I just mentioned in another thread how I sports hate LBJ more than any athlete ever. I started watching the NBA in 77, he is the second best player I have seen. He won't catch MJ but I think he will go down as the #2 GOAT-weak conference competition or not.
I also think his Game 6 is Boston in 2012 is the best or second best NBA performance ever (only Magic as a rookie in Game 6 of Finals compares). To exceed the hype is extremely impressive, but he has done it (but I still sports hate him)
Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
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Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
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Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
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Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
I guess some posters are too young to remember the hype, both for LeBron and for other players before him. I can only think of 3 players who had this level of hype while in high school.
1. Kareem
2. Ralph Sampson
3. LeBron James
Nobody else even comes close to it. Kareem lived up to his hype. Sampson got injured, but it's unclear he ever would have. I blame his college coach for that, he way over-coached him.
LeBron got this cover as a Junior, he went out and won the high school national championship the following year.

Then he got this cover as a rookie before he ever even made an all star team

Kareem, Sampson and LeBron are the only 3 who had that kind of expectation placed upon them while they were still in High School.
1. Kareem
2. Ralph Sampson
3. LeBron James
Nobody else even comes close to it. Kareem lived up to his hype. Sampson got injured, but it's unclear he ever would have. I blame his college coach for that, he way over-coached him.
LeBron got this cover as a Junior, he went out and won the high school national championship the following year.

Then he got this cover as a rookie before he ever even made an all star team

Kareem, Sampson and LeBron are the only 3 who had that kind of expectation placed upon them while they were still in High School.
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Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
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Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
There's never been a player that had the hype that Lebron had.
2024: Maybe there's some hope?
Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
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Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
LesGrossman wrote:He has been protected throughout his whole NBA career tbh. No travel calls no charging calls no techs on constant barking. And to see people claim he "wills a whole team to a title" and "has nothing left to prove" is the most ridiculous thing i've seen in a while, considering he bailed on his home team and ganged up with some prime alpha players and still didnt instantly deliver but needed a bunch of high end role players around him. He did not do much "on his own" and he has a lot to prove. Namely, join a team without superstars, preferrably in the west, and prove its really YOU making the difference.
If i look at Curry or Durant, their teams sucked when they came in and yet they didnt bail on them, i really hope Steph makes it this year. Because he proves that loyality and slow and steady development CAN work out and chasing quick and easy success is ...cheap.
And if you guys dont like critical replies, maybe dont open these propaganda topics in the general board.
Lebron gave Cleveland a chance to Out a championship team around him his first stint and they failed. He gave them 6 years. Steph and KD also has more talent around them as their career expanded than he did in Cleveland. Funny how Shaq went to LA and won titles nobody bashed him for leaving liken they do Lebron
Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
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Re: Has there ever been a player that lived up to the hype like LeBron?
CodyB_ wrote:Hell yeah he has.
The guy is at a point where he could take the worst team in the league and make it a 50 win team just by being there.
I think he is the best basketball player of all time, over Russell, over Jordan over anyone just because of that fact.
Need a point guard? You've got Lebron to run the offense. Need inside game? You got Lebron to play with whatever defender is in front of him in the paint. Need 35ppg? You got Lebron to get key basket after key basket? CRAP. You need some defense? Lebron can shut down your point guard, guard your defense or anchor the whole damn defense.
Scary thing is he can do all of those things in a single game.
If not anything, he is the most versatile guy of all time but I seriously think he is the best.
Great post.
I think that LeBron in 5 years will legit make people argue MJ vs LeBron for the next 30 years. If he wins one or two more rings and keeps on the pace he is on with statistics, we could 100% be seeing the new GOAT.
Trying to be unbiased here, but games like last night in game 4, I honestly dont know of any basketball player that can do the things he was doing with his steals, dunks, defense, shooting, rebounding and assisting all while leading the team as a player/coach. It is simply amazing