Paul Pierce has revealed his list of the Top Five toughest players he’s ever had to guard in the NBA! And Believe It Or Not, LeBron James is not #1…
Words straight from the horse’s mouth! See what Wizards’ Paul Pierce had to say…
Go back five or six years and the NBA was dominated by some of the most talented and physically dominant wing players to ever play this game. And most nights, I was in charge of figuring out how to stop them on defense.
I’ve faced many, many gifted players throughout my career, but in my opinion, these five guys were the toughest to guard:
‘The List’ goes as follows:
1) Kobe Bryant
“Kobe has the mentality of a basketball serial killer. He’s going to come at you every single way possible and he’s not going to let up. His mentality — his killer instinct — is what separates him from the other guys on this list..”
2) Tracy McGrady
“Tracy is a point guard in a small forward’s body. He’s 6-9, has long arms and can jump out of the gym, so every time he went up to shoot there was no point even trying to block it.”
3) Vince Carter
“This guy is just an athletic freak…From a defensive standpoint, he put you in such a tight spot. He’s hell to guard out on the perimeter because of the elevation on his shot.”
4) LeBron James
“His style of play just wears you out over the course of a game. He’s constantly drawing fouls and getting and-one opportunities.”
5) Carmelo Anthony
“If I had to single one guy out who is the most difficult player to guard in the league, it would have to be Carmelo. He’s a unique blend of being big, strong, and athletic while also having a world-class shooting touch and a natural ability to get to the rim.”
*PHOTOS OF TOP FIVE LIST ATHLETES IN GALLERY ABOVE*
Read more via: The Players Tribune
