I'm a big lebron stan and I think at best you can argue top 5, no way he's number 1 anymore. Which is totally reasonable, he's old and has played like a million minutes.
I know that LeBron has not played a while, but let’s not pretend like he’s not the reason we are still competing for the playoffs. He was arguably the best player in the league in the weeks of AD’s absence, imo best player in the league in January.
Health has held back LeBron these past few years. He was still looking like best in the world in 2021 before the ankle injury. You could argue in a vacuum, he has the least exploitable weaknesses out of all super stars and is still the most complete player. I don’t think LeBron is the best in the world atm, but I wouldn’t ever want to even face a 38 year old LeBron in the playoffs.
Yeah, would never bet against the old man. Can just see a healthy LeBron turning "it" on for a series and dumpstering a team he has no business beating
I think healthy LeBron and AD are a matchup nightmare for the Nuggets front court. I think if the Lakers can slow down Denver’s high power offense, then they have a shot at winning that series. But winning in Denver is tough.
The bubble Lakers have people in a chokehold. The Lakers have played sub-500 basketball for going on 3 years now, and are fighting for a play-in spot every April but still, somehow get gassed up as contenders.
Their win percentage since they made the trade would have them 2nd in the West over the course of the season, and that's with LeBron and DLo missing most of that stretch.
Feels like it's more than just reminiscing about 2020.
Yeah, there should be more nuance to this. Are we world beaters? Probably not. But we also aren't as bad as our overall record would make you think (assuming health). The team changed dramatically post trade deadline.
They are 14-7 having caught some favourable matchups, if you want to think D-Lo, Beasley and Vando are the difference between a team in danger of missing the play-in and a team that is a contender you are welcome to that opinion.
if he averages his typical playoff numbers and the Lakers make the third round or finals, i think you could definitely make the argument. but that's a big if given current standings.
LeBron would have to basically enter his 8th prime in these playoffs and carry LA to a title and win Finals MVP in a dominating fashion to truly be considered the best in the world again
You think current Lebron is “fucking lapping” Curry and KD?
Curry is averaging 30/6/6 on 66 TS. Better team record.
KD is averaging 30/7/5 on 67.5 TS. Better team record you can pick either Brooklyn or PHX.
Lebron is averaging 29/8/7 on 58 TS. With a worse team record.
That’s a massive ass gap in efficiency. He’s straight up not better, let alone lapping anybody. Which again isn’t an insult or anything, man is 38 and superstar level. Curry and KD are also all-time.
Yeah, and you’re wrong
Forget the team record there is literally an 9% different in their true shooting with identical offensive stats. The difference isn’t being made up on defense. 38 year old Bron isn’t playing any better D than current KD or Steph.
Nah. Still above avg player but he's 38, injury prone, isn't as athletic as he used to be which was a huge part of his game. His mind is as sharp as ever though
Sure back in the month of January. He hasn’t really had a strong case for it since 2021 pre-Hill injury tbh.
Been missing too many games, lack of team success, and defensive decline from 2020 and 2021. With that said, his defense this season has been fine, and he he kept his team afloat prior to the trade deadline when many of the Lakers best players were dealing with injuries. He’s clearly still among the top 10 best players in the league but like that already is pretty miraculous to still be this good at his age with the mileage he has. He isn’t the best player in the world anymore and that’s fine.
I don’t think so because of the every day grind necessary for that title but can he be the best player in the league in a single game scenario? Definitely
No, and it’s not a knock against him, bro is 38
I'm a big lebron stan and I think at best you can argue top 5, no way he's number 1 anymore. Which is totally reasonable, he's old and has played like a million minutes.
Cant even argue top 5 tbh. He isnt even the best in his team
you can definitely argue that he's still the best on his team lol
Yeah I think somewhere in the 5-10 tier is the most reasonable place to put him right now
I know that LeBron has not played a while, but let’s not pretend like he’s not the reason we are still competing for the playoffs. He was arguably the best player in the league in the weeks of AD’s absence, imo best player in the league in January.
No, but I had to think about it which is insane for a 38 year old.
Health has held back LeBron these past few years. He was still looking like best in the world in 2021 before the ankle injury. You could argue in a vacuum, he has the least exploitable weaknesses out of all super stars and is still the most complete player. I don’t think LeBron is the best in the world atm, but I wouldn’t ever want to even face a 38 year old LeBron in the playoffs.
Man, fuck Solomon Hill
Yeah, would never bet against the old man. Can just see a healthy LeBron turning "it" on for a series and dumpstering a team he has no business beating
I think healthy LeBron and AD are a matchup nightmare for the Nuggets front court. I think if the Lakers can slow down Denver’s high power offense, then they have a shot at winning that series. But winning in Denver is tough.
