Some players win games. Others win hearts. But every once in a while, a debate starts brewing when a player starts doing both, and that’s exactly where Jalen Brunson finds himself. The Knicks’ rising star has taken the league by storm this postseason. He’s been knocking down clutch shots, playing with courage, and leading the charge against the defending champs. But just when the hype reached a fever pitch, Paul Pierce stepped in with a dose of cold truth. His comments forced fans and analysts alike to reconsider where Brunson truly ranks among the game’s elite. Now, the spotlight feels even hotter, and Brunson’s next move might say more than any stat line.

On FS1’s “The Herd,” Colin Cowherd tried to make the case: “I was very reluctant to say Jalen Brunson’s a one, but I got to tell you… one is about durability, toughness, and dog. I think he’s a one.” Pierce wasn’t buying it. Even with a smile on his face, Pierce made it clear—Brunson may be special, but he’s not historic. And if your best guy is a point guard, he better be a once-in-a-generation legend. “I just don’t think he can be your best player on a championship team,” he said firmly.

“You have to have a dynamic wing,” Paul Pierce said. “If your point guard is your best player, that means he’s top 10 all-time—like Steph, Magic, or Isaiah.” That’s where the gap lies. Brunson checks a lot of boxes – durability, leadership, productivity, but in Pierce’s eyes, he doesn’t break through that ceiling. “He’s not Shaq. He’s not Giannis. He’s not LeBron. And he’s not Tatum,” he continued. “You need a wing to carry you to the finish line.”

It’s not about knocking Brunson…it’s about NBA history. Championship teams have always leaned on dominant wings to go all the way. Think Kobe and Shaq. Think Jordan and Pippen. Brunson might be the closer, but as Paul Pierce put it, “They’re still missing one piece. It could be someone like Giannis in New York.” The Knicks might get through Boston, but Pierce says without that final piece, they hit a wall.

This whole debate didn’t just happen in a studio—it happened in the middle of a crazy personal bet. Paul Pierce had already walked 20 miles to work in socks and a bathrobe after Boston blew Game 2. He live-streamed it with aching feet and a bruised ego, saying, “I’m never doing this again.” But of course… he did it again.

Paul Pierce’s pain goes beyond the Celtics’ loss

Just hours before Game 3 tipped off, Paul Pierce went in on a promise that had already turned him into a meme. “If the Knicks win this game,” he told the crowd, “I’m walking again.” It wasn’t just trash talk! He had already walked 20 miles in a bathrobe in the LA heat after Game 2 loss of the Celtics. He even posted updates on the whole marathon… like it was an endurance challenge. “I’m a man of my word,” Paul Pierce announced. With pain in every step, he maintained a smile for the cameras.

Game 2 was brutal for Boston. The Celtics blew another 20-point lead and lost 91-90 with Mikal Bridges again, sealing the game with clutch defense. Paul Pierce watched his former team collapse and had no choice but to honor his bet. “I feel like I accomplished something great, dog,” he said after the marathon walk. He even admitted halfway through, “I’m never doing this again, y’all.”

But of course… he did it again. Or at least, he was ready to. Standing at the Madison court before Game 3, Paul Pierce said it loud and clear: “If the Knicks win this game, I’m walking again.” The entire stand buzzed as Boston was on the ropes, and Paul Pierce’s feet were back on the line.

Fortunately for him, the Celtics finally delivered. They pulled out a much-needed win, keeping the series alive, and sparing Paul Pierce another foot-destroying trek across the Los Angeles sidewalk. His belief in Boston hasn’t wavered, and neither has his skepticism about Jalen Brunson. The walk might’ve ended, but the conversation around Brunson’s ceiling? That’s just getting started.