Throwdowns > Closed

DJRoxalot said 06/23, 10:38 AM
Wow. You think his ceiling has him becoming the 2nd best player of all time? That's pretty ballsy. I think that's way too high.

He will never be on the same par with Magic or MJ imo. He isn't the scorer MJ was and he isn't the passer Magic was. And I don't think he approaches either in titles.

And Oscar Robertson (like Magic) was a better overall player imo. More to come on this.

Larry Bird was better rebounder and a much more clutch player when it mattered. And I don't think he approaches Bird in title either.

So how high can he go?

NUMBER

Five.

Since you did a list first argument only pretty much, I will keep it short.

DJRoxalot said 06/23, 08:52 PM
Yep, he's just 27. But, he's played in the NBA for 9 seasons and in 689 games. An average of 77 games per season. He has managed to avoid serious injury too date, but he is a high flyer and his shock absorbers (knees) will eventually give out.

Kobe was in his 15th season this past regular season and while he is certainly still a good player, he is starting to slow down. Players that come to the NBA from high school don't play into their late 30's and early 40's like other players can when they play in a lot fewer games in 2-4 years of college.

James is in his prime now.

Nash played 4 seasons at Santa Clara before coming to the NBA so that wasn't a great example since he doesn't have the mileage on his body James will.

He has 19,045 points right now. For him to get another 27,000 points he would have to play another 10 years. And if he played in every game? He would have to average just under 33ppg. That isn't happening. If he played in 75 games a year (just under what he has), he would have to score 36ppg. I don't see him getting another 6,000 assists. He has just under 5,000 rebounds. So, 8,000 more rebounds is a stretch.

DJRoxalot said 06/24, 05:31 PM
Malone and Duncan also played 4 years or college basketball!!!! A maximum of 40 games or so a year as opposed to 82.

Huge difference.

I just don't see LeBron playing until he's 38, or even 37. I think he plays till he's 34 or 35, but don't think he will put the same numbers he is now. He has another 4, maybe 5 years at his current level.

The high flying style is going to take it's toll on his knees and saying he can average 75 games a season is just unrealistic imo. At some point his knees will give way and he will miss a significant amount of games. And he doesn't have the outside shot to become a perimeter player.

James is a great player and if he finishes top 5, that is a great career.

I don't think he comes close to MJ or Kobe. Both are more clutch when it comes to the postseason. Bird was a better rebounder and he was just as good a passer even if James averages more per game. But, Bird was a far better shooter and a clutch player. James could come close to Robertson, but I give the Big O the advantage because he was just 6-5. Yet, he was just as good at rebounding and a far better passer.