adds a comedic twist to the ongoing narrative of these teams’ difficulties, inviting discussions on their defensive woes and the adjustments needed for improvement.

Pistons And Spurs May Not Get 30 Wins Combined

The Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, both struggling with dismal records of 2-25 and 4-21, respectively, may face a daunting challenge in reaching a combined total of 30 wins this season. With a collective winning percentage of just .113, these two teams find themselves at the bottom of the standings, raising doubts about their ability to secure victories in a highly competitive NBA landscape.

As the league boasts 12 strong teams in both conferences vying for playoff contention, the path to accumulating wins becomes increasingly challenging for the Pistons and Spurs. Their current records indicate significant difficulties in competing with more formidable opponents, making the prospect of reaching the 30-win mark seem unlikely.

The Pistons, currently mired in a franchise-worst 24-game losing streak, are grappling with an unprecedented level of struggle. With each passing week, the challenges for Detroit intensify and breaking out of this extended slump becomes a daunting task.

While the NBA season is long, and unforeseen turnarounds can occur, the current trajectory of both teams suggests a tough road ahead. The Pistons’ record-setting losing streak and the Spurs’ struggles defensively contribute to the skepticism surrounding their ability to notch significant victories.

In a league where consistency and competitiveness are paramount, the Pistons and Spurs may find it challenging to secure enough wins to reach the 30-game milestone. The coming weeks will undoubtedly test the resilience of these teams as they aim to navigate through a demanding season.