Schmeelk: LeBron James Is The Greatest Player Of This Generation -- Let's Leave It At That
By John Schmeelk
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For some reason, society has evolved to the point where greatness can't be appreciated on its own. It has to be cross-compared to others from different generations and put on a pedestal to determine who is "the best."
It's an argument and a discussion that can't be won. There is no right answer. There's opinion and yelling and screaming. The only thing that gets accomplished is dragging some great athlete down because you might be a fan of another.
Who was a better president, Lincoln or Washington? Who's the better actor, Denzel Washington or Paul Newman? What's the best movie of all time, "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Forrest Gump"? There's no way to compare them. They're all great in their own right.
Bill Russell was great. So was Wilt. And Kareem. Oscar was a beast. Jerry West is the logo. Larry Bird was a killer. Earvin was magic. Jordan defied gravity. Kobe was a mamba. Duncan was the great fundamental. And LeBron James is a freak.
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There will never be anyone like any of those great players ever again the same way there will never be anyone like James. He might have lost in the NBA Finals a few times, but has anyone ever been asked to do so much for his team? Has anyone ever been able to fill so many different roles on both ends of the floor? James led both teams in nearly every statistical category in this Finals run, something nobody has ever done.
In truth, James should have been in this conversation before he won this championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers. But he hadn't done it without Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He didn't have a moment that was singularly his. That came these past two weeks. A ridiculous series performance hit its zenith with perhaps the best defensive play in league history. His chase-down block of Andre Iguodala will be on highlight reels forever.
Does James have flaws? Sure. But I hate to tell you that all those other great players had flaws, too. Even Jordan was covered in criticism before he won his first title. In the same way, all those players did unbelievable things no one else can do. That's what makes them unique and transcendent.
No one will ever bring the same power and athleticism on their drives like James. He can finish like a hammer, or flip passes to open teammates like he's the team's best playmaker (because he is). He is a point guard wrapped in a power forward's body with wing athleticism. He can lock down any position on defense, pressuring the ball full court or protecting the rim. He's a freak show in the best possible way.
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He would (and should) win the MVP every season if the writers weren't tired of picking the same guy each year. Stephen Curry might have had a better statistical regular season, but does anyone seriously think that James isn't the best player in the NBA? If they didn't before, this year's NBA Finals proved it.
Who's the best ever? It doesn't matter. You can't compare generations. Players on different teams, with different teammates, in different eras are asked to do different things. The basic rules of the game have changed from the 3-point line, legal and illegal defenses, to the ways fouls are called. Strength and conditioning has changed. Players used to have offseason jobs, for goodness sake. These factors don't reduce their greatness. Guys don't play in a vacuum. It is a team sport.
What I can tell you is that 20 years from now some young kid will be called the next LeBron James and get compared to him. That young great player will be just as unique and get tired of being forced to live up to an all-time great. He'll be great in his own way the same way James was great in his.
Twenty years from now, James' block will be as much mythology as reality. His speed and power for his size will be something you had to see to comprehend. It will be the same way kids from the '80s and '90s describe Michael Jordan's late-game ability. Did you know he never missed a big shot? That's a myth too, by the way.
James is the great player of this era of basketball. Enjoy it because players like that do not come around often. Is he Michael Jordan? Is he top five all time? Who cares! He's LeBron Frickin' James, and that should be good enough for everyone.
For everything Giants, Knicks, and the world of sports, follow John on Twitter at @Schmeelk
