"Sent some of them from Cleveland to Miami" - Paul Pierce brags about breaking LeBron James mentally in bold statement 

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce appeared to take another jibe at LA Lakers superstar forward LeBron James. Pierce touched on his 2008 Celtics NBA title squad's hypothetical prospects against Boston's reigning championship team. While doing so, he alluded to being responsible for James' early career move from Cleveland to Miami.

Pierce and James matched up in the playoffs five times from 2008 to 2014, with James finishing with a 17-13 head-to-head advantage. Nevertheless, Pierce seemingly relishes every chance to undermine his ex-rival.

On Monday's episode of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," Pierce was asked to pick between Boston's 2008 and 2024 squads. The Hall of Famer underscored his former team's toughness edge over the reigning champs.

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"Our team, we knew how to break teams mentally," Pierce said. "So, what we lacked in skill versus them, we had with will."

Afterward, Pierce seemingly couldn't resist taking a subtle shot at James. He hinted at his 2010 Celtics' 4-2 Eastern Conference semifinal victory over James' Cavaliers. Without naming James directly, Pierce quipped that he demoralized the four-time MVP so much that he joined the Heat in 2010 free agency.

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"I've (been) known to break a few wills, sent some of them from Cleveland to Miami," Pierce said.

This isn't the first time Pierce has taken credit for influencing James' career arc. On FS1's now-discontinued "Undisputed" in July, he said he "truly (feels) responsible for taking LeBron to that next level."

So, Pierce likely won't stop prodding at his ex-adversary anytime soon.

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Paul Pierce says he would target entire 2024 Celtics team's will just as he did LeBron James'

After alluding to prompting LeBron James' move to Miami, Paul Pierce noted that he wouldn't hesitate to break Boston's 2024 squad's will similarly.

When asked which Celtics players he would specifically target, Pierce called out the entire team.

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"All of them," Pierce said.

So, the 10-time All-Star appears confident in the 2008 Celtics' hypothetical chances of thriving in the modern NBA.

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