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Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

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LBJ has led his team in scoring, rebounding, and assists 35 times in his playoff career. Larry Bird (13) and Tim Duncan (11) are distant second and third, respectively.

Conspicuous by his absence is Michael Jordan, who spent most of his career surrounded by a supporting staff superior to any LBJ has had (particularly in Cleveland). Magic Johnson doesn't show up, either. Both he and Jordan benefited from HOF coaches and at least another top 50 all time teammate.
 
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Jake said:
LBJ has led his team in scoring, rebounding, and assists 35 times in his playoff career. Larry Bird (13) and Tim Duncan (11) are distant second and third, respectively.

Conspicuous by his absence is Michael Jordan, who spent most of his career surrounded by a supporting staff superior to any LBJ has had (particularly in Cleveland). Magic Johnson doesn't show up, either. Both he and Jordan benefited from HOF coaches and at least another top 50 all time teammate.
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To be fair to Magic, that's not surprising because his primary job was to run the break and to get Jabbar and Worthy going. He was more facitator than scorer. But your point is well taken. LBJ is, in many ways, a unique specimen because of his passing at his size.
 
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Bucklion said:
To be fair to Magic, that's not surprising because his primary job was to run the break and to get Jabbar and Worthy going. He was more facitator than scorer. But your point is well taken. LBJ is, in many ways, a unique specimen because of his passing at his size.
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I see LBJ as a modern day version of Magic. He's a bigger better version with knees that haven't failed yet.
 
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matcar said:
I see LBJ as a modern day version of Magic. He's a bigger better version with knees that haven't failed yet.
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I don't know, I watched Magic in his prime, and he was awfully good. They are different in some ways that make a true comparison difficult. Magic didn't cry as much, but then no one did back then I guess.
 
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Bucklion said:
To be fair to Magic, that's not surprising because his primary job was to run the break and to get Jabbar and Worthy going. He was more facitator than scorer. But your point is well taken. LBJ is, in many ways, a unique specimen because of his passing at his size.
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My main point is LeBron has had to carry his teams more than Jordan, Magic, or Bird ever did. Hence the 35 triple doubles in the playoffs and the second place guy had 13. Which is one of the reasons I chuckle when championships are tossed around as a measure of individual greatness in team sports - no one wins an NBA title on his own (or World Series or Super Bowl). But lazy media and fans love to throw that stat out there when they've run out of ammo.

Jordan never won without Pippen or Phil Jackson - both hall of famers. Magic won with Worthy, Jabbar and Pat Riley - all hall of famers. Bird had McHale and Dennis Johnson - hall of famers. What HOF talent has LBJ had with him? Who was his HOF coach? D-Wade is a shell of his former self and Mike Brown, Eric Spoelstra and David Blatt aren't likely HOF candidates down the road.
 
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Jake said:
My main point is LeBron has had to carry his teams more than Jordan, Magic, or Bird ever did. Hence the 35 triple doubles in the playoffs and the second place guy had 13. Which is one of the reasons I chuckle when championships are tossed around as a measure of individual greatness in team sports - no one wins an NBA title on his own (or World Series or Super Bowl). But lazy media and fans love to throw that stat out there when they've run out of ammo.

Jordan never won without Pippen or Phil Jackson - both hall of famers. Magic won with Worthy, Jabbar and Pat Riley - all hall of famers. Bird had McHale and Dennis Johnson - hall of famers. What HOF talent has LBJ had with him? Who was his HOF coach? D-Wade is a shell of his former self and Mike Brown, Eric Spoelstra and David Blatt aren't likely HOF candidates down the road.
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This is Ferentz = COY type mentality. Jordan never won without Pippen, but it doesn't mean he couldn't have.
 
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I think that Lebron is a tremendous leader.. For him to rent out a ballroom before the first game of the Finals to tell the guys what to expect and to bring them closer together met a whole lot. I know that he is not lacking in dollars but to give all of the guys Apple watches after they were done eating speaks volumes about him. At first I thought the same thing that many of you are probably thinking that he can afford it but this is not the first time he is given his current teammates presents and just speaks volumes about his leadership. He did not have to do it.
 
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Bucklion said:
I don't know, I watched Magic in his prime, and he was awfully good. They are different in some ways that make a true comparison difficult. Magic didn't cry as much, but then no one did back then I guess.
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I'm a fairly old dude, so I watched Magic from his days at Sparty, but honestly i don't think there is any better comparison. Both are extraordinarily large for exceptional ball handling and distribution and both facilitators that could also score in abundance. Triple double machines. Yes Magic was absolutely fantastic, one of the greatest ever. LBJ is too, even if he isn't the killer that Magic or Jordan were.
 
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kujirakira said:
True, but he probably would've won less.
It's not like Lebron hasn't won at all.
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Yes who knows what Jordan would have done without the talent around him. All we DO know is that LeBron won a fair amount with decent talent and has had to carry teams with minimal talent. I'm doubting they win this series, but if they do, I'm beyond impressed with LBJ.
 
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LitlBuck said:
I think that Lebron is a tremendous leader.. For him to rent out a ballroom before the first game of the Finals to tell the guys what to expect and to bring them closer together met a whole lot. I know that he is not lacking in dollars but to give all of the guys Apple watches after they were done eating speaks volumes about him. At first I thought the same thing that many of you are probably thinking that he can afford it but this is not the first time he is given his current teammates presents and just speaks volumes about his leadership. He did not have to do it.
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He's as much a coach on this team as he is a player, and that's what probably sets him apart...note-- not makes better..from guys like Magic, Jordan, Bird. His basketball IQ is unreal. I still don't like him, but I am in awe of him as a player. The amount of growth he experienced over the four years in Miami is unreal.
 
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matcar said:
Yes who knows what Jordan would have done without the talent around him. All we DO know is that LeBron won a fair amount with decent talent and has had to carry teams with minimal talent. I'm doubting they win this series, but if they do, I'm beyond impressed with LBJ.
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If the Cavs win this series, I'll be ready to hear arguments for him as the GOAT. Don't think they will, but they now have a puncher's chance...and it's because of LeBald.
 
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NFBuck said:
He's as much a coach on this team as he is a player, and that's what probably sets him apart...note-- not makes better..from guys like Magic, Jordan, Bird. His basketball IQ is unreal. I still don't like him, but I am in awe of him as a player. The amount of growth he experienced over the four years in Miami is unreal.
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See that's where I would also put him with Magic...BB IQ. Magic started at center in a game in the finals I believe...the ability to play all 5 positions doesn't just take size and talent, but a tremendous understanding of the entire team concept.
 
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kujirakira said:
True, but he probably would've won less.
It's not like Lebron hasn't won at all.
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At the same time though, LeBron hasn't technically won it all without great talent around him. Had it at Miami, and starting next year will have it again. In fact most likely his only opportunity to win it all without much talent around him will be this year. That is of course assuming Love comes back and Kyrie isn't out again next year and going forward. And that's only referring to winning it all, not taking a team far in the playoffs. But it seems like that's the point your're making.
 
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matcar said:
I'm a fairly old dude, so I watched Magic from his days at Sparty, but honestly i don't think there is any better comparison. Both are extraordinarily large for exceptional ball handling and distribution and both facilitators that could also score in abundance. Triple double machines. Yes Magic was absolutely fantastic, one of the greatest ever. LBJ is too, even if he isn't the killer that Magic or Jordan were.
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I agree its the most apt comparison, I am just not ready to annoint LBJ as better...yet.
 
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