Over the years, Luka Doncic has drawn the attention of many NBA critics due to his rapid yet steady rise to prominence. And Paul Pierce is now the newest member of this list, much to the Slovenian’s joy. Even more recently, the Boston Celtics legend supported the Dallas Mavericks player and set the stage for him to take center stage as the league’s face.
Pierce offered his opinion on the most recent UNDISPUTED episode, saying,
“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”.
It’s interesting to note that the panelists’ responses to this audacious claim ranged widely. The main man of the show, Skip Bayless, nodded often in agreement with Pierce.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic in action.
Luka was missed by Mavs this game
Nevertheless, Keyshawn Johnson, his fellow panelist, purposefully disengaged from the discussion, making it impossible for him to process this situation.
Pierce moved from the West to the East shortly after, taking the situation to the next level. He described how Jayson Tatum, the star of the Celtics, may accomplish a similar accomplishment, saying,
“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”.
“If Luka wins the chip and gets Finals MVP, he no DOUBT will be the best player in the league AND face of the league.” — @PaulPierce34 pic.twitter.com/701gVGSXfE
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 27, 2024
The competition to be the league’s new face is still fierce given the present circumstances surrounding it. Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a few other names have also surfaced as contenders for the title in addition to the two previously listed names.
But as Pierce said, Doncic and Tatum have emerged as the front-runners recently. Both of them have led their teams to impressive playoff performances, positioning their teams to compete in the NBA Finals.
To further support Pierce’s position, both of the lucky figures were among the front-runners for the MVP prize during the regular season. The tension and debate around the honor could soon come to an end if either of these two wins. Allen Iverson had earlier disclosed his preference for the league’s face amid much expectation.
