what are the odds luka can reach lebron peak?

[falcolombardi]

it was a semi common take back in 2020 amd 2021 but it died down

do you think he has it on him to reach that kind of level ?

[sp6r=underrated]

Was it a common take? People are nuts

[falcolombardi]

Was it a common take? People are nuts

kinda, people were pointing out how he was better than lebron at the same age (which i didnt agree with)

and that he had goat potential, people went down over him after the bad start this season

i ask this because funnily enough , i actually think people have started to sleep a bit on him as a potential top 10 ever kind of player

back then i was the guy saying "he is great but is unlikely he will reach that level"

now i think the same think but nobody thinks luka has any chance anymore of reaching that level, so now i am higher on him that most people i see when i was the guy trying to calm down peopke over luka hype a bit

since i actually think he has, even if slim, a chance of reaching lebron level (if all breaks right that is)

[Dutchball97]

His career arc has been pretty similar. Both made an immediate impact as 19 year old rookies, made massive jumps to become top tier players in their sophomore year and then both stayed around that level for two more years. Luka will have to take another big step to reach LeBrons peak level though. I'd say there is still a chance but it is starting to look unlikely.

[No-more-rings]

Almost 0. He's extremely talented, but i don't quite see goat potential in him.

[No-more-rings]

kinda, people were pointing out how he was better than lebron at the same age (which i didnt agree with)

Even if true, that's never a good argument. You can name countless examples of a player being better at a certain age than others, doesn't mean much in the grand scheme. Anthony Davis at age 21 was better than Duncan at 21, you see how that worked out.

[falcolombardi]

His career arc has been pretty similar. Both made an immediate impact as 19 year old rookies, made massive jumps to become top tier players in their sophomore year and then both stayed around that level for two more years. Luka will have to take another big step to reach LeBrons peak level though. I'd say there is still a chance but it is starting to look unlikely.

luka was a 20 year old rookie* that ks actually the reason i disagree with the better at his age arguments

luka entered the league 10 Months older and more importantly with experience against grown men and high level pros in europe vs lebron against high school kids, he was just more prepared for the nba

once you realize that age wise 2005 lebron=2019 luka and 2006 lebron=2020 luka the age advantage argument dissapears

also interestingly enough next season for luka would be equivalent to 2009 for lebron which is when lebron made the big leap into his prime/peak

wonder if luka has such a leap in him

[Dutchball97]

His career arc has been pretty similar. Both made an immediate impact as 19 year old rookies, made massive jumps to become top tier players in their sophomore year and then both stayed around that level for two more years. Luka will have to take another big step to reach LeBrons peak level though. I'd say there is still a chance but it is starting to look unlikely.

luka was a 20 year old rookie* that ks actually the reason i disagree with the better at his age arguments

luka entered the league 10 Months older and more importantly with experience against grown men and high level pros in europe vs lebron against high school kids, he was just more prepared for the nba

once you realize that age wise 2005 lebron=2019 luka and 2006 lebron=2020 luka the age advantage argument dissapears

also interestingly enough next season for luka would be equivalent to 2009 for lebron which is when lebron made the big leap into his prime/peak

wonder if luka has such a leap in him

Luka didn't turn 20 untill late february though, so I'd definitely still call him a 19 year old rookie. If anything I don't get why LeBrons rookie season isn't listed as his age 18 season instead, these cut-offs seem pretty arbitrary.

I'm not really all that interested in the age arguments as different people develop in different ways as well so someone being better at a younger age doesn't always translate in them always staying ahead. I'm not sure if Luka has another big leap in him but he does have clear paths of improvement with his conditioning and his defense. We have Jokic as a very recent example of what can happen when a star player comes into the season in shape instead of playing his way into shape. If Luka goes through something similar who knows how high his ceiling will be.

[Mr B]

His career arc has been pretty similar. Both made an immediate impact as 19 year old rookies, made massive jumps to become top tier players in their sophomore year and then both stayed around that level for two more years. Luka will have to take another big step to reach LeBrons peak level though. I'd say there is still a chance but it is starting to look unlikely.

luka was a 20 year old rookie* that ks actually the reason i disagree with the better at his age arguments

luka entered the league 10 Months older and more importantly with experience against grown men and high level pros in europe vs lebron against high school kids, he was just more prepared for the nba

once you realize that age wise 2005 lebron=2019 luka and 2006 lebron=2020 luka the age advantage argument dissapears

also interestingly enough next season for luka would be equivalent to 2009 for lebron which is when lebron made the big leap into his prime/peak

wonder if luka has such a leap in him

Luka was 19 years old when his rookie season started not 20.

