He’s such an incredible athletic force

LeBron James is the greatest basketballer of all time. There have been many great basketballers. You’re probably thinking of one in particular as you read this garbage.

But Michael Jordan is not the greatest basketballer ever. Neither is Bill Russell, or Wilt Chamberlain. Don’t make me laugh with Kobe Bryant.

No, LeBron James is the greatest and has been for some time.

By the time the King calls time on his stellar career, he should be the all-time leader in points and top five in assists.

He is already the all-time leader in points scored during the playoffs. He’s third in playoff assists and could take top spot there in time. He is top in steals and seventh in rebounds but could finish as high as third.

James is an incredible force of athleticism, skill and power of will.

At 2.03m and 113kg, he’s a stunning physical specimen.

He once ran a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, which is quicker than half the running backs in the NFL. On a basketball court, that means he takes just nine steps to go coast to coast, and at blistering speeds that leave the opposition gasping for air.

He can hurt you anyway he pleases. Three-point shooting, driving to the rim, post-ups, when James is on song, nobody can stop him.

The best bit is the fact he does it when it matters most. He has more game winning shots in the playoffs than Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan combined, including his stunning floater off the backboard against Toronto’s Raptors the other day.

Nobody has ever made the number 23 look so good. James hasn’t won as many NBA titles as other players. Jordan, Kobe, Russell, the list goes on.

But James didn’t have Pippen and Rodman helping him out. He didn’t have Shaq patrolling the paint. He didn’t play in the ’50s and ’60s, when there was no threepoint line.

He’s had good complementary assets but not players of that calibre.

Then there is James off the court. He’s a humanitarian. He stands for things. This isn’t a man who will just shut up and dribble.

On and off the court, James is doing things we’ve never seen.

Ben Strang

Ian Anderson