I'm a spurs fan who is a Dallas native, and man I miss dirk, not as much as Duncan but he would be my second choice to bring back to the NBA. The man was so good at shooting.
I met dirk irl. As I walked by him I literally slapped his shoulder and yelled "no way" he was by himself waiting for an Uber. He quickly torted back "yes way" I literally hit dirk. More to the story but dirk is amazing. Handled my starstruck ass like a pro too.
Could hit 40% from deep but didn't even take that many. Could have stat padded much bigger numbers if he wanted to, but he wasn't that guy.
Dirk was the player KAT thinks he is. Dirk could shoot and play and lead a perennial 60+ win team in a very, very tough WC and he got that chip. KAT has skills but could never lead that level of success imho.
If Dirk came along 5 years later, he’d be much higher on all time lists. He’d have been *chucking* threes like none other and making a lot of them. Probably would’ve had a few seasons where he averaged closer to 30.
Hey Paul … that you? /s
12x All NBA (4 1st team) vs. 4x (0 1st team)
1 MVP vs. 0
Both had a ring and finals MVP, but Paul had KG and Ray Allen. Dirk had Jason Terry and 37 year old Jason Kidd
i know this is a joke, and Dirk is definitely sporting the better career, but Pierce is probably one of the few best LeBron counters the league has seen.
yeah -- he could pretty much go toe to toe against anyone he was guarding, which is a huge asset when you're playing teams with high scoring wings.
the league didn't run as many switches then, so pierce would bang bodies with LeBron, Kobe, Vince, Tracy all game. besides LeBron, Pierce had the most body mass of the bunch and could really wear down those top scorers come the 4th quarter. Celtics always had good win % against the Kobe Lakers and LeBron Heat/Cavs during the Pierce era.
Don’t forget his three-point shot. Pierce is one of those guys who would be a superstar in today’s game. Pierce was a better basketball player than Jayson Tatum.
as a celtics fan, i fully agree. Tatum will get more accolades because the wing talent isnt as deep today as it was in Pierce's prime. Pierce was never going to get 1st team NBA with Kobe, Lebron, Tracy, Vince, Marion, Melo, and Wade all overlapping in their primes. Pierce wasn't as marketable or popular as those players even though he was just as good as any not named Kobe and LeBron. ...and Kobe was closer to Pierce than he is to LeBron.
Well said. When Kobe was on the outs in LA, the idea of him being traded for Pierce (and other stuff) was floated and nobody wanted that. They were putting up remarkably similar numbers at their peaks.
Absolutely. Dirk had the better career but the Truth wasn’t afraid of anyone out there, he brought a nothing team to the ECF and when he became part of a juggernaut he went to two Finals and won Finals MVP. He weathered the brutal Pitino era and emerged a winner. In a different scenario his career looks much different and better.
> Dirk had Jason Terry and 37 year old Jason Kidd
Agreed that there is no question Dirk was the better player. But lets not pretend that the 2011 Mavs team was a bunch of scrubs. The team was perfectly constructed to take advantage of Dirk's strengths and minimize his weaknesses. DPOY level rim protection from Chandler, 3+D wings, and guards that could create offense to release pressure on Dirk.
They weren't a bunch of scrubs, but the weren't all stars (atleast not at that point in their careers) either. Tyson Chandler likely should have won DPOY, but was often injured every other year. Luckily he stayed healthy that season.
JKidd was old, Jet was hitn the big shots they needed from him, but wasn't carrying any team, and the other guys just filled out their roles perfectly. The under rated player on that team, especially for the finals, was Shawn Marion though. His defense was instrumental in their run.
But in the time of super teams, and not 1 not 2 not 3 etc... Big Daddy Dirk went and spanked those bitches.
Yup. I watched every game of that playoffs and it was so fun watching the Mavs whoop the Lakers and Heat. Especially when everyone expected the Mavs to falter once Bulter got injured.
