LeBron James (2008-09 NBA MVP)

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

NOW we can officially start talking about Jordan and James side by side.

I'm sure you didn't mean that literally.

LeBron is coming of age though, and I'm VERY happy to see it.

[EastSide]

CBS Sportsline


King me!!!

Quote
"After the breathtaking display of talent and will gave the Cavs a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals, the 22-year-old star said he felt terrible.

"I'm banged up. I'm winded. I'm fatigued," he said. "I've got all day tomorrow. It's going to be tough to get some rest when you got a crazy, 2-year-old running around the house. So hopefully, I can take him to one of his grandma's house.""


thank God for Grandma

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

NOW we can officially start talking about Jordan and James side by side.

I think of it as an important step, a giant one, on the path to LeBron being the guaranteed rainmaker at clutch time. When that journey is done he becomes the man the Cavs can lean on in playoff games, the man who both makes the points and scores the points, the man the opposition fears because they cannot stop him.
When that journey takes him to a title, then I think the side by side comparisons become fair to James, when you speak of LeBron alongside Magic Johnson that is.

[Cornerback6]

Amazing performance, but he'll need more than a handful and a ring or three to be compared to MJordan.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

NOW we can officially start talking about Jordan and James side by side.

Or not.....

The guy has had some great playoff games, but let's not say he's the next MJ until he wins a ring or 3.....or a couple MVPs....

he's only 22 so it isn't like he doesn't have time or anything though....but he's not on MJs level yet.

That said, if he's truly taken the next step, they close Detroit out in Cleveland in the next game. MJ would. They were there last year and didn't get it done.....

[crazybuckfan40]

Not putting him on Jordan's level yet, but that was a Jordan like performance...

[TRON]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

NOW we can officially start talking about Jordan and James side by side.

No, we can't.

[ScarletBlood31]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

NOW we can officially start talking about Jordan and James side by side.

Let's wait for them to win the series first....



But as far as individual performances, it definitely is up there with what Jordan has done.

[BayBuck]

Why does the comparison to MJ have to include his entire completed career? Jordan was a bonafide superstar by his third season but didn't take the Bulls to the Eastern finals until his 5th year, and didn't make it to the NBA Finals until his 7th: LeBron's got the Cavs one game away from the NBA Finals in year 4.

[BB73]

Originally Posted by BayBuck

Why does the comparison to MJ have to include his entire completed career? Jordan was a bonafide superstar by his third season but didn't take the Bulls to the Eastern finals until his 5th year, and didn't make it to the NBA Finals until his 7th: LeBron's got the Cavs one game away from the NBA Finals in year 4.

Good points. I think that last night LBJ has equalled anything that MJ did in any individual playoff game, and he showed he can deliver in crunch-time in a huge game. But they need to finish off Detroit for the performance to retain its historical value.

But they don't need to beat San Antonio this year to validate LeBron's status as the #1 star for the next several years in the NBA.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

Not putting him on Jordan's level yet, but that was a Jordan like performance...

Now that it is true! except for his free-throw shooting

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by BayBuck

Why does the comparison to MJ have to include his entire completed career? Jordan was a bonafide superstar by his third season but didn't take the Bulls to the Eastern finals until his 5th year, and didn't make it to the NBA Finals until his 7th: LeBron's got the Cavs one game away from the NBA Finals in year 4.

Let's not forget that MJ had a much better supporting cast around him plus a much better offensive coach to take him to those Finals.

[Ttown]

IMO James isn't as good as Jordan was yet. but he can be. He is showing signs of coming alive in his role

[TRON]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Let's not forget that MJ had a much better supporting cast around him plus a much better offensive coach to take him to those Finals.

MJ was also older too.

The King is only 22.

The scary thing is once the Cavs get a coach and a team around him, Cleveland will be unstoppable.

[Oh8ch]

To be clear, I didn't say LJ=MJ, and I am not convinced he ever will be, but....

1. Four years out of HS MJ was a rookie in the NBA.

2. The Bulls were not a great team without Jordan, but the Cavaliers do not even have a Scottie Pippen.

3. Nor do the Cavs have a Phil Jackson.

4. He COMPLETELY took over an NBA game against a very good defensive team in a critical game at THEIR house. It was a remarkable performance by ANY standard. If it is his only such performance we will some day forget who he was. It will not be.


Forget all about the stats, how many playoffs he has won and even what he did last night. Watch what this kid can do on a basketball court. He absolutely merits comparisons to Jordan.