Posted on 04/05/2025 1:34:23 PM PDT by nickcarraway
I don’t care about basketball or LeBron, but being a member of a team is different than being a lone wolf.
LeBron must be a good team player, passing the ball to somebody else when they have a better shot.
Lone wolf is a good one-on-one player keeping the ball to himself.
Apples and oranges.
He is the GOAT of flopping.
I don’t know much about basketball, but I am guessing “flopping” means being a drama queen to make it look like somebody fouled you.
Sports media, when the Lakers win: Theyfocus on all the Lebron highlights even when other teammates had a better game.
Also them: They focus on how badly the other teammates did when they lose a game, even when Lebron played horribly or worse than the other starting 4.
Yes. It’s not just in basketball. My understanding is it’s bad in soccer too. It’s much less in football.
MJ had to face a 60 plus win team first round of the playoffs early in his career, had a dynasty to get by (the Larry Bird Lakers) then get by another dynasty right after them (the Bad Boys Pistons) on the way to a three peat.
Lebron never had to face that.
Plus Jordan, in totality, throughout all of his career, played with less total All Star players than Lebron has, in totality, throughout his career, and had two three-peats, 6 championships in 8 years.
“I don’t know much about basketball, but I am guessing “flopping” means being a drama queen to make it look like somebody fouled you.”
This flopping nonsense is the single reason why soccer will never take root here...in North America.
My dad was getting very sick, but while he could still do it I took him to a Lakers game. LeBron made 1 basket in the entire first half. In the opening of the 3rd quarter he hit a 3 pointer. My dad, who was losing it, had the sense to tell me that he scored more points in that one shot than the entire first half. Then we shared an ice cream sandwich God bless my father and I will love LeBron for that memory of him.
LeBron is a swish
There are photoswhere three players from one soccer team are rolling on the ground, clutching a limb or joint, and one opposing player shrugging in front of a referee.
All high -faluting coaching aside … about the weak side and pick and roll and boxing out and then fast break and transition…. I think this is what basketball boils down to.
Im no fan of James - mainly for his kowtowing to the CCP and his faux racism stances - but he is undeniably one of the greatest ever and would excel in any format in any era.
Admire Tracy McGrady too - he is one of the few - Kevin Garnett being another - who made the jump from high school directly to the NBA and excelled.
Luca Doncic is going to be in LA long after LeBron is gone (at least Laker fans hope so).
Um…. Larry Bird Celtics. But yes, IMHO, Michael Jordan is the undisputed greatest of all time. What truly set him apart was his will to win…. Along with unmatched talent and drive. Such people are truly remarkable.
They brought him in to try and win a championship next season as he is being given time to gel with Lebron and Reaves (who is getting another year to get even better).
And the Bad Boy Pistons literally mugged MJ every game - and he still beat them (although I have always had a soft spot for Laimbeer… a force inside but he also had a sweet long shot….).
You have to realize, at one point in NBA history, it was a dueling rivalry between the Magic/Kareem Lakers and the Bird/McHale Celtics as to whom would win the championship.
Then, for 2 years the Thomas/Rodman/Laimbeer Pistons were on top.
Jordan had to get past the Celtics, then the Pistons, to get to glory.
For my daughter’s birthday twelve years ago, she wanted to go to a Eizarxs game as the Cavs / LeBron were in town. He had a terrible game and the Wizards won (a rare occurrence these days!) and the sports news next day was that LeBron was finished. Yet here we are….
Man I loved Laimbeer. That man could somehow tell where every referee was at any given time, and know if they were looking his way, and all the while when he was guarding others.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.