Where would ’08 Lebron James rank today?

[Matt15]

Where would 2008 Lebron rank in todays league overall?

[HeartBreakKid]

If Embiid has a solid run in the post season, I think James is 3 or 4. Maybe about as good as Giannis.

[Colbinii]

Clearly behind Jokic. In the tier with Giannis/Embiid/SGA.

[Cavsfansince84]

Clearly behind Jokic. In the tier with Giannis/Embiid/SGA.

I agree in terms of rs though I think SGA & Embiid both need to prove something in the playoffs and I'd actually take Luka before both as my team's #1 guy. So also taking 08 LeBron before both as well. 08 LeBron had already led a team to a finals and gave the 08 Celtics a close 7th game in Boston.

[Colbinii]

Clearly behind Jokic. In the tier with Giannis/Embiid/SGA.

I agree in terms of rs though I think SGA & Embiid both need to prove something in the playoffs and I'd actually take Luka before both as my team's #1 guy. So also taking 08 LeBron before both as well. 08 LeBron had already led a team to a finals and gave the 08 Celtics a close 7th game in Boston.

Tatum has led a team to the Finals, do you have him ahead of Embiid and SGA as well?

[eminence]

Clearly behind Jokic. In the tier with Giannis/Embiid/SGA.

I agree in terms of rs though I think SGA & Embiid both need to prove something in the playoffs and I'd actually take Luka before both as my team's #1 guy. So also taking 08 LeBron before both as well. 08 LeBron had already led a team to a finals and gave the 08 Celtics a close 7th game in Boston.

Tatum has led a team to the Finals, do you have him ahead of Embiid and SGA as well?

Folks should at least consider it, Tatum is a stud.

LeBron was a good enough player that in the right situation he could wind up above anybody in the league, but there's also about 5 guys who could wind up above him (SGA the least proven).

I voted top 3.

[Cavsfansince84]

Clearly behind Jokic. In the tier with Giannis/Embiid/SGA.

I agree in terms of rs though I think SGA & Embiid both need to prove something in the playoffs and I'd actually take Luka before both as my team's #1 guy. So also taking 08 LeBron before both as well. 08 LeBron had already led a team to a finals and gave the 08 Celtics a close 7th game in Boston.

Tatum has led a team to the Finals, do you have him ahead of Embiid and SGA as well?

Well, ya I'd consider it tbh. Having said that, Tatum is not 08 LeBron either while SGA has never made it out of the 1st rd and Embiid is a big time playoff dropper. So for me its a valid part of how I'd rank them.

[AEnigma]

I think 2008 Lebron would likely have multiple Finals appearances, and probably at least one outright win, if he had been drafted onto the 2017 Celtics.

[Pelly24]

This is an interesting question. This was right around the time I really thought of LeBron as the league's best player, had to accept that he was better than Kobe. I have a big thing about overcoming the odds and thriving in the postseason, so I would only take Jokic over 2008 LeBron. He would get to the rim like 10 times a game and finish 75-80% of his shots, still be a huge dynamo. not as polished as his peak but can't put anyone besides joker ahead of him for sure.

[iggymcfrack]

2008 LeBron had a BPM of 10.9 in the regular season and 10.1 in the playoffs. He was coming off leading an incredibly mediocre supporting cast to the Finals the year before. I think he’d be a clear #2 behind Jokic.

[TheGOATRises007]

In the RS itself, I would pick Jokic and Embiid over 08 LeBron.

And then I think LeBron has a strong argument over Giannis this season for top 3.

[TheGOATRises007]

I think 2008 Lebron would likely have multiple Finals appearances, and probably at least one outright win, if he had been drafted onto the 2017 Celtics.

Of course he would. He's a much better player than Tatum, so this exercise seems redundant.

[uberhikari]

People shouldn't judge 08 LeBron based on how good he was in his time. If 08 LeBron walked into this NBA with this much space I'm taking him over everybody except Joker. Where are the defensive bigs that are supposed to stop him at the rim? Who is supposed to even guard this man 1-on-1, especially with his passing ability? Oh, that's right, LeBron is also the best skip passer in NBA history so even if you try and clog the paint good luck stopping his passes. Not only that but 08 LeBron was already pretty close to being an All-Defense caliber defender.

We've already seen what kind of bums LBJ can drag to the finals, just imagine a lineup with LBJ at the 4; he'd be unguardable there. Even with elite role players like Bane, Dorian Finney-Smith, Brook, and Jrue he might be a favorite to win the title against even Joker.