[LukaTheGOAT]

I don't think anyone touches Lebron's peak, but I believe his average prime year could still be comparable. Luka has a game that could age pretty well if he takes care of himself and doesn't turn into a James Harden with conditioning and unfortunate injuries. Similar to a Magic who never got HIV.

[magicman1978]

Zero. Even if he matches him offensively, he won't be anywhere near peak LeBron defensively.

[Prokorov]

it was a semi common take back in 2020 amd 2021 but it died down

do you think he has it on him to reach that kind of level ?

I mean, Lebron has one of the best and longest peaks ever. Not just statistically but impact and topping it off with a title.

id put it very very low

[Texas Chuck]

Odds seem very very very very small. I get that Luka got off to a great start but Lebron's trajectory is never something that should be assumed. We are talking about the GOAT here. I hope we let Luka be Luka rather than being down on him for not reaching unrealistic expectations. We did this to AD on this very board where many posters were trying to label him future GOAT in like 2015. We have to slow down.

[70sFan]

It seems unlikely, to me his ceilling is probably Magic Johnson with better longevity, but I'm not sure he will reach that level either.

I don't think anyone touches Lebron's peak,

Among current players, or all-time?

[70sFan]

Odds seem very very very very small. I get that Luka got off to a great start but Lebron's trajectory is never something that should be assumed. We are talking about the GOAT here. I hope we let Luka be Luka rather than being down on him for not reaching unrealistic expectations. We did this to AD on this very board where many posters were trying to label him future GOAT in like 2015. We have to slow down.

I always like the way you give huge respect towards NBA legends, without taking shots at contemporary players. It's a rare balance here :)

[Texas Chuck]

Odds seem very very very very small. I get that Luka got off to a great start but Lebron's trajectory is never something that should be assumed. We are talking about the GOAT here. I hope we let Luka be Luka rather than being down on him for not reaching unrealistic expectations. We did this to AD on this very board where many posters were trying to label him future GOAT in like 2015. We have to slow down.

I always like the way you give huge respect towards NBA legends, without taking shots at contemporary players. It's a rare balance here

I just think great players are great and can't control when they played. Russell and West and Oscar and Kareem and Doc and Moses and Bird and Mike and Shaq and Duncan and Kobe and Curry and Jokic can all be great. And we don't have to worry if they would have been as great if they played at another time. They can only play when they played.

Now my knowledge pre-Russell is really limited so you will note I never join you historians on discussions prior to that because I'd be talking out my backside if I did. But I do appreciate listening to you guys and understand there were great players prior to the 60's even if my knowledge basically stops at Mikan.

I think Luka is great. And is going to be better. I mean he still has some really obvious things it doesn't seem unreasonable to think he will tighten up -- his conditioning, his FT shooting, some decision-making stuff(this is the hardest to presume obviously)-- that leave room for additional improvement.

But Lebron is a guy with a peak right up there with basically anyone and longevity up there with basically anyone. I'd love for Luka to match that--how much fun would that be for all us? But realistically that's just so unlikely.

[feyki]

It seems unlikely, to me his ceilling is probably Magic Johnson with better longevity, but I'm not sure he will reach that level either.

I don't think anyone touches Lebron's peak,

Among current players, or all-time?

Don't think Lebron's peak clearly ahead of Magic's.

[70sFan]

It seems unlikely, to me his ceilling is probably Magic Johnson with better longevity, but I'm not sure he will reach that level either.

I don't think anyone touches Lebron's peak,

Among current players, or all-time?

Don't think Lebron's peak clearly ahead of Magic's.

Offensively I don't think either, but defensive gap is massive. Magic has no case over LeBron overall in my opinion. I know that you don't care about defense though.

[eminence]

Between minimal and low, on the numbers listed I lean minimal, but Luka probably has the highest potential peak of any young guy currently in the league, so want to give him some props with low.

[feyki]

It seems unlikely, to me his ceilling is probably Magic Johnson with better longevity, but I'm not sure he will reach that level either.



Among current players, or all-time?

Don't think Lebron's peak clearly ahead of Magic's.

Offensively I don't think either, but defensive gap is massive. Magic has no case over LeBron overall in my opinion. I know that you don't care about defense though.

Don't you overestimate Lebron's defensive impact?