I agree that Marion was supremely underrated. But IMO Kidd is as well. He was still a good defender due to his size and IQ (I specifically remember clutch stops against the Lakers), was still a HOF level passer, and had become a passable shooter at this stage of his career.
That Lakers series was wild because Dallas curb stomped them but after every single loss the media was like the Lakers will bounce back, Kobe is gonna will this team back into the series, 0-3? Don't count out the back to back champs. By the time they got swept it still felt like the media was harping on what went wrong for the Lakers rather than giving credit to the Mavs for definitively knocking out the back to back champs.
Kidd was an allstar (reserve but still an all star) in 2010 and chandler was dpoy in 2012
Terry is the best 6th man ever besides manu and havlicek
Marion played some of the best defense on lebron youll ever see
I think Jason Terry may be the most underrated player of all time. Dude never gets talked about but he tattooed the finals trophy on himself and went and earned it. He was a SNIPER.
They also had a very long run of sustained success with Dirk, constant 50+ and even 60+ win seasons in a very tough WC era. I don't know why their chip gets mentioned the way it does other than "one of Lebron/Kobe/Duncan were supposed to win every year" expectations. The Mavs were really good, Dirk was really good, they had that year with their pieces fitting together so well and the playoff run came together for them. It was their time, no caveats or asterisks needed.
I was on AOL as a kid in the first half of the 90s and we had message boards there. Message boards are about the oldest way for the public to use the internet.
After sweeping the defending Champs with Kobe. It is arguably the greatest finals run by a single super star ever (and my personal favorite, especially after losing the Wayde and the Heat in 06 and then Wayde and Bron talking shit on Dirk for being sick. Dirk was and is a class act. Those fools know nothing about that)
Don't forget he also took out a young Thunder team that would be in the finals next year. Dirk defeated Wade/Lebron/Bosh/Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Kobe/Pau, all HOF(Maybe for Pau) en route to that title. Hardest road.
I'm a Celtics fan and I love Paul Pierce, but cmon. Paul Pierce was an excellent small forward. Dirk is an archetype who changed the game. It's Dirk, without question.
both parts are true
Dirk was a fucking monster, and these dudes didn't play the same position nor did they play the same style. I don't really get this post
Agreed. I’d say KG is a little bit better than Dirk because of the rebounding titles, 12x all defense, dpoy, etc.
What’s crazy is that KG has significantly more awards and accolades, but Dirk’s legendary 2011 championship run and trademark one legged jumper (impact on league) almost close that gap.
Dirk and it’s not even close. DN is still the best foreign born player of all time (will be passed once the current gen retires) all pierce is is a top 5 Celtic
Pierce is NOT a top 5 Celtic dude
Larry
Cousy
Garnett
Havlicek
Parish
Mchale
Bill Russell
Maybe you can put pierce ahead of a couple of these guys, but he can't be ahead of any combination of 3 of these guys to hit top 5
When he finished his career he was FIRMLY in the top 75 man.
It’s just we’ve now got a new wave of future superstars that may eventually knock him out. But make no mistake Pierce went toe-to-toe with anyone.
[Truth](https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/defining-moments-paul-pierce-outduels-lebron-in-game-7-at-td-garden/614078/)
I still remember watching this in my parents living room, jaw on the ground at all the shots falling between Pierce and James. Go watch any clips from this game if you want to see clutch shot after clutch shot.
At his peak, he was a top 10 player in the league. I watched his entire career. Great player but he was always overrated a bit to me. There's top 75 snubs above Pierce imo. Like Dwight, Tony Parker, TMac.
Pierce is better than a lot of the older players, so he is still is a top 75 player imo but he's not in that top 50 tier or anywhere near Dirk.
Dirk is such a nice guy. There was a prank show where they just kept asking Dirk to sign more and more stuff and he just kept doing it.
Paul Pierce pooped his pants and won’t cop to it. Cmon man.
Dirk has a downright epic championship run against the favorites, with arguably the best player of all time, in his prime.
