via ESPN in 2012:

"<Pierce & James> have a fierce competition that has been nurtured organically through postseason battles and periods of authentic dislike, genuine bad blood and some hard-won respect."

http://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/14513/the-long-history-of-the-james-pierce-rivalry

Like I said - of course they have mutual respect - but all you have to do is listen to PP talk about him in general and it's always with a negative bias trying to downplay his greatness.

Pierce always felt that Bron couldn't hold him and both KG and PP furthered the erroneous narrative (about pre-ring LeBron) that somehow James was soft and not built like them; not a winner. Rondo just flat-out didn't respect LeBron (prob still doesn't). It wasn't just normal competitive behavior with Boston.

So yes - there was respect (enemies often "respect" each other) - but there was also genuine dislike.

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