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‘I had to test’… Paul Pierce says he ‘pushed’ LeBron James ‘over the top’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 9:49 AM ET

Lebron James had a plethora of memorable battles during the NBA playoffs over the course of his career.

Considering LeBron James stayed in the Eastern Conference for the majority of his career, it’s no surprise that he built rivalries there.

During his stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, James’ biggest rivalry was arguably against the Paul Pierce-led Boston Celtics.

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Paul Pierce reveals when LeBron James took the ‘next step’

While the James-led Cavaliers were hardly a match for the dominant Celtics teams of the 2000s, the same cannot be said for the Heat rosters.

Speaking of which, Pierce recently revisited the Heat vs. Celtics matchup during the 2012 NBA playoffs.

“I had a couple like playoff battles with Bron and he really brought out the best of me. But I will say, I brought out the best out of him too,” Pierce said on The Schoma.

He added: “When he came to Boston, Game 6, I think it was in 2012, and he gave me the 40-something piece, because I was about to go back to the Finals, he played the game of his life, and I was like respect.

“That’s when he took the next step because I know I pushed him.”

The Celtics and Heat met during the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the series, James and Co. then lost the next three games.

Evidently, they faced elimination in Game 6, but LBJ carried the Heat on his back by dropping 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Overall, the King averaged 33.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Pierce believes that the series helped LBJ take the next step in his career.

How Paul Pierce tested LeBron James

James would eventually go on to win the 2012 and 2013 NBA Championships with the Heat. On the other hand, the C’s core got older, with Pierce getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.

Although Pierce was out of his prime, he firmly believes James became a GOAT candidate because of their battles.

“I was one of them ones, but I was an old dude at that time. And I helped him get over the top, because I had to test his mental, his physical, and that’s why he’s one of the GOATs,” Pierce proudly stated.