LeBron James is the GOAT of my generation
Josh’s Jab
The Cleveland Cavaliers are pretty bad right now. They’re 4–6 and 12th in the Eastern Conference. However, LeBron still has been great. He’s averaging 28.8 points per game, 9.1 assists per game, 7.4 rebounds per game. He’s shooting 61% from the field, 36% from the three-point line, and 85% from the free throw line. At age 32. In Year 15. He’s amazing as he’s always been.
The crazy thing is how long he’s been great. The case can be made that he’s been the best player in the league since the 2005–2006 season. That was his first year of leading the league in VORP (Value over replacement player). Check his stats: 31.4 points per game, 7.2 assists per game, 7.4 rebounds per game. WOW. That was his third year in the league. LeBron was 21 years old and the best player in the league. That’s ridiculous to think about.
He was crowned the chosen one before he even played an NBA game. So much was expected of him. But, he surpassed all expectations. He’s the best player since Michael Jordan. Some could even argue he is the best player ever. I didn’t watch Jordan in his prime. I didn’t watch Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell. So I can’t really compare him to them. But, LeBron is better than every player I’ve seen in their prime. Better than Kobe Bryant. Better than Tim Duncan. Better than Kevin Garnett. None of those guys are touching him.
LeBron is so great that his 57 point game a couple of days ago against the Washington Wizards wasn’t even surprising.
Longevity is really what sets LeBron apart. He’s crazy durable and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. Who else has been the best player in the league for 12 years straight?
Because of his long-run of being great, LeBron is already in the record books while still in his prime. He’s sixth on the all-time scoring list, and twelfth on the all-time assist list. No other player in NBA history is in the top 15 in both. That’s just remarkable. The crazy thing about LeBron is that he’s always talked about as being a passive superstar and how he’s an all-time passer. But, he’s still SIXTH in the all-time scoring list. Imagine a shoot-first LeBron. He’d be top four easily.
I hate that people dismiss some of LeBron’s greatness because he only has three rings. Just because you have the best player doesn’t mean you always win. Basketball is a team sport. The NBA Finals is a seven-game series. The best team usually wins every time. That still doesn’t undermine LeBron’s greatness. He’s been great in every Finals barring the questionable Dallas one. Valid criticism can be given for that one but LeBron has been great still. In the 2015 Finals, he lead both teams in every major statistical category. In last years Finals, he become the first player to ever average a triple-double in the Finals. He’s been great and should be respected as such even in some losing efforts.
Like I said earlier, the Cavs are bad. But, I’m still picking them to get to the Finals once again. As long as they have LeBron James on the roster, it’s almost guaranteed that they will make the Finals. He’s been to it SEVEN straight times. That’s incredible.
I’m running out of superlatives to describe this guy. So I’ll just leave you with this. LeBron James is the greatest player I’ve ever seen. Maybe the greatest who ever lived.