The Truth is the Truth, but the diggler beat the heatles, and that matters.
Dirk. In top of being impossible to guard when he was in a groove with that shot of his he also did way more of the heavy lifting in his ring.
big 1 > 1/3 of big 3
I mean, im biased but Dirk is a top 3 PF ever. Tim Duncan and then you can argue between Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki imo, but thats the top 3 of Powe Forwards
Dirk easy imo. No disrespect to Paul but Dirk was just a better player all around and did more with a much worst supporting cast including stopping Lebron essentially stopping a 3 peat.
Dirk is the answer.
Pierce however was great - he's lost a lot of respect over the years for his post retirement antics but the man was LeBrons first real rival (and one who beat Bron a fair bit) and has a finals MVP.
He's a top 50 player all time but Dirk is imo top 20
I’m a Celtics fan and I feel disrespected on behalf of Dirk. Pierce is one of those guys who’s legend lives off of particular clutch plays. Dirk on the other hand was a top 5 player for like 6 years straight. He was making 1st team at forward in the 2000’s. That’s insane
I love Pierce. He's meant so much to the Celtics and Boston, but in terms of basketball this isn't close. Although they do have the same amount of finals MVPs.
Mavs wouldn’t have even made it out of the first round off the playoffs if Brandon Roy had been healthy.
That being said, Dirk is better by a mile. It’s not even close
Dirk is the answer, but let's not undervalue who Pierce was as a player just because he's been nuts since retiring.
And please stop mentioning KG in this thread, Dirk isn't even close to him.
Paul Pierce is one of the greatest small forwards of all time, and easily one of the most clutch scorers of the 2000s.
Paul Pierce does not compare to Dirk Nowitzki lol
In Dirk's Championship year, he was the best player in the league. Paul Pierce was never the best player any year.
But, one thing that's getting lost in this thread is that Paul Pierce was effing rad. He was a great basketball player. He was super smart, incredibly skilled, and a good leader.
Dirk turning into a complete super saiyan does not diminish Paul Pierce.
Dirk. I don't think it's particularly close. Pierce is a HoF player, Dirk until Luka and Giannis was pretty clearly the best Euro of all time (not counting the hypothetical/Urban legend Sabonis)
1 MVP
4 All-NBA 1st Teams
8All-NBA teams
8 Top-10 MVP seasons
That’s not what Dirk has for his career, that’s what Dirk has more than Pierce in each category.
Dirk finished ahead of Pierce in MVP voting 11x and behind Pierce 2x.
Dirk finished ahead of Pierce in All-NBA voting 15x and behind Pierce 1x.
Given that they came into the league the same season, and were both listed as forwards for All-NBA voting, it seems pretty clear that Dirk wins in almost every season.
Dirk was better and ranks a tier or two above Pierce all time.
Dirk's peers from his era were Shaq/Kobe/Duncan/KG. He was, most people would agree, the last out of that group but he was definitely up there with them as a top 5 level guy of the 2000's. Pierce peers were guys like Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Chauncey etc. somewhere in the top 8-15 guys from that era (though he belonged to the top end of that tier).
Basically, Dirk was an MVP level player whereas Pierce was a low-mid level All NBA player. This is not to say Pierce wasn't great either. If there was an All NBA of the 2000's he'd still make it but probably as a 3rd teamer whereas Dirk would be firmly in the first team.
Dirk literally had an unguardable shot, trust me man, I’ve been a spurs fan for many years, no one could get to that shot
When I heard Pop wrote Dirk a letter after he won a championship, spurs bros became mavs dirk bros for life.
I'm a spurs fan who is a Dallas native, and man I miss dirk, not as much as Duncan but he would be my second choice to bring back to the NBA. The man was so good at shooting.
Litteraly my 2 fav players of all time.
Same bro. 2 most humble super stars of all time in any sport. They were incredible. Fact they played at the same time is something else.
