Throwback: LeBron James vs Paul Pierce EPIC Game 7 DUEL Highlights (2008 Playoffs) - MUST WATCH 

It’s crazy that lebron even took those Celtics to a game 7 in the first place. Hall of fame big 3 vs a big one man wrecking crew.

Cavs should retire Bron jersey and make him statue if he retires someday. Dude really worked his ass to bring a trophy to the franchise and finished his promise.

Time flys man just look a young lebron I remember watching this back when I was in school and had no worries in life lol good times

This the team they expected Lebron to stay on 😂😂

Paul gets so much disrespect yet he was both Lebron AND Kobe’s biggest rival... he is THE TRUTH and you can’t deny it

This Celtics team was so complete. We had Rondo running the plays, Pierce, Allen, and Garnett all ready to make points and not to mention the Defense... And it's crazy how Lebron forced this team to Game 7.

12 years later am I'm still feeling Lebron's anxiety. He forced a lot of these shots in this game. He really learned to let the game come to him as a Heat. Beautiful evolution.

I swear Paul Pierce doesn’t get enough respect now n days

Lebron single handily took this Legendary Celtic team to a Game 7 with a scrub ass Cav Team. If he isn’t the GOAT, he’s definitely top 2 all time.

Look at Bron! He jumps so high that he hits his elbow on the backboard! Come on bro! He’s a freak of nature !

paul pierce legit made everything that night

Celtics fan here, and man was this team something special to watch. Brings back great memories. Also, man Bron had no help whatsoever and still took us to 7 games. What a great battle between The Truth vs The King. When basketball was at it’s peak for me.

Anyone else watching because they miss the NBA?

08 Paul pierce was amazing, can't believe people don't believe he's around the level of wade at his absolute peak he could defend and compete with anyone. And his offense? amazing. I'm a lakers fan and 08 solidified pierce as one of the greats of his generation. One of the better SF's of all time.

the difference between Lebrons and KDs decision is before he went to Miami, Lebrons best player was Mo Williams NO FKN CAP ... KD had Russ, Harden, Ibaka, Adams, etc and was up on these dudes 3-1

Paul pierce was such a beast. 2nd all time Celtics scorer and 20th overall highest scorer. Can shoot from all over, 3 pointers, mid range in the paint. Just the total package

We really take for granted how talented lebron is💯

Lebron took the 2008 nba champs to game 7. Beast.

People don't realize how great Pierce really was.

I forgot LeBron had a trash ass team but still took them to a game 7

LBJ is the only top 5 player (modern-era) who had some postseason success while carrying a trash team. FAX

Paul pierce will always be one of my all time favorite. He really put everything he got on the court on that series.

Pierce’s first jumpshot just shows he’s a big time player, in game 7 on the biggest stage he trusts his game enough to start off aggressive, a true competitor..

The fact lebron went to game 7 with this team is crazy. And bron was gettin doubled and triple teamed. Crazy.

I’m a Celtic for life guy but damn that machine lebron James has been apart of some incredible, legendary nba moments, he truly is one of the greats. It was hard watching the Celtics go against him, always edge of the seat type games in those days and it’s crazy cause time flys but it feels like yesterday

Paul Pierce battled Kobe and Lebron back to back...and WON, im not talking about stats but getting the best of those Superstars makes him the greatest celtic next to Bird...imagine bragging you beat Kobe and Lebron

Who’s here after Paul didn’t put LeBron in his top 5? 🤦‍♂️

2008-2010 we had Kobe Pierce And Lebron. Appreciate those Greatness

I'm here because of Kendrick Perkins story about lebron on JJ Reddick podcast

Truth was the Truth and crazy to hear people disrespect his game...he is one of the greatest of his generation without a doubt!

theres no way this cavs team shouldve been in the playoffs😭, but shots LBJ missed in this games is shots he makes now, it just makes me appreciate him more

I can’t believe NBA players were hating on The Truths farewell tour (Draymond and Jennings)! Dude is a all time great and deserved it! If he didn’t have Tmac and Kobe in his era he would have had way more all NBA teams and prob 2 rings lol

Rewatching this. Man it is sad how little support LB had...

If the big 3 did not happen then we would have seen kobe vs lebron

lebron has too many great games to count. i've never seen this b4 and i thought i knew all of lebron's big games. 45 pts and loses g7 wtf

Only legend and proffesional basketball player knows how great Pierce really was.!

