Is LeBron James the Greatest Basketball Player of All Time?
LeBron James, one of the best basketball players in the world today, has been in the spotlight since he was an 18-year-old high school student drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. Throughout his illustrious career, he’s won three N.B.A. championships and four Most Valuable Player awards (making him the first player to do so). LeBron James is one of only six players in N.B.A. history to make the All-NBA First Team at least five times in their careers—the others being Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone, and Tim Duncan.
Who is LeBron James
LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (N.B.A.). He is considered one of the greatest basketball players in N.B.A. history. LeBron has won four N.B.A. Most Valuable Player (M.V.P.) Awards, three N.B.A. Finals M.V.P. Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He has also been selected to fourteen N.B.A. All-Star teams, twelve All-NBA First Teams, and five All-Defensive First Teams. In 2011, ESPN ranked him as the most outstanding North American athlete. In 2018, he was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2019. The other members are Rudy Tomjanovich, Dave Cowens, Dominique Wilkins, Robert Parish, Karl Malone, and John Stockton.
Achievements
LeBron James is one of the most successful and popular basketball players of all time. He has played in the N.B.A. for seventeen seasons, winning four M.V.P. Awards, three Finals M.V.P. Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He is also the only player in N.B.A. history to be named Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and league M.V.P. in the same season. In addition to his individual accomplishments, LeBron has also led his teams to nine N.B.A. Finals appearances and six championships. His teams have gone 7-2 in games where he records a triple-double. As an individual, he ranks third on the list of career points scored (10,256), ninth in total rebounds (3,442), fifteenth in assists (4,211), first in field goals made (6,405), and first in free throws made (5277).
The debate on who is greater than Lebron – Jordan, Kobe, or Kareem
The debate on who is the greatest basketball player of all time is one that will never be solved. However, there are a few players who stand out above the rest. One of those players is LeBron James. He has shown time and time again that he is one of the best to ever play the game. But with his resume, it’s easy to see why people think he could be the greatest. At only 31 years old, James has already won three N.B.A. championships (2012-2013-2016), two gold medals (2008-2012), and four NBA MVP awards (2009-2010-2012-2013). He is an 11x All-Star and 3x N.B.A. Finals M.V.P. But where does Lebron rank among these other greats? Jordan is the all-time leader in points scored, Kobe had more career points than any other player in history at retirement, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar holds the record for most career points scored by a center. But what sets Lebron apart from these three legends is that he excels at every facet of the game. There was no question who would win if you put Jordan against Kobe or Kareem because they played different positions. With James, you can’t make such a determination because he can do anything on the court. He’s fast enough to drive past defenders like Magic Johnson and strong enough to bully smaller opponents like Tim Duncan or Dwight Howard.
What does this mean for his legacy in the N.B.A. and, more broadly, sports?
For years, people have been debating whether or not LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time. Some say he is, while others claim he’s not even close. There’s no doubt that LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game, but where does he rank amongst the all-time greats? Is he the GOAT? Only time will tell, but for now, let’s take a look at his legacy in the N.B.A. and, more broadly, sports. For years, people have been debating whether or not LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time. Some say he is, while others claim he’s not even close. There’s no doubt that LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game, but where does he rank amongst the all-time greats? Is he the GOAT?
The answer can be subjective, depending on who you ask. But as far as stats go, it would be hard to argue against him being among history’s best players after winning three straight championships and two consecutive M.V.P. awards in 2012 and 2013.
How does he rank among other athletes historically?
It’s hard to compare athletes across different sports, but when it comes to basketball, there’s no doubt that LeBron James is one of the greatest players of all time. He’s been compared to Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, and while he may not be quite at their level, he’s still an incredible player in his own right. How does he rank among other athletes historically? Here’s a look at how he stacks up. Lebron James’ career stats: 28.3 PPG (points per game), 7 RPG (rebounds per game), 8 A.P.G. (assists per game)
Michael Jordan’s career stats: 30.1 PPG, 6 RPG, 5 A.P.G.
Magic Johnson’s career stats: 18 P.P.G., 11 RPG, 13 A.P.G. In terms of raw numbers, M.J. takes the cake here with three more points per game than LeBron and four more rebounds per game than both M.J. and LeBron. However, Magic was a better rebounder with 11 rebounds per game to M.J.’s six rebounds per game, so if we’re going by statistics alone, then perhaps we can say that Magic was better as well. So who is the G.O.A.T.? Well, if you consider winning games – clearly it’s M.J. – or maybe you prefer statistical accomplishments like scoring or assists – then I guess it might be Magic after all. In terms of pure skill on the court, however, I think it has to be LeBron James!
A call to action for what I hope to see next from Lebron as he approaches 40
LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. He has achieved so much in his career, and I believe he still has more to give. I would love to see him continue to dominate the court and lead his team to victory. I think he has what it takes to be the greatest player of all time, and I hope he continues to show us why he is one of the best. The way he performs on the court amazes me; he is a natural athlete with unmatched skills that no other player can match. It’s not just about how great a player LeBron is; it’s also about how incredible an athlete he really is. And as for his future with Cleveland – will they keep their King, or will they watch him take flight elsewhere? In my opinion, Lebron should stay put. If he were to leave again, he would have nothing left to prove.
Final thoughts
It’s hard to argue that LeBron James isn’t one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He’s a four-time NBA MVP, three-time N.B.A. champion, and Olympic gold medalist. His individual accomplishments are impressive, but it’s his team’s success that really cements his legacy. With LeBron leading the way, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team in N.B.A. history to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals to win the championship. He’s also been praised for his unselfishness and leadership off the court. When you compare him to other greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, it’s clear that LeBron is in a class of his own. So what makes LeBron so great? He’s simply on another level athletically, has an unparalleled vision on the court, and knows how to use both sides of his body equally well. But what sets him apart from other legends is his mental fortitude. In Game 7 against Golden State this year, LeBron led an improbable comeback victory without Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love on the floor due to injury. Critics questioned whether he was too old after Game 6 losses earlier in these playoffs against Toronto and Indiana – not anymore. Like Magic Johnson before him, LeBron has now won championships at every stage as a player with two franchises (Cleveland Cavaliers & Miami Heat). How many more titles will he earn with this generation’s best roster around him? What other records will he break next season? We’ll have to wait and see, but we can say confidently that LeBron James is the GOAT.
