LBJ is currently the best basketball player. But it is close between LBJ and Kobe.
Is LBJ the best in history? Absolutely not. Of course it is difficult to compare across generations of players (because of rule changes and entry of foreign players) but even so... LBJ needs to win at least a handful or rings before he even enters the discussion of best ever.
I disagree...I think right now the best player and MVP of the league is Kevin Durant...will he get the award ? Hell no the NBA doesnt kiss his butt yet... but as far as being an all around player Durant is the best. Take Durant off the Thunder and that is the New Jersey Nets, maybe worse, take LBJ off the Cavs and they are still a 7 or 6 in the playoffs
Without Lebron, the Cavs miss the playoffs, easily. I just don't think Varejao, Jamison, and Mo Williams is enough to get a team into the top eight in the East.
As for Lebron vs. Durant, the two plays are about equal scorers (Durant is a slightly better shooter) and rebounders, but Lebron is a far, far superior passer and defender.
See here. The scoring / shooting / rebounding / turnovers stats are fairly close. However, there's no comparison between the assist numbers, and defense speaks for itself (i.e., Durant doesn't play any yet.) I love Durant, but to me, his current game is a step down from Lebron's.
It's unfairto compare stats to Lebron because he is the best stat stuffer I have ever seen (I am too young to have seen Oscar Robinson)
Lebron has the best all around game. I am just infatuated with the way Durant scores and he could absolutely revolutionize offense before he's done. To me he is unstoppable offensively at any point in the game. I still think Lebron can be stopped especially in that "offense" Mike Brown is running.
Just a subjective opinion.
The thing about Lebron is, he's every bit of the elite scorer that Durant is. Lebron actually scores more points per minute, he shoots a higher percentage from the floor, and he has a higher eFG%. He shoots a slightly lower percentage from three, but hits more threes per game. He has an .441 eFG% on jump shots, and a remarkable .751 eFG% on inside shots, compared to Durant shoots .446 eFG% on jumpers (almost an identical percentage), and .724 eFG% on inside shots.
Both are remarkable scorers, but percentage-wise, Lebron has been better. Even if you say that Durant has the slight lead in scoring, though, I don't think he's anywhere close in terms of passing and defense.
Durant will have more success , more championships and better all around stats when his career is all said and done, he brings more natural talent to the table IMO the only reason he doesnt get credit for him is because ESPN ABC TNT and the rest of the media is infatuated with Kobe/LeQueen Durant gets NO props the guy went on a streak of 25 plus games scoring over was it 25 ppg or 30? And all you heard was a little blurb on ESPN, if Queen was doing that it would be a different story. Its all about marketing, ESPN markets certain guys to us and ignore others and the public assumes that whatever we are fed we must eat. When I look at Kevin Durant I see Michael Jordan when I see Lebron James I see a egotistical ass with all Celtics bias aside on that statement. I see a guy that cares more about himself, his money, and himself. Durant I can tell cares about his team, his city, and the game by just watching him on the court.
I disagree, and I think you're letting your negative reaction to the Lebron hype cloud your vision of him. Yes, he's egotistical, and he makes a ton of money. However, he's a dominant player on both sides of the ball. Durant can only say that about offense right now, and even there, he's a far worse passer than he should be.
And as far as the statement goes about Anderson, Jamison, Williams and co. not being a playoff team....well then why is it that all we hear is how great of a supporting cast that the Cavs have if they wouldnt be able to hold their own. The Lakers are a playoff team w/out Kobe and I would take the Cavs over the current 7 or 8 seeds w/out LeQueen.
We hear about Lebron's *improved* supporting cast, but I don't think I've ever heard a neutral analyst say they'd be good enough to make the playoffs without Lebron. Is a team built around Jamison and Williams good enough to get by this year's Bobcats? The Bulls? I certainly don't think so.
As far as the Lakers, they have a little more talent (Bynum, Gasol, and Odom), but I don't think they'd be good enough to make the playoffs in the West. They probably could in the East, though.
Lebron and Kobe are elite players, two of the only players in the NBA good enough to be able to lift a team to playoff competition almost on their own. If you put Lebron or Kobe on the Nets, I firmly believe that's a playoff team. Those guys are that good.
That doesn't mean I don't like Durant -- or Wade, or Carmelo -- but I do think they're a step below Lebron and Kobe.