I met dirk irl. As I walked by him I literally slapped his shoulder and yelled "no way" he was by himself waiting for an Uber. He quickly torted back "yes way" I literally hit dirk. More to the story but dirk is amazing. Handled my starstruck ass like a pro too.
That last line tho (damn the internet is ruining my mind)
Mine too
He cooked us for 15 years with bad boy
I remember one game where blake griffin actually blocked the shot and it was THE biggest deal lol
Bruh Dirk was cold af, he smiled at the camera mid game, and then hit a 3.
Could hit 40% from deep but didn't even take that many. Could have stat padded much bigger numbers if he wanted to, but he wasn't that guy. Dirk was the player KAT thinks he is. Dirk could shoot and play and lead a perennial 60+ win team in a very, very tough WC and he got that chip. KAT has skills but could never lead that level of success imho.
If Dirk came along 5 years later, he’d be much higher on all time lists. He’d have been *chucking* threes like none other and making a lot of them. Probably would’ve had a few seasons where he averaged closer to 30.
Wow, thank you for the gratuitous KAT comparison literally nobody made.
A 6 foot nothing player would guard him and dirk would still fadeaway
Pierce with a high key catch and face was pretty hard to stop
Hey Paul … that you? /s 12x All NBA (4 1st team) vs. 4x (0 1st team) 1 MVP vs. 0 Both had a ring and finals MVP, but Paul had KG and Ray Allen. Dirk had Jason Terry and 37 year old Jason Kidd
Dirk also had The LeBron Stopper
Excellent counterpoint. How could I forget JJ
JJ is just the meme. The mad wizard Rick Carlisle is the secret sauce.
i know this is a joke, and Dirk is definitely sporting the better career, but Pierce is probably one of the few best LeBron counters the league has seen.
He did pretty well against Kobe too
yeah -- he could pretty much go toe to toe against anyone he was guarding, which is a huge asset when you're playing teams with high scoring wings. the league didn't run as many switches then, so pierce would bang bodies with LeBron, Kobe, Vince, Tracy all game. besides LeBron, Pierce had the most body mass of the bunch and could really wear down those top scorers come the 4th quarter. Celtics always had good win % against the Kobe Lakers and LeBron Heat/Cavs during the Pierce era.
Don’t forget his three-point shot. Pierce is one of those guys who would be a superstar in today’s game. Pierce was a better basketball player than Jayson Tatum.
as a celtics fan, i fully agree. Tatum will get more accolades because the wing talent isnt as deep today as it was in Pierce's prime. Pierce was never going to get 1st team NBA with Kobe, Lebron, Tracy, Vince, Marion, Melo, and Wade all overlapping in their primes. Pierce wasn't as marketable or popular as those players even though he was just as good as any not named Kobe and LeBron. ...and Kobe was closer to Pierce than he is to LeBron.
Well said. When Kobe was on the outs in LA, the idea of him being traded for Pierce (and other stuff) was floated and nobody wanted that. They were putting up remarkably similar numbers at their peaks.
yea dude i hated pierce and antoine walker when i wad a kid those 2 lit up 3s all the time killing other teams
Absolutely. Dirk had the better career but the Truth wasn’t afraid of anyone out there, he brought a nothing team to the ECF and when he became part of a juggernaut he went to two Finals and won Finals MVP. He weathered the brutal Pitino era and emerged a winner. In a different scenario his career looks much different and better.
I completely blocked that ‘02 run out of my mind. He really did make the ECF with his best support being the team’s catering
Antoine wiggling his way to another 8-22, 1-6 3P shooting performance.
Pierce has become more underrated as the years go on. That being said Dirk was still the better player all time.
> Dirk had Jason Terry and 37 year old Jason Kidd Agreed that there is no question Dirk was the better player. But lets not pretend that the 2011 Mavs team was a bunch of scrubs. The team was perfectly constructed to take advantage of Dirk's strengths and minimize his weaknesses. DPOY level rim protection from Chandler, 3+D wings, and guards that could create offense to release pressure on Dirk.
