"LeBron James could've been an Olympic sprinter" - Boston Celtics great Paul Pierce

By Anirudh

Modified Jul 19, 2024 12:36 GMT

Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce has stated that LeBron James could have been an Olympic sprinter in his younger days.

James is one of the greatest players in the history of basketball. He has taken part in 10 NBA Finals, won four NBA championships, and two Olympic gold medals with the American men's national team.

Paul Pierce, who is only one of three players to score more than 20,000 points with the Celtics, opined that James could have been an Olympic-level sprinter in his younger days. In a recent episode of the sports talk show, "UNDISPUTED", Pierce said,

"I didn't really notice it until he got to Miami. I remember one year we played Miami and I didn't play this game it was like the second game of the year, and I was in street clothes in Miami. And the first thing I said was' LeBron looks faster than I ever seen'. And I don't know if that had something to do with the Spo and Pat Riley culture, cuz I don't play them many times in Cleveland, but 100%, 27-year old LeBron, Miami LeBron could've been an Olympic sprinter," he said.

During an exclusive interview with "TODAY" recently, LeBron James revealed that aside from basketball, he would like to participate in Track & Field events, especially the relay, in the Olympic Games. Talking to Craig Melvin, LeBron said,

"I would — man, the four-by-one relay, man — track and field. Yeah, I want to be anchor, for sure, I want to finish it off the right way."

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Paul Pierce: "When LeBron James got to Miami, it looked different"

LeBron James has won the NBA championships four times - Getty Images

LeBron James played for the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014, where he won his first two (2012 and 2013) NBA championships. He left Miami in 2014 and returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Paul Pierce said that while the 39-year-old was very good in Cleveland, he went up a few levels after his move to Miami.

"He just looked different as far as speed in Miami and athleticism. But they say you don't get your athletic peak until like 27, 28, 29, around there. That's where really I feel LeBron hit it, cuz it was different, I seen it in Cleveland. But when he got to Miami, it looked different. And so if he's talking about Miami 'Bron, I'm with him on that 100%. He could've been in the relay as an anchor," he claimed.

James will be in action at the Paris Olympics, where he will be hoping to guide Team USA to the gold medal.

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USA's basketball squad for 2024 Paris Olympics: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard*, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, Derrick White and Tyrese Haliburton.