LeBron James has the time and talent to surpass Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time.
I for one am a Jordan fan and will always marvel at his achievements. He is, in my eyes, without a doubt the greatest sportsman to ever compete in any sport. But the footsteps of LeBron’s size 16s will be heard over the coming years to challenge Jordan’s amazing records.
LeBron James is an amazingly multi-talented basketball player with freakish physical attributes. As a Miami Heat fan, watching him at Cleveland he was a one-man band who often won out against double and triple teams.
He recorded ridiculous numbers despite all the focus by opponents knowing that if you keep him quiet you should win.
Despite his magical performances year in and year out, he was only able to reach the NBA finals once with the Cavaliers. He needed a sidekick, as MJ had at the Bulls with Scottie Pippen. He decided to join the Miami Heat which would finally give him other players who could help him win the NBA finals.
The welcoming party was by all means well over the top as was The Decision broadcast, even though money went to his charity. I must say I was excited at the prospect of ‘The King’ arriving in South Beach to play with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, but the party was not required.
This just riled up fans of other teams as well as the teams themselves into despising the signings of James and Bosh even more.
LeBron had a sensational 2011 regular season with the Heat, posting 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7 assists per game. LBJ continued on with a good playoff series however he did not take the lead in the Finals when required and seemed reluctant on the big stage.
As a fan I was hugely disappointed, but knew that if it wasn’t for his play prior to the finals we would not have been in that position.
What would define LeBron is how he responded to his personal failing in the NBA finals when his team were leading 2-1 in the best of 7 series. After a few weeks of feeling sorry for himself he got back in the gym and started to work on his post game.
The Heat needed another dimension to their game due to the lack of big men in their squad. LeBron wanted to get better as a player and he certainly did that.
Then started the year of LeBron! His play was simply brutal. Whatever the Heat needed from him on any given night, he delivered. His (albeit lockout shortened season) was one of the best of all time.
His stats read 27.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 6.2 apg and 1.9 spg at a career high 53% shooting percentage.
Surely he couldn’t improve on that in the post season? Oh yes, he could, with James achieving 30.3ppg, 9.7 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.9 spg.
With a hobbled Wade and Bosh missing or playing injured for the majority of the playoffs, he played the best basketball of his career. In game four at Indiana, facing a possible 3-1 deficit, he churned out a 40 point, 18 rebound, 9 assist game which was mind blowing.
It couldn’t get better could it? In the game six elimination final, he showed he could get better.
45 points (19 of 26 shots), 15 rebounds and 5 assists later, game seven is forced. Miami went on to win.
Nervousness had set in for any Miami Heat fan. Would LeBron James finally put his 2011 finals performances behind him and be a champion or would he shy away from the big stage again. I was hopeful but not confident of him taking over when crunch time came.
OKC took over in game one when I was hopeful LBJ would. Surely this wasnt going to happen again, right?
Not a chance! LeBron James was stunning through the rest of the NBA finals with games 2,3 and 4 being very close. He capped game 4 with a big three pointer after being carried off the floor with cramps. Inspirational stuff!
Then in Game 5 with a championship within his grasp, a triple-double of 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists was the way to cap his stellar year off.
NBA finals statistics read 28.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg and 7.4 apg. The entire season of LeBron was amazing and well deserved after his hard work. The question is now, can he maintain this high level of play?
If he stays healthy and with better shooters around him this season, the Heat will only improve. They will knock down more shots so his assists will increase, as will his rebounds, due to the Heat playing small this season again.
With the monkey finally off LeBron’s back and a first title now in the books, I see LeBron building on that title quickly. The Heat will go back to back with the title this season, putting him in a similar position to Jordan at 28.
If LeBron James stays healthy for the next 10 years, I wouldn’t bet against him winning a minimum of five more titles.
Folks, don’t let the next ten years of basketball pass you by without appreciating the greatness of this superstar. The legend Michael Jordan will be hearing his footsteps, as ‘The King’ is coming!
anonimous
Guest
super like!!! :)
melo-drama
Guest
my post didnt show up what made it nice is i posted it twice ;-)
Mikka
Guest
Enjoying the ridiculous debate Melo?
melo-drama
Guest
Funny how mikka cant differ opinion and argument from perspective, and I dont really want to add my no cents worth where its pointless.... Who cares who was/are the best all that matters is now, the past is what makes the now great. If you dont get that play on please dont respond......
melo-drama
Guest
Funny how Mikka assumes I entered anything when I merely provided perspective..... I could debate why your wrong but I dont want you to waste my time..... Or we could waste my time disagreeing on whose the greatest player of all time, I reckon its Chris Mullen what chu got mikka!
Mikka
Guest
Funny how Melo says the only thing more ridiculous than the article is the debate it caused. Then proceeds to enter the debate while admitting he didn't read the article. A self fulfilling prophecy.