23 year old Lebron (as a SOLO superstar) took the eventual champs (a team led by 3 1st-ballot HOF'rs) to a game 7. The previous season, 22 year old Lebron (as a solo superstar) beat the Pistons to reach the Finals. Lebron's dominance prompted BOS to make a power move and put the Boston Big 3 together. That BOS team was absolutely LOADED, and solo Lebron still damn near beat them. In fact, solo Lebron did better against BOS than Kobe's loaded Lakers team did in the Finals that year. What Lebron did his first 7 years in the NBA was unreal. It's a darn shame how Jordan lovers in the media have belittled Lebron's greatness in the eyes of many NBA fans...just to protect Jordan's GOAT crown. They had to do something to belittle what solo Lebron did because Jordan was getting swept in the 1st rd as a solo star. And don't give me that bulls**t talk about "but Jordan had to face Bird's Celtics". FOH! Jordan also lost 3-1 to the Bucks in the first round. The Bucks were a really good team, but not a great team. So Jordan's playoff futility as a solo superstar wasn't just because he played the Celtics. That Bucks team in the mid-80s wasn't as good as the '08 Big 3 Celtics. So the '08 Big 3 Celtics would have swept Jordan's ass out of the playoffs just like Bird's Celtics did in the mid 80s.

The fact Bron carried this team to game 7 and had 45 pt is insane, he really deserved to be in the finals that year

Man when LBJ retires we'll remember how great he was with games like this. Paul Pierce was a monster as well and it's crazy how people slander his name.

Even though im a Lakers fan, I got nothing but respect for Paul Pierce he really knew how to put on a show every time he played Lebron.

Back when lebron went one on one against anybody...didn't matter if you were the DPOY or not as long as he has you on an island. It's crazy how smart he has become in taking advantage of the opposing teams weakest link...his control on the game from an intelligence standpoint is Brady level

Never been the biggest Lebron fan. But I'm really high and on a Lebron playoff highlight binge. Holy guac this guy is incredible. Is he as good as Mike? Idk, I wasn't alive for it. But damn Lebron gave it his all back then. Great sport, great player.

This game truly shows how much respect and presence Lebron has on the court. Every defense you can try to throw at him only highlights his greatness that I've long denied. His ability to find the drive lane and fight thru contact is truly MJ lvl and I'd say even better since he doesn't fly over people. He barrels right thru them. In this game Celtics are playing zone to incite a double team for LJ and he just keeps charging them thru them like a madman. It's incredible how consistent and persistent Lebron can become when he's motivated

Bruh said “ANNNDD 1 GAH DAMN” 🤣🤣🤣

Paul pierce has to be one of the most underrated players ever

Pierce was never the best but it felt like every single time he matched up against LeBron Wade Kobe whoever he’d go toe to toe with them. Dude could cook anyone on any given night.

Who's here after them paul pierce interviews

LeBron always been a lone soldier! Every Great had one along him! 7 years of greatness with no robin to lean on! He deserve all the help he can get as he start fading away. #KingJames

I became a basketball fan during the 09 playoffs. The Celtics and Bulls series was incredible to watch.

Holy shit..LeBron seriously had no one on his team. That Cavs organization is terrible.

3:47 Excellent defense

People need to give Paul his respect

In this video you can see how hard Lebron is trying to win. After every point they make, he is running to the next play. So much respect for him. It’s Lebron vs the Celtics team. It’s so clear why he was so frustrated and went to Miami. Celtics played amazing tho. But I think if the Cavaliers just had a slightly better team, this wouldn’t have gone to game 7.

The Fact That People Think This Cavs Team Was Good Enough To Win Championships Just Go To Show That Even LeBron Haters Hold Him To A High Standard

Classic throwback duel 10 years ago , LeBron vs Paul pierce .. I can still remember this battle tho ..

Man Lbj was only 22 years old at this series

Man! If only Cavs won this one.. Mamba VS King Finals would be epic and one of a kind. It will break veiwing records!🔥💯

I come to realise that the only reason why the Cavs was able to battled with the Boston Celtics in 2008 was because of the talent and intelligence of LeBron James its crazy how this got to a Game 7 with almost him alone on their roster

The fact LeBron took that Cavaliers team to a game 7 is simply amazing. He carried a subpar team for 7 years in a row. Then left and they sucked. Then came back led them to 4 straight finals winning 1 and then left and now they suck again

one of the last great seasons for basketball, before the entire game became a 3-point shooting contest

I remember watching this game live, this game was insane and intense.

This game was awesome. I remember watching it live wanting both teams to win - Boston for Garnett and Cleveland for Bron.

Paul peirce did a lot of arm holding

LeBron with 45 points was dominant then still is in season 15.

Who’s here after the Kendrick Perkins interview? 😭😭

First things first, I'm a Jordan man all day. Having said that, this Cavs team aside from Bron was absolute garbage, I respect Bron something major!

