Paul Pierce claims his trash talk caused LeBron James to miss many crucial free throws 

Paul Pierce made a name for himself in the NBA as a clutch scorer and trash talker, especially when he played on the Boston Celtics alongside Kevin Garnett. While in Boston, Pierce clashed with LeBron James multiple times in the playoffs in ultra-competitive series. However, Pierce told Skip Bayless that his trash talk caused a younger LeBron James to miss free throws at the end of games.

“Especially when he got to the free throw line,” said Pierce about his trash-talking strategy towards James. “I would always talk to him cause he would miss crucial free throws.”

NBA players have been talking trash to one another at the free throw line throughout the league’s history, but Pierce was one of the best, even getting into the head of one of the game’s all-time greats.