The Continued Greatness Of LeBron James Is Hard To Ignore
He truly is a genius on the floor.
By Jamie Mah @grahammah
I’m going to concede a fact I’ve begun to realize steadily these past few weeks. LeBron James might be the smartest player to have ever played in the NBA.
Take that for data.
I still consider Michael Jordan the GOAT, and unless LeBron wins another title or two, that isn’t changing. Kobe Bryant was my favourite player and in my opinion, he’s a top five all timer. Magic Johnson was the genius of his era. Essentially LeBron before we had LeBron. A freak athlete with size who played the point guard position. But what LeBron holds over him is brute strength and a fiercer scoring prowess. Michael and Kobe were killers who would strangle you with their sheer force of will. LeBron’s talent is more cerebral. Methodical. He can beat you in many fashions.
Larry Bird possessed much of the same pedigree as Magic, but with a touch more of a killer instinct. And let’s not forget the mastery of Bill Russell. Bill Simmons certainly has not.
But my goodness, LeBron freaking James is uncanny. What he’s doing with this season’s Lakers squad is truly a marvel. He’s 35 and playing at a level like someone who is 25.
His greatness for this diehard Kobe fan is hard to ignore.
LeBron was always the physical specimen the league had never seen. Taller than Jordan. As strong as The Mailman. As fast and punishing as Barkley, with a passing vision as good as Magic’s. LeBron James was a true unicorn when he entered the league 17 years ago, and he’s certainly lived up to the hype.
But, just as the greats who came before him had to learn, winning took time. Similar to Jordan, in that it took him seven seasons to capture a title, it took LeBron nine such years to get over the hump where he endured some painful lessons along the way.
Nevertheless, his greatness was not to be denied forever and, in my opinion, it was the 2015 NBA Finals where he truly started to master how to think the game, when he had to carry a depleted Cavaliers team against the upstart Warriors. It was game two of that series where I saw his ascension of seeing the game like no other. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love both out, LeBron dragged his over matched JV squad to a dramatic overtime victory, one no one predicted. He’d finish the night with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.
His imprint on that game was immeasurable and even though the Cavaliers would end up losing the series, LeBron’s greatness in that Finals made me believe that he, and not Andre Iguodala, should have won the Finals MVP trophy. He was that good. And I doubt I’m alone in this assessment.
As the years have progressed and his other worldly athleticism has dropped ever so slightly, he’s still remained dominant. How he’s done it has been with his mind. Well that and being 6’9" tall and 270 pounds helps too.
Regardless, LeBron sees the game in such a way that it’s hard not to appreciate. I mean, for goodness sake, he’s in his 17th season and he’s leading the league in assists! Who does that? LeBron James does that, that’s who, and I’m not surprised in the slightest.
Just look at these highlights.
Should he win the MVP this year?
Not yet, I’d say, Giannis has the been that dominant. But oh boy has he given one pause to consider his candidacy, especially after signature wins over both the Bucks and Clippers this past weekend, two teams many feel will be the Lakers ultimate challengers come playoff time.
With the Lakers having not made the playoffs last year and Kawhi leading Toronto to a title, we may have forgotten how good this man really is when push comes to shove. Like many of you, I’m excited to see what’s in store for these coming playoffs.
The mind of LeBron James has me believing in miracles. Yes, he’s that good.
For this diehard Kobe Bryant fan, the greatness of LeBron James has become hard to ignore. I sure hope you aren’t. You’re missing out if you are.