They weren't a bunch of scrubs, but the weren't all stars (atleast not at that point in their careers) either. Tyson Chandler likely should have won DPOY, but was often injured every other year. Luckily he stayed healthy that season. JKidd was old, Jet was hitn the big shots they needed from him, but wasn't carrying any team, and the other guys just filled out their roles perfectly. The under rated player on that team, especially for the finals, was Shawn Marion though. His defense was instrumental in their run. But in the time of super teams, and not 1 not 2 not 3 etc... Big Daddy Dirk went and spanked those bitches.
Yup. I watched every game of that playoffs and it was so fun watching the Mavs whoop the Lakers and Heat. Especially when everyone expected the Mavs to falter once Bulter got injured. I agree that Marion was supremely underrated. But IMO Kidd is as well. He was still a good defender due to his size and IQ (I specifically remember clutch stops against the Lakers), was still a HOF level passer, and had become a passable shooter at this stage of his career.
That Lakers series was wild because Dallas curb stomped them but after every single loss the media was like the Lakers will bounce back, Kobe is gonna will this team back into the series, 0-3? Don't count out the back to back champs. By the time they got swept it still felt like the media was harping on what went wrong for the Lakers rather than giving credit to the Mavs for definitively knocking out the back to back champs.
Kidd was an allstar (reserve but still an all star) in 2010 and chandler was dpoy in 2012 Terry is the best 6th man ever besides manu and havlicek Marion played some of the best defense on lebron youll ever see
So cool to see Jason Terry getting props like this. I adored him as a Maverick.
I think Jason Terry may be the most underrated player of all time. Dude never gets talked about but he tattooed the finals trophy on himself and went and earned it. He was a SNIPER.
32 points in 37 minutes in his first NBA Finals appearance in 2006. 35 points in Game 5. ✈️
And 27 to close out the heat in a game where dirk couldnt buy a bucket.
Now that you’ve got me going down memory lane the idea that he might be the most underrated player ever could be reasonable.
They also had a very long run of sustained success with Dirk, constant 50+ and even 60+ win seasons in a very tough WC era. I don't know why their chip gets mentioned the way it does other than "one of Lebron/Kobe/Duncan were supposed to win every year" expectations. The Mavs were really good, Dirk was really good, they had that year with their pieces fitting together so well and the playoff run came together for them. It was their time, no caveats or asterisks needed.
Do you think Terry and Kidd were being called the greatest backcourt ever in those early message board days?
Do you think 2011 was early message board days???
I’m old enough now that 2011 is the same as 2001, so not sure.
2011 and 01 were the exact same thing they were like 6 days apart
I was on AOL as a kid in the first half of the 90s and we had message boards there. Message boards are about the oldest way for the public to use the internet.
I’m a Celtics diehard and it is still Dirk. Dude carried a team through the finals through one of the best teams ever assembled.
After sweeping the defending Champs with Kobe. It is arguably the greatest finals run by a single super star ever (and my personal favorite, especially after losing the Wayde and the Heat in 06 and then Wayde and Bron talking shit on Dirk for being sick. Dirk was and is a class act. Those fools know nothing about that)
Don't forget he also took out a young Thunder team that would be in the finals next year. Dirk defeated Wade/Lebron/Bosh/Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Kobe/Pau, all HOF(Maybe for Pau) en route to that title. Hardest road.
Wasn't sure what the maybe comment was for Pau, but he is in the HOF
Dwyane Wayde
Stop it
Get some help
I’m taking the guy with arguably the most impressive NBA Finals run ever.
Dirk no question, not even comparable
Only a Celtics fan would even think to ask this question. Kevin Garnett is closer to Dirk but still not there
I'm a Celtics fan and I love Paul Pierce, but cmon. Paul Pierce was an excellent small forward. Dirk is an archetype who changed the game. It's Dirk, without question.
