Paul Pierce Doesn't Let Teammates Wear Lebron James' Shoes Because Paul Pierce Is The Best

(Source) — Paul Pierce’s time with the Washington Wizards might have been brief, but it was enough to leave a lasting impression with his teammates. Their No. 1 takeaway? Don’t wear LeBron James’ shoes to practice. At least that’s the first thing Marcin Gortat cited when asked what he learned from the 17-year veteran during media day Monday. “Well, what I learned from him, you’re not allowed to wear LeBron James’s shoes to practice,” Marcin Gortat told reporters, per the Washington Post’s Jorge Castillo. This seems to be non-issue for other players and teams in the league—like the San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili and Danny Green, who continued to wear James’ shoes even while playing the four-time MVP and the Miami Heat in the 2013 NBA Finals. Pierce’s new teammates in Los Angeles, however, should be prepared to sideline any pairs of James’ shoes they own.

And that is exactly why Paul Pierce will always have a special place in my heart. It’s not even that I’m a Lebron hater, I’m not, but I’m happy Paul Pierce is. He’s the last of a dying breed. Pierce, KG and Kobe: the Old Guard who actually hates their opponents. Too many guys in pro sports these days are best friends and everyone hugs after games and exchanges jerseys and shit. Fuck that. Paul Pierce doesn’t want you liking Lebron, he’s the enemy. He doesn’t want you wearing his sneakers at practice or riding around on banana boats with him all offseason (ahem, CP3). Pierce wants to kill Lebron. You want to sleep with the enemy? Go demand a trade, because in Paul Pierce’s locker room they have Lebron faces on dart boards, in urinals, and they put his sneakers on dolls burning in effigy.