Thursday, May 21, 2009
LeBron James
So I return to my apartment last night after being embarrassingly eliminated from our adult kickball league playoff game, and I flip on Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic. I watched as Cleveland began to struggle for the first time in the NBA playoffs. If you didn't watch this particularly interesting basketball game, Orlando pulled it off 107-106. The purpose of this article is not to discuss the playoff game, rather some observations I've made of Lebron James. I as well as many others, have watched LBJ's career intently from Day 1. I still remember watching him take the tip off, catch a pass on the baseline, and drain his first jumper in the NBA like he'd been doing it for years. Lebron entered the NBA with perhaps the most hype of any athlete in history. With that hype came immense expectations, (comparisons to Michael Jordan) and many were unsure of this 18 year old rookies ability to live up to them. I must admit that I myself, looked on with nervous anticipation of his young career. I've always been a Lebron supporter, nay a devoted Lebron enthusiast. I've argued with many a critic about the up and downsides of the next "MJ" and have even attempted to make a case for potential "greatest player ever." I've observed many sports pundits on various tv shows and online articles throughout the last 5 years question his abilities, his character, his potential, his maturity, and his status among sports superstars. I suppose it's their job to do so, but I can't help but feel vindicated. Lebron continues to impress with every effort on the court. Set aside the thunder dunks, the speed and dribbling skills, the embarrassing rejections of Dwight Howard, and the newly found deeeeeeep ball, perhaps Lebron's greatest attribute is that he's still getting better. Lebron is arguably the best player in the NBA (recently awarded the 2009 NBA MVP, Lebron's first - coincidently the same number of MVP's Kobe Bryant has) at age 24. Not even MJ himself could have bragged that feat. It boggles my mind that everytime I watch this guy go to work, I see some facet of his game that has gotten better. The offense and the ability to finish around the rim is a given; that's always been there. This year especially, Lebron has turned up the defense 10 notches, his assists are at a career high, as well as rebounds too! Now I don't want get too carried away. Lebron does have room for improvement, but I'm going to go ahead and make a bold statement; Lebron James could be selected as 1st Team All NBA in every single starting position. Obviously there are exceptional players all across the NBA at all positions, but could any of them be successful in all 5? The answer is NO. It is this simple observation that lends some weight to my argument that Lebron will become the greatest player in NBA history. Many factors could alter this including criminal mischief, steroids, injuries, etc., but given what we are observing, I truly believe that goal is attainable for him. As we watch this young mega-star evolve and develop, I pray none of those aformentioned factors play a role. And who ulitmately benefits the most? We, the fans, who have the privilege of watching a modern day athletic giant.
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First off there is no way he can be a better center than D Howard, nor a better point than CP3, and he def aint better than KG or Tim Duncan at power forward. You are HABITUALLY crossing the line. For him to be first team at all 5 positions he needs to essentially better than all of these players at their respected positions and he is not. Also, with the presence of Kobe and DWade he will forever be that small forward spot. Honestly, Lebron, DWade and D Howard will be on the first team all NBA for the next decade.
ReplyDeleteThe one major critique of Lebron game stems from his best qualities. All his skills come from athleticism which eventually fades away with age. What happens when he gets older and has to try and out-jump the young 6'7 small forwards of the league. He is not going to be able to blow past people as a 30 year old nor jump over people at that age. When his jumping ability diminishes and he is unable to just rise above everyone for points where does he go from there. You never see him shaking people, he isolates and either blows past them with his unmatched speed and length or overpowers them with strength. The main thing about all sports is evolution and when the NBA catches up with his size and speed where does he go form there. He is not a polished shooter like all the other elite players of the NBA, nor does he score with his back to the basket. His game relies on jumping over people and overpowering smaller guards that watch him. When his game evolves past 10 dunks per game and a few deep flashy jumpshots ill jump on board... One thing I will say is im glad he joined DWade and joined the block party team cause it does feel good to see guards throw lay-ups to the fifth row.
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ReplyDeleteLeBron's athleticism may fade in time, but you overlooked three other qualities that will keep him over others, his attitude, his spirit, and his skill. LeBron's attitude can summed up with one word, dominator. His spirit only wants to win, no matter if that means putting out extraordinary effort or letting guys key on him and using his teammates to win. His skill goes without saying. What part of the game does he not bring with extraordinary ability? When he's 35 and having trouble with three-point range he can always just underhand the thing to the hoop, which he has proven he can do at will.
ReplyDeleteThat underhand comment was just priceless. My emphatic love for DWade ensures my disdain for Lebron. He probably will be known as one of the best ever but I can't see any way in which I will ever call him the greatest over MJ. He does have leadership qualities that owners would kill but until he wins a championship he will always be seen as "that guy." I feel like the rest of the league that this was his year. His team is better than ever but he still can't find a way to win which all the great players have done. When you discuss all of the best players to ever play in the NBA they always fought off adversity to lead their teams to victory whether it be Bird bringing his team back from a 3-1 deficit in the eastern conference finals to go on to win the championship, or Magic who had to do it through all of his and his teams injuries in the late 80's, to MJ beating some of greatest teams ever assembled to win, they all have risen above the odds to get it done. LeBron is a great player and a future hall of famer but I just hope he does not end up like Barkley or Malone and Stockton, as another great player who had the tools to win a championship but didn't.
ReplyDeleteHmm...very well said. My response is simply that have we ever had a conversation like this about a 24 year old before? The answer is no. Just the fact that we're having this type of "greatest ever" conversation about a kid who's a year older than us is unprecedented. Not even Jordan had this kind of upside this young in his career. So again my point is that we are already making serious comparisons to the greatest players ever and the kid still has another 10-15 years in his career. Give it time. It took Jordan 6 years to win his first.
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