[uberhikari]

I agree in terms of rs though I think SGA & Embiid both need to prove something in the playoffs and I'd actually take Luka before both as my team's #1 guy. So also taking 08 LeBron before both as well. 08 LeBron had already led a team to a finals and gave the 08 Celtics a close 7th game in Boston.

Tatum has led a team to the Finals, do you have him ahead of Embiid and SGA as well?

Folks should at least consider it, Tatum is a stud.

LeBron was a good enough player that in the right situation he could wind up above anybody in the league, but there's also about 5 guys who could wind up above him (SGA the least proven).

I voted top 3.

First, Tatum is not a stud. His offensive limitations stop him from being an offensive hub, namely his dribbling and passing, and his defense isn't enough to compensate for it because while it's elite, it's not exactly historically great.

Second, who are the 5 guys that could potentially be ahead of LeBron? Joker, ok, but after that who? Embiid and Shai are not even possibilities to me.

[OhayoKD]

Clearly behind Jokic. In the tier with Giannis/Embiid/SGA.

People shouldn't judge 08 LeBron based on how good he was in his time. .

What exactly has Jokic been done to be placed in a tier of his own? He's not the winningest player of this generation, he is not the most decorated. His impact-portfolio places two much better defenders as peers/rivals, and he was probably the most removed of the 3 from contention when he was missing his avengers.


Granted the "more spacing -> better" works better with Lebron than it does wade thanks to his height and power, but if he's clearly behind Jokic than he's not top 3. This Lebron also is not a great shooter and has work to do in the post and I'm not buying his playmaking over players like Luka and Jokic.

Any best in the league (or best outside of the Jokic of myth)case would rest on his defensive chops.

Also we can make the "he didn't have enough help" push(though it was underrated for 2007 due to defense), but let's not use weak competition to pretend the 2022 Celtics don't romp the 2007 Cavs. 2008 Cleveland was a better team anyway and outscoring the celtics is more impressive than working the 2007 pistons.

Also obligatory the league is alot more talented now. Kevin Durant is never 2nd best player itw if he was drafted today. Would be lucky to ever be top 5

[falcolombardi]

I think jokic and maybe giannis may be ahead of him, luka and shai right behind with embiid at around 6th

So maybe 3rd best if pressed and a 3rd-5th range albeit i may be still underating him as we dont know what peak athletism (if not peak skill and iq yet) lebron would look like in a small ball and spacing era....it is honestly frightening ti think of as he is probably the ultimate small ball player mold

[Gregoire]

Man, LeBron stans going berserk....

Top-5-7

Giannis
Joker
Embiid
SGA
Luka
Tatum

all are better

[falcolombardi]

Man, LeBron stans going berserk....

Top-5-7

Giannis
Joker
Embiid
SGA
Luka
Tatum

all are better

Embiid still doesnt have a playoffs performance on par with even pre 2009 lebron ones, tatum is like a less smart, less skilled, less athletic, smaller version of 2008 lebron with a bit more shooting

[tone wone]

I consider 2008 to be the start of Lebrons extended prime. Noticibly better than 2006 and 2007. It's basically 95% of 2009 and 90% of 2010.

It's a fun exercise to wonder what a wing with that combination of size/athleticism paired with that passing acumen and knack for scoring would look like with an extra 10-15 possessions. It's funny there aren't any 2008 Lebron fascimles in the league right now. Most of the elite slashers are all smaller guards. Most of the big wings are jumpshooters who kinda struggle to play/finish in traffic. And none of them other than Luka are anywhere in Lebrons galaxy as passers.

He'd be some unholy Luka/Giannis hybrid.

[falcolombardi]

I consider 2008 to be the start of Lebrons extended prime. Noticibly better than 2006 and 2007. It's basically 95% of 2009 and 90% of 2010.

It's a fun exercise to wonder what a wing with that combination of size/athleticism paired with that passing acumen and knack for scoring would look like with an extra 10-15 possessions. It's funny there aren't any 2008 Lebron fascimles in the league right now. Most of the elite slashers are all smaller guards. Most of the big wings are jumpshooters who kinda struggle to play/finish in traffic. And none of them other than Luka are anywhere in Lebrons galaxy as passers.

He'd be some unholy Luka/Giannis hybrid.

Miami butler who has been a top 5 playoffs player for the last half decade may be a interesting blue print

Physically strong point forward with a fairly physical game, streaky jumpshoot, strong passing, strong defense

2008 Lebron is just physically in a different world albeit miami butler may make up for it some with experience ans know how that comes with age