Paul Pierce witnessed Pau Gasol dominate the 2010 NBA Finals and also saw Kobe Bryant take home the MVP honor. Surringly, the Celtics legend believes the Spanish big man deserved Finals MVP over Bryant, and he confessed to that without hesitation.
Quite frankly, the debate has raged for 15 years. Kobe took home his second straight Finals MVP after Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics in seven games. But many felt Gasol carried the load when the Black Mamba struggled. Pierce recently joined that chorus with his own definitive take.
Paul Pierce Claims Pau Gasol Deserved 2010 Finals MVP Over Kobe Bryant
If one tries to break things down from their individual numbers, it will be very complicated. Kobe averaged 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in the series, which actually sounds great on paper, but he was inefficient both in shooting from the field and deep.
Gasol, meanwhile, averaged a double-double with 18.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Pau also registered 3.7 assists and 2.6 blocks per game while playing 41.9 minutes, the most on the Lakers. But his accurate shooting was far better than Kobe’s.
And finally comes the Game 7 that could seal the debate for many. Kobe shot just 6-for-24 from the field but scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter. Gasol, meanwhile, finished with 19 points and a sensational 18 rebounds.
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Given the stat, Pierce didn’t mince words about his selection on the podcast, saying, “I actually thought Pau should’ve been the MVP. He kind of dominated. He was killing. He showed his toughness and you could tell that 24 put that battery in his back.”
He continued, “You saw it in that series. That was the difference because Pau had the skills he was just missing that toughness.”
Paul Pierce says Pau Gasol should’ve won finals MVP over Kobe Bryant in 2010 after they beat the Celtics 👀
“I actually thought Pau should’ve been the MVP. He kind of dominated. He was killing. He showed his toughness and you could tell that 24 put that battery in his back. You… pic.twitter.com/I8M9MvyQr5
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 5, 2026
Dwyane Wade echoed Pierce’s sentiments months ago, saying, “A lot of people don’t know that in that Finals, that last Finals that they won, Kobe didn’t play well. Actually, everybody thought Pau Gasol should have been MVP.”
Gasol played the most minutes on the team at 41.9 per game. He defended multiple positions, crashed the glass, and protected the rim. His complete two-way dominance separated him from Kobe that series.
However, the debate will continue forever because Bryant’s legacy remains intact regardless. However, Pierce made his feelings loud and clear, stating that, in his eyes, Pau Gasol was the real MVP of the 2010 Finals.
