While LeBron James is considered one of the greatest players of all time, he hasn’t received his flowers as a one-on-one player. On this note, former NBA player Michael Beasley recently claimed to have beaten the Lakers forward in a 1v1 game. He even claimed to have blown him out while on a livestream, joining popular streamer Adin Ross.
Ross: “Did you beat LeBron in a 1v1?”
Beasley: “Yeah. I mean, the story is told wrong.”
A majority of what Beasley says is rather unintelligible. But Ross did ask him what the score line from the game was, and he responded by saying, “9 to 11.”
As shocked as Ross was to hear this, even trying to confirm whether he blew out the Lakers forward, the former NBA player simply responded by saying, “Yeah.”
Michael Beasley says he “blew out” LeBron James in their 1v1 basketball game
(h/t @AdinUpdate)pic.twitter.com/2EmSKCA59q
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 10, 2025
Tales of Michael Beasley’s skill in isolations and 1v1 games are known across the NBA. Many considered him one of the most talented 1v1 players in recent history. However, in the context of beating James, there is very little evidence since they played the game with no one watching them.
While stories have revealed the encounter between the two during James’ time with the Miami Heat, Beasley is said to have gone on a 30-game winning streak when the two played against each other.
Although these are massive claims made from different sources, the reality of the situation remains unchanged. James continues to see himself listed as one of the greatest to ever do it, meanwhile, Beasley unfortunately sees himself out of the NBA.
It is rather shocking how a player of his caliber isn’t in the league. However, the former Heat forward has made the most of his situation nonetheless. In a highly publicized 1v1 game against former Pacers player Lance Stephenson, Beasley showed that he was still an elite scorer in every capacity.
Michael Beasley defeats Lance Stephenson for $100,000 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JTAC7eKBH3
— The Next Chapter (@Next22Chapter) June 7, 2025
On the other side of the coin, James continues to be disrespected as a scorer. Even as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, the Lakers forward faces a lot of criticism for his lack of offensive arsenal. Given how convoluted this narrative has become, the 40-year-old addressed it himself, calling out the claims surrounding the “No bag” talks.
James’ scoring figures are a testament to his offensive ability. Having recorded 42,184 points over the course of his regular-season career, he smashed past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record. While considering the additional 8,289 points recorded in the playoffs, James finds himself standing at the summit of basketball brilliance.
Heading into Year 23, an unreal accomplishment in its own right, James may very well be closing in on retirement as well. While his accomplishments are a cause to be celebrated, unfortunately, given his reputation, the Lakers forward is likely to face criticism until the very end of his career.