The numbers of important games LeBron played in his career it’s incredible

that was a LBJ just coming into his super powers and stil giving them troubles then, but see LBJ NOW...maaaaan I put that same boston team in their prime against LBJ now and it's a no contest....LBJ would demolish

It shows how’s Lebron been the man by himself with no help against a super team

man LeBron is greatness to of taken this cavs team to game 7, and the fact that he legit had 0 help and it was all those hall of famers against just him and they still managed to barely beat him is absolutely mind blowing…lebron didn’t even really know how to play basketball yet he was just out there hooping

Paul Pierce might be the most underrated player in history.

I was born and raised in NE Ohio. I will always be a fan of our teams. That being said, that team would not have been in the playoffs without LeBron. LeBron is so great that his teams cant build through the draft. Cleveland didnt get to have high draft picks because we were too good with him. Good luck getting a superstar to come live in Cleveland.

People talk a lot about Bron’s finals losses but he lost to some damn good teams. This Boston team arguably was a super team. KG, Rondo, Pierce.. I mean come on! Look at the cavaliers! The matchups ! 😭

I've been to over 200 celtics games. This was the best game I ever attended. Piece, I truly believe is one of the more underrated greats of the game. I'm not crazy though. When the pierce vs. Wade debate happened earlier this year, I think it was pretty clear that Wade should be higher up on the all time great list. But, in reality, it was way, way closer than people give Pierce credit for. He was great, and for whatever reason, he doesn't get the credit he deserves. To my all time favorite player, "The Captain, and THE TRUTH, #34, PAULLLL PIERRRCCCEE!"

They make that Boston team sound like a dynasty. They won 1 haha

It's weird actually going back and watching a younger (technically not yet fully developed) James play. There is a lot of contact throughout this game (which people claim he couldnt play through). He was never complaining as he does now (cus they never call the fouls on him and the whole league complains now). He was literally going one vs 5 (yes im exaggerating but he was tryna do everything himself). I dont think i've see him take a lot of consecutive shots today as he did in the beginning of the game. He literally did not pass or look to pass on all the first couple of possessions. Even the commentators stated that he realized no one else is gonna help him. He played pretty good defense, and i think he realized, which he has known all his career, that you need a TEAM to win a chip. It's these games that nullify the narratives of "he doesnt have a bag" "he doesnt have a killer instinct" and "he cant play in a physical era." He shows his all around game here. His 3, his drive, his handles, his finishes around the rim, his defence, and the i need to take most of the shots to give us a chance. He also had much more to learn at this point as well.

Anyone else see that Perk said he was hoping LeBron would tear his acl before this game bc he was scared lmao

Lakers fan all my life but this Celtics team was admittedly an all timer. Brings back memories.

My dude LeBron!🏀🔥💯 Upload more Bron videos👍💯

This is the lebron I like.. showing greatness and not backing down against super team... building and protecting his kingdom ..... classic..

Back when teams played tough defense

Paul had that SWEET stroke. Old school type game, was a terrifying player in ISO situations.

One of greatest games ever took me back a min

This was when Lebron was still hungry and actually fought till the end, every minute of it.

Paul pierce had no athlete ability. Pure skill strength and heart!

First Cavs stint Bron was a bulldozer. He would get so many calls in today's NBA it's not hard to imagine him averaging 40.

Damn time flies only 2 active players from this team

Lebron score 45 in a lose with no help and lost by 5 in Boston if he had another player he definitely would been in the finish and lost to kobe and I'm a lebron fan but Cleveland didnt do nothing to give that man another player smh I would of left too

LeBron vs boston big 4 were awesome and now lebron gotta deal with the boston young bloods tonight.

I remember watching this live time goes by so fast man I can drink now

Just sitting here watching this ,knowing the NBA will never be the same again :(

LeBron shot 35.5% FG in this series with 5.3 TOpg. In the 3 Cavalier wins he shot 35.6% FG and 4.7 TOpg. Despite him playing so poorly overall it still went 7 games with the champions.

Paul Pierce was fire 🧨💥💯

Pierce is insanely underated I hope he dosen't get lost in time and of course lebron has been great for literally 2 decades lmao

I miss when they had these edits !! Bring them back!! Like show8ng the plays and also highlighting the players

I can’t understand why pierce not higher on ppl greatest ever lists. He really never had team and still got to ecf way before the big 3.

Still can’t believe these youngins still disrespect The Truth like he didn’t get that nickname for no reason 💯🤦🏾‍♂️

bron was a beast back than. Pierce was smooth tho solid mid range, good defense and passing.

Casual fans need to stop disrespecting the Cavs team. They played in a system that was heavily centered around LeBron and were great as a collective group on Defense.

An people have the nerve to talk shit about paul peirce saying hes ben hating on lebron smh.. Paul wasnt a scrub..they dont know he was a superstar and use to go head to head with lebron everytime they played and this was while paul was on the decline and lebron was early/mid 20's at his prime