Why LeBron James is still the best in the NBA
Roar Rookie By ConorHarvey1888, 29 Dec 2012 ConorHarvey1888 is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Basketball, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, NBA
There has been debate in NBA circles about who the best player in the league is in 2012/2013. Some say it’s Kevin Durant, the three-time (and reigning) scoring champion and best player for the young and rapidly improving Oklahoma City Thunder, who were runners up to the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals.
Others still cling on to the belief that Kobe Bryant is the top dog in the league today. This is despite Kobe being past his prime and being without an all around game like the others.
Carmelo Anthony has a growing following due to his outstanding performance for the New York Knicks this season, leading the team in scoring while improving his all around play and actually giving some sort of consistent effort in defence.
However, all of these suggestions are wrong.
There is only one answer that should be given to the question “Who is the best player in the NBA today?”.
And that is LeBron James.
Let’s start with the basics. LeBron James, the Number One pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, is the reigning league MVP (his third MVP trophy since he entered the league).
He is coming off a year where he won Regular Season MVP, the NBA Title, Finals MVP, and an Olympic gold medal.
To win the first three, he beat out Kevin Durant, the most popular choice to be the best player in the league besides LeBron. This alone should be enough to end the debate, as coming off the best year of his career, it should be obvious that LeBron is the best player in the league.
However, arguments are still being made for Durant. These arguments centre around the significant all around improvement to Durant’s game this season, as he is rebounding and assisting at career high levels, and his defence has improved visibly.
However, just because he has improved these facets of his game does not mean he is in the same league as LeBron.
Durant is having a phenomenal year, posting averages (at the time of writing) of 28.1 Points Per Game, 8.4 Rebounds Per Game, 4.2 Assists Per Game, 1.5 Steals Per Game, and 1.3 Blocks Per Game, while shooting 52% from the field, 43% from the three point line, and 90% from the free throw line.
These are excellent numbers, with incredible efficiency. Durant is currently set to join the exclusive 50-40-90 shooting percentages club (for players who shoot 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% at the line in a single season), a feat which has been achieved by only five players in history.
Despite Durant’s excellence, and despite the belief of many NBA commentators, he is still not on the same level as LeBron.
LeBron is currently averaging 25.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.9 BPG, shooting 54% FG, 43% 3PT, and 70% FT.
In addition to the numbers, LeBron carries the heavy burden of always defending the opposition’s best player, be it a point guard through, a centre or anyone in between. Durant never has this pressure, and is free to focus most of his effort on the offensive end.
And while Durant’s assist numbers have improved, he is yet to match LeBron’s passing ability or responsibility to get his teammates going.
There is no doubt in my mind that LeBron could lead the league in scoring if he chose to, and he said the same recently: “If I wanted to, I could lead the league in scoring, but that’s not my job here”.
This is true, as LeBron’s responsibility is much more than just getting himself more points.
While Kevin Durant is improving to the point that it’s almost scary how good he could become, he is yet to reach the all around level of play that LeBron James currently plays at.
When Durant improves his passing and defence further, then the discussion can begin. For the moment, there shouldn’t be an argument at all.
LeBron James is the best player in the NBA today.
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The Crowd Says (8) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Basketball, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, NBA
December 29th 2012 @ 11:34am
Swampy said | December 29th 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Well put. I don’t like Lebron but after last season he ended the discussion. He is far and away the best player in the world.
The media will have learnt nothing if Durant or Melo or even Chris Paul (seriously, would the Clippers be on a 15 game win streak without Paul?) get close to Lebron in MVP voting.
We’ve already got the blots in the record book where Karl Malone and Charles Barkley were handed trophies because the media felt it was honorable not to vote unanimously for Michael Jordan every year (leading to Jordan eviscerating Malone in the Finals after Malone ‘won’ the MVP).
Lebron is 28 and in his prime and his team has the best record in the NBA (least losses).
Q. If you had an open pick of every player in the NBA to start a new franchise that had to win in it’s first season who would you pick first?
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December 29th 2012 @ 6:48pm
Phil Coorey said | December 29th 2012 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
Q. If you had an open pick of every player in the NBA to start a new franchise that had to win in it’s first season who would you pick first?
All the way with LBJ
December 29th 2012 @ 11:07pm
Internal Fixation said | December 29th 2012 @ 11:07pm | Report comment
I agree at present but in 2 years time Durant will be the better player. The Finals series last year could have been very different if an obvious foul was actually called. I expect a decline in LeBron’s supporting cast and a subsequent even heavier offensive and defensive load will catch up with him. LeBron’s window will close quicker than Jordan’s due to the OKC.
December 30th 2012 @ 1:35am
Louis said | December 30th 2012 @ 1:35am | Report comment
Good article, and I agree with everything that was stated.
Internal fixation, are you saying that Durant will be better than LeBron is at his prime in 2 years, or a better player in competition with LeBron?
Because they only way I can see you being right is through the latter.
Durant is an out-and-out scorer, and whilst he is very good, his all-round game is nothing compared to who I consider being the best athlete in the world, LBJ
December 31st 2012 @ 9:56am
mushi said | December 31st 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
I don’t see how Durant closes the gap on play making and defence in two years. I don’t actually think Durant’s body type will ever allow him to close the gap on D, he simply doesn’t have the strength to deny spots on the floor against stronger wings.
I also would have thought that one foul call didn’t turn 900+ possessions series with an average margin of victory of 8 points.
December 30th 2012 @ 9:28am
ConorHarvey1888 said | December 30th 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
This was my first article written, so thanks for the positive feedback
In 2 years time, LeBron could very well still be in his prime, and may actually be peaking as an all around post up-facilitator-rebounded-defender, or he could just as easily still be throwing up 25-30 points a game. He really is that good, he could take on any playing style and still be the best in the league. No one else compares to his incredible all around skill set.
I do agree that LeBron’s supporting cast could decline, as Wade looks to be headed that way as much as he tries to prove us wrong. However, i personally would hope that would lead to an increase in Chris Bosh’s role, one of my favourite offensive players and a seriously under utilised part of the Miami offense in my opinion.
December 30th 2012 @ 4:44pm
Reece Jordan said | December 30th 2012 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
I don’t know if we’ve ever seen an athlete like LeBron in the NBA. There’s no precedent to gauge how long he’ll be effective for. The rest of the Heat seem to be dropping in form like flies, but I think come time for the Playoffs they’ll be near unstoppable. And coming from a jealous fan of a Western Conference team, the East is a lot weaker this season in comparison.
December 30th 2012 @ 6:32pm
ConorHarvey1888 said | December 30th 2012 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
The East has been weaker by comparison for the last few years. While the Heat will be, in my opinion, the best team in the league at the end of the season, after them there is a drop off. The Knicks are starting to stutter, albeit without Carmelo, and eventually they will hit a cold shooting streak from outside. The Nets simply don’t have the right system in place, or the depth of a top level team. The Celtics are looking older and it increasingly feels like their title window is closed. Atlanta don’t have a superstar of enough quality offense to go far in the playoffs. Indiana don’t quite have the superstar to take over, as i don’t believe Granger is that level. Chicago and Philadelphia without Rose and Bynum are non factors. Besides Miami, there doesn’t seem to be a safe bet in the east.
In the West, you have the ever competitive and seemingly non aging Spurs, the league leading Clippers, the superstar power of the Lakers, the juggernaut that is the Thunder, and even the second tier of Western teams; Memphis, Denver, Golden State at this stage, would be top level in the East