While LeBron James‘ status as the greatest player ever is still up for debate, NBA legend Charles Barkley says his career is the best story we’ve ever seen from any professional athlete.
“I think Michael Jordan is a better player but I think LeBron’s story is arguably the greatest story in sports because out of all the guys who came from High School to the NBA, he was the only one who was ready… from day one. For him to be where he started at 18 to where he is today, I think it’s the greatest sports story in history. He’s been a great player, model citizen.. and for a guy to come in with that much scrutiny in an age where everybody’s trying to get you.”
It can be easy to forget that LeBron entered the NBA fresh out of High School as an 18-year-old kid from Akron, Ohio. Traditionally, players that are young and inexperienced need years to fully develop their game and, even then, it can prove to be a risky investment for teams.
LeBron James was the exception. He came into the league and dominated from day one, scoring 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists in his NBA debut. In the years that followed, LeBron embraced being the face of the NBA and he’s somehow managed to stay out of trouble ever since.
Now, 20 years later, LeBron James is still writing his story and it’s shaping up to be a truly epic tale. As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and 20x All-Star, LeBron isn’t just the greatest player of his generation, he’s one of the greatest players of all time and he has set the bar for all athletes on what it means to be an ambassador for the game.
The Final Chapter For The King
As LeBron’s career reaches its final stages, the desperation is growing for the Lakers to build a proper team around him. If LeBron wants to keep his record of excellence and avoid a sharp decline in his play, he’s only got a few years left to get it done and it’s why he’s putting all the pressure he can on the front office to make some moves.
This season, LeBron’s 21st in the league, he’s averaging an impressive 24.9 points, 7.8 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game on 52.2% shooting. He’s been the Lakes’ best player all season long and their leader both on and off the court.
Unfortunately, the Lakers are not in a very good state right now and it remains to be seen how far LeBron can carry this particular cast of characters. At just 31-27, not even LeBron has been able to lead the Lakers effectively this season, and their last hope of making a run depends on what happens this summer.
If the Lakers can sign a star like Kyrie Irving or Donovan Mitchell, it could make things interesting for LeBron’s final seasons. But even if the Lakers don’t make any moves at all, LeBron has nothing more to prove at this stage of his career. From his unlikely rise to stardom to 20+ years of consistent greatness in the sport, James’ story demands to be told and his place in the NBA history books can never be challenged.
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