Disclaimer: LeBron Raymone James is undoubtedly the Best Basketball Player Of All Time. The following information and statistics given are a simply a courtesy to anyone with an ounce of doubt the King James might not be better than the 6x NBA Champion Michael Jordan. Notice I said best player of all time and not the greatest. It is impossible to say who is the greatest because greatness is unmeasurable. The purpose of this paper is to use hard, cold statistics to prove that Bron’s the best.  

Section 1: Rings

By far the most overrated statistic of all time, rings, championships, should be the most important measurement of success right? Wrong. I look back on all of the incredible players throughout the years who brought championships back to their city and think, “ What a talented team that was.”  The same can’t be said for LeBron, who had to will 5 out of 9 of his teams to a Finals appearance. “Name one team he had to carry, Tucker.” LeBron’s 2007 Cavs team that made it all the way to the Finals with a starting 5 of Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Illgauskas, Shannon Brown, and LeBron James. My point is that throughout LeBron’s Finals Career he has had to carry most of his past teams to victory. The exception being his run with the Miami Heat from 2010-14.

Section 2: Positionless Basketball

Everyone knows that when it comes to being an accomplished NBA player in today’s game and pace, you have to be extremely versatile. Players now have to adapt to the speed and physicality of the rigorous 82 game regular season. True centers struggle to get up and down the floor and just aren’t able to dominate the NBA like in years past. LeBron, however, has the ideal combination of size, conditioning, and skill to destroy the high hopes of every Eastern Conference team, season after season… after season.

Section 3: Longevity

If a player wishes to be good, he will bring his all every time he steps on the court. If a player wishes to be great, he will bring his all, every time he wakes up. The key to long-term success for any athlete is longevity. You see it in Tom Brady’s extremely successful 18 year career and in various ways I feel like Brady and Bron are alike. They both have had unthinkable success, they both have dominated in both of their sports, and they’re both like a fine wine. Consider this, in the 2017-18 regular season, LeBron averaged 27.5 ppg, a career-high 9.1 assists, a career-high 8.6 rebounds, while playing all 82 games. I know, it’s mind- boggling  that someone that’s been in the league 15 years could still maintain and even improve his game. But that is just the way of the King.

Section 4: Stats

As far as stats go, few even come close to Michael Jordan...except for LeBron. Here is a look at MJ’s legendary career statline: 30.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.3 apg, and 2.3 spg. Although he did average the most ppg ever, LeBron is beating him as an all-around, more complete player. Bron’s statline is ridiculous: 27.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 7.2 apg, and 1.6 spg. I know what you may be thinking, “What the heck Tucker, Mike has more ppg and spg, how is LeBron better?” Funny you ask because I feel that the best basketball players make their teammates better as well. The King’s rebounds and ability to push the ball up the court make for easy transition buckets. His excellent court vision and willingness to drive with strength as well as kick the rock out spreads the floor and creates opportunities for open 3-point snipers.

Conclusion: I could go on for hours writing about how LeBron carries himself in a manner that few could ever do having been put in his situation, how he has done so much for his community in Akron, his awareness and courage to voice his opinion on social injustices and although I really just wanted to focus on him as a player, LeBron James is so much more.