Recently, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers has achieved another stat that nobody knew existed. He is the first player in NBA history with 30,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 assist, a stat i never cared about.
All of James’ fans came out the woodworks to try to argue about how he is the greatest of all time. In reality, it’s not true. I do not even consider LeBron to be in the top five players of all time. My top five of all time would consist of Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Rusell.
Those five have a combined 30 NBA championships with the lowest winner being Wilt Chamberlain with two and the best winner being Bill Russell who has won 11 titles.
I know winning championships does not consider you to be the greatest. If it did then the top five would all be Celtics, being that during the 50s and 60s, the Celtics won 11 titles.
Some people say that LeBron James is the greatest at his position while others still have Larry Bird as the top dog. Larry Bird’s career stats were averages of 24.3 points per game 10 rebounds per game and 6.3 assist per game, along with three championships and three MVP awards. James beats out Bird in points and assist, but they are equal in championships even though James has been in the league more and played in more finals.
If you are not the clear cut best at your position, then there is no way that you are in the top five, let alone the greatest to ever play the game.
LeBron James is a skillful player, and I’m not taking that from him, but his success in the NBA has not been a difficult one. Since the year 2010, Lebron has been on teams with players that you would only see on a video game. While on the Miami Heat he was paired with the likes of Ray Allen, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
That team included three of the top picks from their draft class and two of the greatest 3-point shooters of all time. In Cleveland, he had Kyrie Irving JR Smith and Kevin Love amongst others.
It does something to me when you have a player of his caliber who gathers the best talent from the teams around the league and complains about every call. People celebrate how he has been to the finals seven consecutive times.
When you have a roster like his, you’re suppose to make it. When he does go however, he loses to teams that are built rather than paid for.
He has lost to the Spurs, the Mavericks and the Warriors with and without Kevin Durant.
LeBron James is a great player, but he is not the greatest nor is he in the top five.