Skinnada
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your opinion on who is where in NBA history :-) I wrote an article on my view, simple as that. Moving on!
melo-drama
Guest
I didn't read it, I read the title and then read the comments, while people will throw stats out there and throw opinions and own personal experiences it doesnt really matter at the end of the day because no one will be right. Many people disagree that Jordan was the greatest of all time even during Jordans era I mean you have Wilt Chamberlains Oscar Robertsons and Larry Birds....... Now Lebron James? while I can respect Bron Bron's game in my opinion he's behind Kobe who is behind Jordan who is behind someone else...... In any case its a different game a different era..... No one is right
Skinnada
Roar Rookie
melo-drama....Thanks for reading & the comment.
melo-drama
Guest
The only thing less ridiculous then the article is the amount of debate it's caused, both are great players and both deserve the acalades they receive but to say one is better then the other? It's a different era and a different game, you can't judge the players of the past against the players of the present? It stupid and you just end up making ones achievements less significant. Another I want comments article......
roberto
Guest
It's really hard to compare two players from different eras, they have different roles, different playing style, i believe if MJ was to have the same role as LBJ, MJ would do everything Lebron does but better. In this era the lines are more open for perimeter players than in the 90´s not to mention hand checking(they still use it a little bit) was removed from the game. Look at how many guards at the all star game. There are many examples players other than Lebron that have put up massive performances in this era that make think MJ would destroy this era just like it did during his career. Watching the Heat finals against Dallas i had a hard time watching LBJ at times being guarded by passed prime Jason Kid or Shone Marion, i was like man MJ would destroy these guys. Just go watch 39yo toy Shone Marion in his prime. I have to admit that last year game 6 against Boston was a master piece from LBJ thou LBJ has maybe achived slightly more than MJ at the same age, but there wasn't championship caliber competition for LBJ in the east exept for the Pistons then later Boston. MJ had Boston and Detroit winning MULTIPLE championships. Imagine how difficult it would be to win an MVP with Magic and Bird ruling. Just compare the MVP winners from MJ era with the winners of this era. MJ won DPOY while averaging 35ppg, how crazy is that?. MJ expanded the game more, has way more moves, he had post up moves and a half hook since college, his creativity is unmatched, his game was more beautiful and it din't depend entirely on his athleticism and if you wanna bring athleticism MJ had to be either faster of as fast as Lebron, MJ had more md air body control. MJ is more clutch. They are equally efficient, with MJ having a slight advantage even with the fact MJ has seen better deffences. People always compare players just with statics or words like will, competitive, etc. I wish someone had the time and basketball knowledge to create an MJ clip, just to showcase his fundamentals, his footwork, his offensive skills in detail, you know, his first step, pump fake, ball fake, spin moves, rim attack, beating double and tripple teams, slicing through diffences, post-up moves, fade away, moving without the ball, give and go, pick and pop, running jumpers, bank shots, etc. and then people will realize that game wise MJ is far superior. If you wanted to learn basketball who would you watch, MJ or Lebron?
josh
Guest
Oscar Robertson, averaged a triple double one year.
astro
Roar Rookie
The 'old' Lebron was...but after last year's playoff performances, his mindset might just have changed.
astro
Roar Rookie
Wilt's stats need to be put into perspective, and a few other aspects of his game need to be remembered, especially if you think he was the greatest of all time. Consider this: - He helped himself more than his teams. For example, in 63 he averaged 45/24/3, but his team was just 31-49, they missed the playoffs. He 'led' his team to the worst record in the league (11-33) before his team decides to trade him midway through a season. Think of that for a second...he was TRADED! - He only won 2 championships and lost 7 of 8 playoff series against Russell's Celts, and his playoff numbers were almost always worse than his regular season performances. - His rebounding numbers are inflated due to the era...more possession per game. Other players in his era also had high rebounding numbers, so these numbers need to be looked at in context - He averaged 51% from the free throw line...read that one again, and tell me he's the greatest! Sorry...Wilt doesn't come close.
Skinnada
Roar Rookie
Everyone in team sports even if you are the leader need help. 1 on 5 just isnt going to work in the NBA. Jordan had his help over the years. Pippen, Rodman, Paxson, Kerr, Kukoc helped out over his championships at some stage. LeBron had Wade & Bosh but I wouldnt say he had too many other consistent helpers last season. That's why in my article I stated that if Ray Allen, Bosh, Wade actually stay healthy this season, LBJ may be tough to beat yet again. Jordan is the greatest of all time in my opinion but LBJ has achieved more to this age in his career than Jordan. So as my article stated the next 10 years will be interesting to see if he is able to stay healthy and chase him down. And Yes LBJ will need help to win titles. I have many many Jordan DVD's & games and will always be a massive fan but I can see LeBron possibly surpassing him in 10 years time. All these opinions have made great reading :-)
A1
Guest
Ouch. You just got owned Marc.
Skinnada
Roar Rookie
LOL, Awesome response Ryan!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
First you yell, and now you swear. You realise that doesn't make you right, don't you? You're right (for once) about Longley, he was a below average centre. But to be fair, Farmerj actually made that point, not you. And I think Jordan is the greatest of all-time, with daylight second. That's not up for debate, so I don't know why you're arguing it. Just an angry man, I guess. However, even the greatest of all time needed some help, which he primarily got through Scottie Pippen - whose achievements and career you've totally ignored in my comment back to you, because they don't support your factually incorrect statements. I think you should stop calling other people 'clowns', because there is only one person here making a fool of them self. Jog along.
Kim Hart
Guest
The only pity is we can't even watch old footage of these performances.
Kim Hart
Guest
No of course not. Pippen was brilliant. So was Grant.