Every player in the NBA Playoffs is not only vying for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy, but also for their legacies. Paul Pierce contends that the title of the best player of the current era is still open for debate.

With LeBron James and Stephen Curry entering the postseason once again, Pierce suggests that if either player captures the title come June, they will stake their claim as the premier player of their generation. In particular, he believes a championship win would elevate Curry on the all-time list, potentially surpassing James.

“In the LeBron era, he would’ve won his fifth title with pretty much three different teams — pre-Kevin Durant, with KD, and after KD,” Pierce explained on FS1’s Speak. “Then, three of those championships he would’ve won without a top 75 player. In my eyes, he would’ve won in this era with LeBron.”
“所以，他比勒布朗强吗？他赢得了时代。在勒布朗时代，[库里可能赢得] 五个冠军和一个全票MVP。这必须有某种分量。这从未发生过。如果我们讨论勒布朗是最伟大的球员，而你这一时代的球员赢得了全票MVP，这将改变一些事情。我们将开始把斯蒂芬排在迈克尔·乔丹旁边。”

As the 2025 playoffs commence, both James and Curry boast four titles each. While James has garnered more Finals MVPs throughout his career, Curry has triumphed in three of their four Finals encounters. However, James’ comeback victory over the 73-win Warriors in 2016 remains legendary.

In that same year, Curry achieved the landmark feat of being the first player to secure a unanimous MVP award, whereas James narrowly missed achieving the same honor a few seasons earlier. Though James leads Curry in total MVP awards, 4-2, he also holds numerous other accolades that may set him apart further.

When looking at all of these achievements, James is frequently listed above Curry among all-time greats, with some even considering him the greatest player in NBA history. This is why Pierce asserts that James faces the most pressure in the current playoffs, especially coupled with Luka Doncic’s potential to offer vital support.

Paul Pierce Explains Significance of a Fifth Title for Steph Curry’s Legacy

Pierce believes that James, too, stands to benefit significantly should he secure a fifth title this postseason.

“If LeBron wins one more championship, there are going to be uncomfortable conversations regarding his place in history,” Pierce stated. “But LeBron, due to his status — the brightest star in the game — will always hold the title of being the most scrutinized until he retires, much like Michael Jordan.”

As the playoffs shape up, the Lakers appeared to have an easier path to the NBA Finals compared to the Warriors, who need to fight through the play-in tournament to secure their spot. Should both teams progress, a highly anticipated sixth playoff showdown between James and Curry awaits, with the Lakers having home-court advantage.

However, both teams faced challenges in their initial games, with the Timberwolves comfortably defeating the Lakers and the Warriors edging out the Rockets in a hard-fought victory.

Pierce expresses concern about the Lakers’ first-round performance:

“This is the thing I don’t understand: Game 1, at home, well-rested — everything lined up for the Lakers, and they laid an egg. That’s the thing I don’t comprehend.”