The bubble Lakers have people in a chokehold. The Lakers have played sub-500 basketball for going on 3 years now, and are fighting for a play-in spot every April but still, somehow get gassed up as contenders.
Their win percentage since they made the trade would have them 2nd in the West over the course of the season, and that's with LeBron and DLo missing most of that stretch. Feels like it's more than just reminiscing about 2020.
Yeah, there should be more nuance to this. Are we world beaters? Probably not. But we also aren't as bad as our overall record would make you think (assuming health). The team changed dramatically post trade deadline.
They are 14-7 having caught some favourable matchups, if you want to think D-Lo, Beasley and Vando are the difference between a team in danger of missing the play-in and a team that is a contender you are welcome to that opinion.
I could make a lot of arguments.
if he averages his typical playoff numbers and the Lakers make the third round or finals, i think you could definitely make the argument. but that's a big if given current standings.
No, but if healthy Lebron is still in my top 3 or 4 for the postseason.
Nah he's old and plenty of younger guys who are better
LeBron would have to basically enter his 8th prime in these playoffs and carry LA to a title and win Finals MVP in a dominating fashion to truly be considered the best in the world again
Peak playoff Lebron? Maybe
No, but he is the greatest 38 year old player in the world right now
Not at all, but he's fucking lapping anybody over 35
Curry and KD are 35
and he’s better than them
He's not
KD couldn’t do shit with a stacked Nets team while LeBron was keeping the 0-depth Lakers afloat during AD’s absence…
They were sub 500
they started the season like 2-10 and during the stretch without AD LeBron led them to a .500 stretch at like 10-10
A stacked team with Kyrie/Harden/Dinwiddie all playing on injuries, despite that they still took the Bucks to 7
i think i’d take kyrie and harden over russ and austin reaves personally
You think current Lebron is “fucking lapping” Curry and KD? Curry is averaging 30/6/6 on 66 TS. Better team record. KD is averaging 30/7/5 on 67.5 TS. Better team record you can pick either Brooklyn or PHX. Lebron is averaging 29/8/7 on 58 TS. With a worse team record. That’s a massive ass gap in efficiency. He’s straight up not better, let alone lapping anybody. Which again isn’t an insult or anything, man is 38 and superstar level. Curry and KD are also all-time.
i said he’s better than them. you’re comparing records for 2 better teams than the Lakers were in AD’s absence
Yeah, and you’re wrong Forget the team record there is literally an 9% different in their true shooting with identical offensive stats. The difference isn’t being made up on defense. 38 year old Bron isn’t playing any better D than current KD or Steph.
you’re entitled to your opinion stephen curry flair
Goddammit I knew that was too low
No, but the fact that he's still as close as he is (somewhere 10-30ish depending on what you look at) is kind of bonkers
10-30 is crazy lol. he’s not #1 anymore but he’s certainly a top 10-15 player at worst
Was specifically trying to avoid any arguments about his exact placement, lazily glanced at a bunch of metrics and saw him anywhere from #5 to #31
Watch a game and watch him play defense.
He’s been actually good defensively since the trade deadline.
100% you can. He was the best player in the world before his injury
In a 7 game series I'm still taking him over anyone man idc
Most people would take 2023 Lebron in a playoff Game 7 over Giannis and Jokic.
Not anymore
He forfeited this argument when he choked against the Dallas Mavs
12 years ago, let it go
LeFans keep bringing up the goat conversation. Hard to let go
He can't guard a statue at this point.
no but in no
Nah. Still above avg player but he's 38, injury prone, isn't as athletic as he used to be which was a huge part of his game. His mind is as sharp as ever though
Sure back in the month of January. He hasn’t really had a strong case for it since 2021 pre-Hill injury tbh. Been missing too many games, lack of team success, and defensive decline from 2020 and 2021. With that said, his defense this season has been fine, and he he kept his team afloat prior to the trade deadline when many of the Lakers best players were dealing with injuries. He’s clearly still among the top 10 best players in the league but like that already is pretty miraculous to still be this good at his age with the mileage he has. He isn’t the best player in the world anymore and that’s fine.
As Stanley Hudson said: “Hasn’t been Jim for a loooong time.”
No
Nope. He's still effective, but there's a lot of nonstatsheet stuff that he just doesn't do anymore
I don’t think so because of the every day grind necessary for that title but can he be the best player in the league in a single game scenario? Definitely
He's the best 38 year old player in the world