The LeBron James Thread

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think guys get a little too caught up in marveling at LeBron and make far reaching statements like that and forget about guys like prime Shawn Kemp for example. There's probably more that people forget that weren't superstar players or just simply not as accomplished.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think guys get a little too caught up in marveling at LeBron and make far reaching statements like that and forget about guys like prime Shawn Kemp for example. There's probably more that people forget that weren't superstar players or just simply not as accomplished.

Which is why I said size with athleticism AND with the skills and talent.. I don't remember Kemp being a top level passer, shutting down some of the leagues better point guards, and being a top level (percentage wise) three point shooter in the league as well..

[DukeC]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think guys get a little too caught up in marveling at LeBron and make far reaching statements like that and forget about guys like prime Shawn Kemp for example. There's probably more that people forget that weren't superstar players or just simply not as accomplished.

Eh. I'd say Blake Griffin = Shawn Kemp at least athletically. Blake Griffin is very fast for a guy his size. Dwight Howard is also another guy that's very fast,but doesn't look like it.

I saw Thomas Robinson sprint down the court once. He's usually the fastest player (not the quickest) on the court more often than not. He doesn't know how to use it well, so you don't see it often though.

Which is why I said size with athleticism AND with the skills and talent.. I don't remember Kemp being a top level passer, shutting down some of the leagues better point guards, and being a top level (percentage wise) three point shooter in the league as well..

I was just saying athleticism wise. If we're going to include the total package (which it seems you're trying to make a stealth arguement for Lebron as the greatest of all time...I see what you're doing here OJ ) then the list isn't very large.

Oscar Robertson
Larry Bird
Jordan
Wilt (Could literally do whatever he set his mind too, except shoot (good god those atrocious looking free throws), but then, when he could get layups at the rim all day why shoot as a big man?)
Lebron
Jason Kidd
Magic

[The 24th Letter]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't think anyone saying no one else in league history has had LBJ's physique.....just like Wilt wasn't the only 7'1 315 lb center....every 6'6 225 lb. SG isn't Michael Jordan....

Its the skill set these guys have, combined with their physique, athleticism etc. that makes them who they are.....I personally believe guys like Shaq, Wilt and LeBron are just one of a kind guys who put it all together....

[23]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Ok well who else in league history then? Better than picking a guy from the 60's/70's who could use steroids without any repercussions..

What's wrong with using weights anyways? Nobody said anything about this being naturally god given.. Every player that's came through the league has had weights, training, and anything to give them the advantage over the average joe..

What does him having weights and whatever else he takes have to do with him being good at basketball and an athletic freak? Is everyone in the league now at his level? No.. Do they all not have access to the same weights/whatever else he has??

What are you implying then? Wilt? Yeah he was strong as ****, he was an athletic freak.. Was he also shooting 3's and guarding point guards?

All I'm saying is, from what I've saw, Jordan and LeBron are the two most complete players I've ever watched.. Both skillfully and athletically.. LeBron just happens to be a little bigger than Jordan.. Not saying that makes him better, or gives him any kind of advantage over him, just saying is all.

Weights and medicines have alot to do with it because he didnt just come in the league with that stuff, some of it is a result of using that stuff as aids in the process which some past players didnt have... Honestly the dude was not much bigger than McGrady when he came in the league who had the skill and athleticism who also didnt have to use the weights to have that advantage.

We've all seen Bill Russell before speed size athleticism and skill at that or near the same height

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j2AlFrOj5Mc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>




Talking about never is a huge exxaggeration

[23]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't think anyone saying no one else in league history has had LBJ's physique.....just like Wilt wasn't the only 7'1 315 lb center....every 6'6 225 lb. SG isn't Michael Jordan....

Its the skill set these guys have, combined with their physique, athleticism etc. that makes them who they are.....I personally believe guys like Shaq, Wilt and LeBron are just one of a kind guys who put it all together....

The dude said NEVER which is why I addressed him.

As far as athletes in general we know that's not true

[24]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Did not mean for this to turn into an all out battle. It really goes right back to the Era argument. I'm sure if a Physical Beast like Wilt got a hold of Todays training methods he'd be just as unstoppable if not more than Lebron.

How about we just all agree on the fact Lebron is amazing?

[23]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think we do agree on that, but that goes without saying

Sure its an era thing but moreso what players have access to at certain periods of time.

If the guy came out of high school at this weight height size, etc.. its one thing but he didnt..shoot people were smashing on him because he had suspect jumper.

Shaq is an entirely different story because he was what he was when he came in the league.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't understand what LeBron coming out of high school has to do with him the past few years.. Nobody looks the same as they did when they were 18 as they did after 5-10 seasons with professional training?

I guess I just don't understand what the argument for the older guys is.. Saying they didn't have the weights and everything.. What does that have to do with this discussion?

Nobody is saying those guys couldn't have been just as athletic with the proper, modern stuff.. But they didn't and they weren't.

[23]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Nothing man...

The King reigns

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't think anyone saying no one else in league history has had LBJ's physique.....just like Wilt wasn't the only 7'1 315 lb center....every 6'6 225 lb. SG isn't Michael Jordan....

Its the skill set these guys have, combined with their physique, athleticism etc. that makes them who they are.....I personally believe guys like Shaq, Wilt and LeBron are just one of a kind guys who put it all together....

This is basically what I was thinking, I think I was more just going overboard with it.

I think I'm taking it a little far with the whole skill thing.. I tend to see these guard-type players who do a little of everything as much more skilled than the bigger guys..

I guess that's why I place guys like Jordan and LeBron so highly whenever I'm talking about the "total package" type players..

It's nothing against the other greats, and legacy/career wise I put LeBron behind a hefty list of players... But just seeing Jordan and LeBron play I'm mind blown at how those can be so skilled and talented, and also be more athletic and gifted than almost everyone they ever play against.

[Rensational14]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

There player i don't see mentioned here with the total package is HAKEEM

Great post moves
Athletic
Shotblocking / defense
Mid-range shooting
Passing

All you can have from a center

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't know... LeBron is just scary...Like a huge Swiss knife out there. I've always felt he is like the best of Jordan, Bird, Magic and Kobe (or Dr. J). He does all of them well.

[wwharton]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't know... LeBron is just scary...Like a huge Swiss knife out there. I've always felt he is like the best of Jordan, Bird, Magic and Kobe (or Dr. J). He does all of them well.

Jordan: Unworldy competitive drive and killer instinct. Lebron's gets better every year but not in the same universe as Jordan.

Bird: Deadly shooter and insane ability to score despite lack of athletic ability. Last part is the exact opposite of Lebron and LBJ's shot isn't in the same universe as Bird's.

Magic: Insane court vision and ability to always get the ball to players in the perfect situation. May have been the best in leading the fast break. James is probably the closest to Magic when saying "the best of" but as great as his court vision and willingness to find the open man is, he benefits from teams rotating off of their men and generally worrying about him scoring. Magic could score but teams didn't leave guys open to try to stop him from scoring... and he did what he did, despite that.

Kobe: Not sure what the comparison here is at all.

Dr J: This one I can give you.

Lebron is an amazing player and freak of nature, but really breaking down his game he's not the greatest at EVERYTHING. I think this is where all the debates start... taking it a bit too far. It makes more sense to just marvel at what he is than try to compare him to these other guys. You can say he's got parts of his game that each of them had, but I don't think he does anything they did best. But most importantly, none of them could do the combination of things that he can do best. It's just different.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I never said he was the greatest at everything. When I said the "best of" he not exactly those players. I'm just saying he grabs a little bit from each guy. I think I'm more saying if these guys crossed their DNA you could get LeBron. COULD*