Isiah Thomas broke down his feelings on LeBron James as a player during the 2017 NBA Finals. One of the poignant examples he used was when he said he’d take Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant‘s ability to score 40 or 50 points over LeBron’s, but he’d pick LeBron to win a playoff series before the other two because of his brain.
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“I’d take LeBron James over Michael Jordan… If you want to win a series, I’m going with the brain. If I had to get 40 points to 50 points, then yeah, I’m taking Michael Jordan or Kobe (Bryant).”
There is truth to what Isiah says, as Michael Jordan is the league leader in both 40 and 50-point playoff games. Jordan had 38 games with 40 points in the playoffs and eight games with 50 points. LeBron is second all-time in 40-point games, with 29 such performances, while Kobe slots in 6th all-time with 13 games.
LeBron and Kobe both have only had one 50-point performance in the playoffs. James’ performance came in a devastating Finals loss to the Warriors in 2018, putting up 51 to lose in overtime due to J.R. Smith’s infamous blunder. Kobe’s 50-point game against the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 First Round, again in a loss.
Isiah Thomas Marvelled At LeBron James Basketball IQ
Prior to choosing between Jordan and Kobe’s scoring ability and LeBron’s brain, Thomas explained why he is absolutely shocked that a player like LeBron can exist with such a high IQ.
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“What he’s done is mind-blowing with what he’s had. LeBron James came straight from high school… He didn’t go to college. He’s taken every rookie coach he’s had to the NBA Finals. He’s the Einstein of basketball. Where did this brain come from? When you look at me, Jordan, Shaq, we all had Hall of Fame coaches. Michael Jordan played for Dean Smith, Hall of Fame. Phil Jackson and Doug Collins. I was around Chuck Daly and Coach Knight, so from an educational standpoint, the knowledge we were given and what we were able to apply out on the field, that came from somewhere. I look at LeBron James and am like, ‘Where did he get all of this?’ He can look at your coach, figure out your defensive scheme, look at your substitution pattern, read the stat sheet, and dissect it. He can go back and put together a gameplan and then he can come and implement it.”
Many coaches and players around the NBA have explained how LeBron is one of the smartest players they’ve ever seen.
Iman Shumpert Explained How LeBron Read Plays Before They Happened
Iman Shumpert played alongside LeBron on the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shumpert explained how plays would develop on the court exactly as LeBron predicted them to happen.
“There’s times that he’d be in the game and he’ll be like, he don’t mean to do it, but he’ll be like, ‘J.R. hand.’ and he’ll just throw it to the hand, snatch it, palm it, then he’ll be in a post-up like, ‘Shump if he move, cut right behind him if he move.’ And he’ll start to dribble, ‘Tristan (Thompson), cut, take him with you.’ and everything he is saying, you just watch it happen and the moment that man flinch, I’ll sprint behind it, catch (and) dunk.”
His brain is always lauded, but the question of greatness is a different one. James could still retire with the title of GOAT in his grasp, but he’ll need more tangible accomplishments before using IQ as the argument.
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