In the inaugural episode of South Central Stars, a new series by Keyshawn Johnson, Baron Davis proclaimed that Paul Pierce is the ultimate athlete to emerge from the Los Angeles area.

Davis stated, “He’s a Hall of Famer; he’s a champion. He has to be No. 1.”

Johnson echoed this sentiment, declaring, “Based on start to finish, (Pierce) is numero uno.”

This assertion positions Pierce above other sports legends like Jackie Robinson and John Elway, all of whom also hail from LA.

Pierce, who clinched the NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics in 2008, certainly has a credible argument as numerous sports stars have roots in Los Angeles. The panel featured Johnson, Davis, Pierce, and fellow athlete DeSean Jackson, reflecting on how their upbringing in LA molded their success.

Johnson and Davis made it a priority to represent Los Angeles during their college careers at USC and UCLA respectively. “I could always go home and get a meal from my auntie,” Johnson reminisced.

Their strong bond with the city remained pivotal throughout their college experiences and led to their later professional achievements. Jackson, who opted for UC Berkeley, shared that he felt compelled to set the right example, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of gang culture prevalent around LA.

Pierce’s choice to attend Kansas was pivotal, as he admitted, “I could not be in LA; I was about to fail out my senior year.”

He valued the lessons from his formative years, stating, “The streets will shape you; you gotta learn when to run.”

By opting to play at a nationally recognized team outside of LA, Pierce leveraged that experience to establish himself as one of the top athletes from the city, as highlighted by Davis and Johnson.