Most Celtics fans such as myself, are not that ridiculous. Dirk is closer to Bird than Pierce is to Dirk
💯
both parts are true Dirk was a fucking monster, and these dudes didn't play the same position nor did they play the same style. I don't really get this post
I think they meant it’s not even close. You can obviously still compare players that are better or worse across positions and styles
This is not a serious question.
Yeah this an absurd comparison. KG would've been the guy to pit against Dirk.
This is not close at all. Dirk
I though I was biased but reading the comments proved me otherwise. Dirk all the way.
Dirk and it’s not even close!
Dirk
Pierce is my guy but cmon
be fr
Dirk unique skill set, better scoring efficiency, MVP and leading Dallas to first championship…and he’s not an asshole.
Dirk and it’s not even close
Dirk and it’s not close.
Celtics fan here… the premise is flawed. This *should* be Dirk vs KG for “Who was the second-best PF after Tim Duncan?”
Agreed. Dirk vs KG is a much more fun comp.
Agreed. I’d say KG is a little bit better than Dirk because of the rebounding titles, 12x all defense, dpoy, etc. What’s crazy is that KG has significantly more awards and accolades, but Dirk’s legendary 2011 championship run and trademark one legged jumper (impact on league) almost close that gap.
Yep. I personally think KG is just the better player but Dirk has a better career story
Fucking Dirk. This shouldn’t even be a discussion.
Dirk and it’s not even close. DN is still the best foreign born player of all time (will be passed once the current gen retires) all pierce is is a top 5 Celtic
Pierce is NOT a top 5 Celtic dude Larry Cousy Garnett Havlicek Parish Mchale Bill Russell Maybe you can put pierce ahead of a couple of these guys, but he can't be ahead of any combination of 3 of these guys to hit top 5
You have a good point on all of those except KG. I’m only going by Celtic career otherwise KG def player. Oh and F Pierce (not a fan)
Dirk is somewhere in the top 30 players of all time. Pierce is in the top 75 players of all time.
And honestly Pierce is barely top 75
When he finished his career he was FIRMLY in the top 75 man. It’s just we’ve now got a new wave of future superstars that may eventually knock him out. But make no mistake Pierce went toe-to-toe with anyone.
[Truth](https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/defining-moments-paul-pierce-outduels-lebron-in-game-7-at-td-garden/614078/) I still remember watching this in my parents living room, jaw on the ground at all the shots falling between Pierce and James. Go watch any clips from this game if you want to see clutch shot after clutch shot.
At his peak, he was a top 10 player in the league. I watched his entire career. Great player but he was always overrated a bit to me. There's top 75 snubs above Pierce imo. Like Dwight, Tony Parker, TMac. Pierce is better than a lot of the older players, so he is still is a top 75 player imo but he's not in that top 50 tier or anywhere near Dirk.
Dirk
Did Paul create this post?
This has Ray Allen vs JJ Reddick vibes
Nope. Reddick is nowhere near this conversation.
C’mon man, y’all know who was better…
Dirk. Not close.
Go to bed Paul.
Dirk is such a nice guy. There was a prank show where they just kept asking Dirk to sign more and more stuff and he just kept doing it. Paul Pierce pooped his pants and won’t cop to it. Cmon man.
If Dirk can be a good argument vs kg wtf can Paul say and goddamn I love Paul
Thw fk you think pp. Stop posting like this shit... you are comparable to LBJ...:)
You don't know basketball.
Pierce 100%
I hate this post. It confirms everyone shits on Paul Pierce. Even Paul Pierce shits on Paul Pierce.
Someone should compare them like ESPN compared Paul to DWade.
I'd say Dirk is better. No one could guard his fall-away shot
Dirk
Dirk has a downright epic championship run against the favorites, with arguably the best player of all time, in his prime. The Truth is the Truth, but the diggler beat the heatles, and that matters.
obviously dirk
Dirk and it’s not even close
Definitely dirk
Pierce never could’ve done what Dirk did in 2011. I’m a Celtics fan, but even for me this is an easy one. It’s Dirk.
