Paul Pierce Lays Down Conditions for Luka Doncic Taking Over ‘Face of the League’ Honors

Sourav Bose | 28/05/2024
Paul Pierce Lays Down Conditions for Luka Doncic Taking Over 'Face of the League' Honors

The meteoric yet consistent rise of Luka Doncic has gravitated numerous NBA critics toward him over the years. And much to the Slovenian’s delight, Paul Pierce has now become the latest addition to this list. The Boston Celtics icon even recently endorsed the Dallas Mavericks star recently, while laying down conditions for him to become the face of the league.

In the recent episode of UNDISPUTED, Pierce expressed his viewpoint, stating, “If Luka wins the chip, he gets Finals MVP, he no doubt will be the best player in the league. Not only he will be the best player in the league, I’ll give him the face of the league. This is what can happen this year”.

Interestingly, this bold declaration brought out wild, yet very different reactions from the panel members. The show’s nucleus, Skip Bayless, agreed with Pierce by giving him continual nods of approval. However, his co-panelist, Keyshawn Johnson, found it difficult to digest this scenario, as he intentionally detached himself from the conversation.

Shortly after this, Pierce took the matter a step forward, moving from the West to the East. He outlined how the Celtics’ talisman, Jayson Tatum, could reach a similar feat, mentioning, “At the same time, I feel the same way with Jayson Tatum too. If they win and he’s the champ and he’s Finals MVP, he is the best player and face of the league”.

Considering the current situation around the league, the race to become its new face remains heavily contested. Alongside the two aforementioned names, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a handful of others have also emerged as the candidates for the honor.

However, as Pierce pointed out, Doncic and Tatum have recently become the frontrunners. Both of them have spearheaded dominating playoff displays for their respective teams, putting their franchises in a position to be in the NBA Finals.
Additionally, both the talismanic figures were amongst the leading candidates for the regular season MVP award, further justifying Pierce’s stance.

One of these two could soon put an end to all the suspense and arguments around the honor. Amidst the anticipation, Allen Iverson had previously opened up about his preferred choice for the face of the league.

Allen Iverson picked Luka Doncic for the honor

Iverson revealed his preference during his last month’s interview with ESPN. Upon the co-host of the show, Kendrick Perkins, bringing the topic up, AI initially struggled to single out one name for the honor. However, he eventually praised the gameplay and capabilities of Doncic, indirectly backing him to become the new face of the NBA.

“Luka is crazy, man. His skill set is ridiculous. This guy is scoring 70. It’s so wide open…It’s hard to guard Luka one-on-one and his skillset is so crazy,” the 2001 MVP declared.

This high praise certainly tilted the conversation in favor of the Mavs star a month back. Notably, he has been able to sustain this hype around him since then, capitalizing on the momentum time and again. As a result, the franchise remains just a step away from announcing itself into the NBA Finals after 13 years, adding volume to AI’s stance.

So, Doncic remains on the brink of the unprecedented in the NBA by becoming the first-ever non-American player to reach this feat. This will certainly boost his status around the world while marking the beginning of a remarkable chapter.

Post Edited By: Tonoy Sengupta
Allen Iverson Jayson Tatum Luka Doncic paul pierce

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Sourav Bose

Sourav, a seasoned NBA journalist at the SportsRush, discovered his profound love for basketball through the brilliance of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors. With over 600 articles in his career, he has established himself as a dedicated and prolific writer in the field. Influenced by 'The Last Dance' documentary and the anime 'Slam Dunk,' Sourav's passion for basketball is marked by insightful observations and a comprehensive understanding of the sport's history. Beyond his role as a journalist, he delves into the strategic dimensions of sports management and explores literature in his spare time, reflecting a well-rounded approach to his craft. Sourav's journey is characterized by a commitment to unraveling the intricacies of basketball and sports in general, making him a reliable source for NBA enthusiasts and a seasoned observer of the sports landscape.

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