Sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective. For Bradley Beal, his entire perception of Paul Pierce changed in just a few short months.
As his competitor, Beal described Paul as disrespectful and even distasteful. But, according to Beal, once the veteran forward became his teammate in 2014, things started to change.
Here’s what he said to Zach Lowe on “The Lowe Post.”
“I thought he was an ass, the biggest trash talker, probably the most disrespectful player I’d ever seen…but when I was his teammate, he was the most fun, lovable guy you can ever imagine.”
Pierce’s reputation will vary depending on who you ask. There are those who feel as though he’s the biggest jerk in the world. But anybody who has played with him will advocate for him. Kevin Garnett certainly credits him for changing the course of his career.
Playing with Paul, playing with Ray, coming to Boston was a huge, huge, huge, huge, huge, huge challenge in my life. It was probably one of the biggest decisions that I made in my career, and I’m glad I made it. We should have got together a couple years earlier, right? We’d probably be sitting on about two or three more rings. But, you know, it’s all good, man.
Obviously, Paul Pierce is a guy players love taking the court with. His energy, spirit, and attitude is what helped him achieve so much on the basketball court — and it’s what makes him such a beloved teammate.