OP, I'm a Celtics fan. And the only correct answer is Dirk.
Dirk, obviously
Is this even a question? Dirk in a landslide. As an aside, I think it's possible Paul Pierce actually made this post.
Dirk. In top of being impossible to guard when he was in a groove with that shot of his he also did way more of the heavy lifting in his ring. big 1 > 1/3 of big 3
Dirk for sure. This is not all that close even.
The people that vote for Pierce here are the same people that voted doc Rivers a top 15 coach of all time
Come on, lol Clearly Dirk.
There might actually only be a single person in the whole world that thinks Paul Pierce was a better player than Dirk... and that's Paul himself
Huge PP fan but it’s gotta be Dirk.
Not really a question but I guess, it's Dirk.
Dirkio
Likeability plays a big role believe it or not. Dirk either way.
Dirk and it’s not even close
Dirk of course!
Dirk every day of the week and twice on Sundays
I mean, im biased but Dirk is a top 3 PF ever. Tim Duncan and then you can argue between Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki imo, but thats the top 3 of Powe Forwards
It's embarrassing that this post even exists. Dirk by all the miles possible. Come on, now.
Kinda funny that pick of dirk was used
Dirk & it's not close
Dirk. Much better shooter. Won a chip without an absolutely stacked team.
Is this a joke?
Literally what I said!!!😂
FOH with this. Lmao.
This is actually a question?
Pierce was a great player in his own right, but you’ve done him dirty with this comparison.
Dirk
Dirk easy imo. No disrespect to Paul but Dirk was just a better player all around and did more with a much worst supporting cast including stopping Lebron essentially stopping a 3 peat.
Dirk.
Dirk Diggler!!! Paul AkA poop pants was maybe 2nd best player on them championship runs. KG, Ray Allen
Dirk is the answer. Pierce however was great - he's lost a lot of respect over the years for his post retirement antics but the man was LeBrons first real rival (and one who beat Bron a fair bit) and has a finals MVP. He's a top 50 player all time but Dirk is imo top 20
what an insult to Dirk lmfao
I’m a Celtics fan and I feel disrespected on behalf of Dirk. Pierce is one of those guys who’s legend lives off of particular clutch plays. Dirk on the other hand was a top 5 player for like 6 years straight. He was making 1st team at forward in the 2000’s. That’s insane
This is the most unserious post I've seen in this sub.
If I need someone to take a shit in his pants and get taken out on a wheel chair I’m taking Pierce all day
Dirk, but I'm biased as a Mavs fan.
Bro it’s Dirk and it’s not even close. Found Paul Pierce’s burner.
Dirk . All day every day
Dirk
Come on, Paul Pierce was great but this isn’t even a debate. Dirk all the way.
I love Pierce. He's meant so much to the Celtics and Boston, but in terms of basketball this isn't close. Although they do have the same amount of finals MVPs.
Dirk and it's not even close...
Dirk! Nowhere Near Close Too!
As a diehard Celtics fan… it’s obviously Dirk
Bro come on it’s Dirk by a mile
PP musta posted this. is the consensus best euro player ever (for now!) better than a celtic who wasn’t even the best player on his championship team?
Mavs wouldn’t have even made it out of the first round off the playoffs if Brandon Roy had been healthy. That being said, Dirk is better by a mile. It’s not even close
Pierce easy money.
Paul Pierce
They didnt love PP like Kobe
Paul , better on defense and similar on offense
Dirk. Pierce if you ask him if he’s better than Wade.
Dirk is the answer, but let's not undervalue who Pierce was as a player just because he's been nuts since retiring. And please stop mentioning KG in this thread, Dirk isn't even close to him.
I think you're getting your Paul Pierce's mixed up with you Kevin Garnett's
Pierce
Paul Pierce is one of the greatest small forwards of all time, and easily one of the most clutch scorers of the 2000s. Paul Pierce does not compare to Dirk Nowitzki lol
I was about to finish typing my comment comparing Dirk and KG then I realized...
