Paul Pierce: LeBron James doesn't crack the list of Top 5 all-time NBA players

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Paul Pierce has his list.

When it comes to identifying the Top 5 NBA players of all-time the former Celtic star is definitive in choices: 1. Michael Jordan; 2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; 3, Bill Russell; 4. Magic Johnson; and 5. Kobe Bryant.

Do you notice a name that is conspicuous by its absence? That's right, no LeBron James.

Paul Pierce says LeBron James isn’t a top 5 player of all time --(-- ESPN) pic.twitter.com/xRT29gZIz8

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) May 20, 2020

Pierce's argument was based on the fact that James wasn't part of building or maintaining the foundation of an organization, citing names like players in his Top 5 along with Larry Bird and Tim Duncan.

"These guys are all Top 10 players who either helped build up their organization or continued a tradition," Pierce said. "(James) went and put together that team in Miami. And came back to Cleveland to put that team together. And then he went to the Lakers where tradition is already been made. That's to be continued. Saying that that's my argument."

If nothing else, Pierce certainly knows how to get a basketball discussion going even when there is no basketball.