‘LeBron James is the best basketball player I’ve ever seen’ – Marcus Spears denies Michael Jordan comparisons to praise LeBron’s evolution

LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to score 36,000 on Tuesday. James is the third player to reach the milestone.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who retired in 1989 after 20 seasons, is the league’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points. Karl Malone, who retired in 2004 after 19 seasons, was second with 36,928 points. And James, with 36,001 points, can beat Malone this season.

In a video posted on “First Take” on Wednesday, ESPN sports analyst Marcus Spears stated:

“LeBron James is the best basketball player I’ve ever seen.”

LeBron James is the “King”

LeBron James has averaged 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in 1,325 regular appearances over 19 seasons.

James has won 4 championships (2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat, 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and 2020 with the Lakers). He was the MVP of the NBA Finals in each of those years. Additionally, he’s a 17-time All-Star, three-time All-Star Game MVP, and a six-time All-Defensive team member.

Needless to say, “The King” has earned his crown.

But is he the best player ever?

Spears says James is the greatest and he explains:

“I know this argument goes around, but for me personally, LeBron is the greatest. What it really boils down to is…not just how his game has evolved, but the journey to get there.”

James has been playing basketball professionally for more than half his life – he was born on December 30, 1984, and was initiated by the Cavaliers on June 26, 2003. The interval between the dates is 6,752 days.

James has been around long enough to see gameplay change through new generations. James’s basketball IQ allows him to adjust his game in the face of changes. When he needed to learn how to shoot deep, he did. At a time when LeBron was already famous as a superstar, he was still trying to grow.

Spears was touched by James’ growth by saying:

“We talked about him not being able to shoot, so he became a better shooter. We talked about his card game, he went and became a better card player. He’s developed things about the game, about his career, and he just keeps getting better at a time when he’s already the best in the game. ”

Of course, comparisons to Michael Jordan will emerge. In the debate over who is or is the greatest ever to do it in the NBA, Jordan’s name shined in the conversation. The man who became the hallmark of superstardom in the NBA will forever be closely woven in the “greatest man” negotiations.

Spears, a former NFL player, said his opinion is not merely personal but is supported by evidence. There’s nothing he says that one can’t really immediately disagree with other than personal bias.

“For me, when I was 38 years old, and I knew that the Jordan era, and I knew everyone would fight to the end for MJ. LeBron James is the best basketball player I’ve ever seen in my life,” Spears said.

Spears graduated from the Southern Lab in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2001 and played for four years for Louisiana State University before being started in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2005.

Jordan initially retired in 1998 but later returned to the NBA with the Washington Wizards in 2001-02 and 2002-03. So Jordan’s first retirement coincided with the final three seasons of Spears’ high school career, when Spears was also one of the nation’s top basketball rookies.

James, meanwhile, was a national high school star before being first drafted in 2003 by Cleveland. So Spears, who will turn 39 in March, and James, who turns 37 on Thursday, are contemporaries.

Spears makes it clear that James is simply the greatest player he’s ever played in real-time – implying that he can never see enough Jordan, who turns 59 in February, to shape up. to a different point of view. It didn’t seem like a comparison, and more of an acknowledgment of the greatness he had witnessed with his own eyes.

LeBron James’s Growing Basketball IQ

LeBron James’s statistical growth through his lifespan speaks to just how high his basketball IQ can grow. There seems to be no limit to which areas of the game he can learn to thrive and dominate.

Of course, so did Michael Jordan in his 15 seasons.

Criticized for his poor ability to shoot from the outside, Jordan developed his shots well, especially from three points (17.3% as a rookie). Criticized as merely an offensive performer, he became a defensive devil. Jordan was the Defensive Player of the Year 1987-88 and a nine-time Defensive Team member that led the league in three steals.

Jordan’s burning desire to eliminate any perceived weakness is one of his hallmarks.

James is averaging 27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game at his age. His Lakers (17-18) may only be seventh in the Western Conference, but his latest milestone speaks volumes. Becoming the youngest player to hit 36,000 points is one of the biggest achievements of his career. It proves his age-old dominance, his ability to grow, and his level of basketball IQ.

James hit a triple brace in a 132-123 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. He finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists – even with superstars Russell Westbrook also denotes a three-pair. James’ greatness, even with his team’s poor record, seemed to stand out more towards the end of the year.

Carmelo Anthony and Westbrook, who have banded together for 19 All-Star appearances, are known for their dominance. However, when placed next to James, LeBron is almost coaching the two. When James is with them, he is seen trying to raise their basketball IQ. This is the mark of greatness from James.

Spears spoke of James’ impact with his presence and absence in the franchise:

“We talked about super teams and how he made those teams, but those teams didn’t do much after he left. I don’t think it’s a coincidence, I just think LeBron James is part of that lineup. ”

James has a tearful effect on his greatness, meaning it spills over into the players on his team. “The King” needs time to point out the positives and negatives of everyone’s game and guide them to make better decisions that ultimately influence the development of the next step in the game. their.

Also readThe article continues below

James’ greatness is supported enough by his stats and praise but can really be seen through his influence on those around him.