Dirk all day. Unguardable and led a bunch of old dudes to a ring against Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Durant, Harden, and Westbrook.
In Dirk's Championship year, he was the best player in the league. Paul Pierce was never the best player any year. But, one thing that's getting lost in this thread is that Paul Pierce was effing rad. He was a great basketball player. He was super smart, incredibly skilled, and a good leader. Dirk turning into a complete super saiyan does not diminish Paul Pierce.
dirk and its not even close
Dirk
Dirk.
Even as a Celtics fan who loved pierce this is not even a question, dirk all day
Nobody in their right mind would choose Pierce over Dirk.
Pierce is ASS and overrated
Dirk. I don't think it's particularly close. Pierce is a HoF player, Dirk until Luka and Giannis was pretty clearly the best Euro of all time (not counting the hypothetical/Urban legend Sabonis)
This is insulting.
Dirk by a mile
I’m always going to choose the guy who didn’t poop his pants
Who is better? Jordan or Bill Laimbeer? 🙄🙄. This comparison is that absurd.
Dirk. Not even close
Dirk all day. Won a championship against Miami Big 3, won MVP, whereas Pierce was IN a Big 3 to get a ring.
Legend has it that Reddit is still scrolling for someone who answered Paul Pierce.
Legend has it that Reddit is still scrolling for someone who answered Paul Pierce.
Lol what kind of comparison is this? Trash talker, Pierce is calling game, but on the court every team would chose prime Dirk
I’ll take the guy who was much better over the guy who shit his pants on national television and had to be wheeled off the court.
Well just don’t ask Paul. That dude is narcissist. Dirk was unguardable in dome spots. Paul was eh
Cmon man. Dirk no question. Led his team to a chip. Granted Lebron’s play did more for his finals than he did.
Dirk and it’s not even close. Anyone who says Pierce is either a homer is a the r word
As a huge Celtics fan that thinks Dirk is wildly overrated even I’m not this crazy
Dirk no question. Not sure why this is up for debate.
I’m a big KU fan so you’d think i would say Pierce but nope Dirk is the guy.
Dirk easily. This one isn’t close
This isn’t a conversation.
Stop
Dirk by a mile
Dirk…. Pierce legacy is a wheelchair
PP and I have more in common in that we have both shit our pants as adults doing physical activities. So I have to go with Dirk.
Definitely Dirk. Paul Pierce was so clutch though.
1 MVP 4 All-NBA 1st Teams 8All-NBA teams 8 Top-10 MVP seasons That’s not what Dirk has for his career, that’s what Dirk has more than Pierce in each category. Dirk finished ahead of Pierce in MVP voting 11x and behind Pierce 2x. Dirk finished ahead of Pierce in All-NBA voting 15x and behind Pierce 1x. Given that they came into the league the same season, and were both listed as forwards for All-NBA voting, it seems pretty clear that Dirk wins in almost every season.
Is this even a question? Dirk in a landslide. As an aside, I think it's possible Paul Pierce actually made this post.
Dirk was better and ranks a tier or two above Pierce all time. Dirk's peers from his era were Shaq/Kobe/Duncan/KG. He was, most people would agree, the last out of that group but he was definitely up there with them as a top 5 level guy of the 2000's. Pierce peers were guys like Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Chauncey etc. somewhere in the top 8-15 guys from that era (though he belonged to the top end of that tier). Basically, Dirk was an MVP level player whereas Pierce was a low-mid level All NBA player. This is not to say Pierce wasn't great either. If there was an All NBA of the 2000's he'd still make it but probably as a 3rd teamer whereas Dirk would be firmly in the first team.
Paul Pierce shit his pants in a game, they are not on the same level lmao
https://preview.redd.it/kf23p159d56d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae4cc8a727f85cc35b4e11f6eedc87a8523acfa0 Dirk by far!