Paul Pierce is named Finals MVP after leading Boston to its first championship win in 22 years.

In the past, people may have questioned Paul Pierce’s status as a superstar. But after putting up one amazing performance after another in the 2008 Playoffs, Pierce proved his place among the greats and was awarded the Finals MVP award.

In Game 6, back on their home floor, Pierce led Boston to a blowout 131-92 win. The 39-point victory, just three points shy of a Finals record for largest margin of victory, proved without a doubt that Boston was the best team in the league this season.

Over the six game series, Pierce averaged 21.8 points and 6.3 assists per game, including a 38-point effort in Game 5. And he now knows that this season’s team, which won the most games in the regular season, is among the greats.

“It means everything. I’m not living under the shadows of the other greats now. If I was going to be one of the best Celtics to ever play, I had to put up a banner, and today we did that,” said Pierce.

Kobe, the regular-season MVP, finished Game 6 with 22 points. Losing is never easy, but L.A. can look back the surprise season, one where they weren’t expected to get to the playoffs, much less finals, with pride.