LeBron James is still one of the top players in the NBA. In an age where most NBA players are in their last legs and sign veteran team-friendly contracts, LBJ has stood the test of time and continues to amaze fans and critics alike with his performances. While the Los Angeles Lakers had a disastrous season last year, LeBron’s records reached a new echelon as the 37-year-old averaged more than 30 points per game for the whole season.
Entering the 2022-23 NBA season, LeBron will be playing in the 20th season of his career. In his illustrious career so far, LeBron has played in a fair share of teams and understandably has seen many teammates as well. From players like Zydrunas Ilgauskas to stars like Chris Bosh, LBJ has seen it all.
But perhaps the three most influential players that LeBron has had in his career are Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis. Winning championships with all of them, Wade, Irving, and Davis certainly have made their marks on LeBron’s legacy. Given how influential the three have been, fans recently wanted to determine who is the best teammate Bron has had with the classic game of Start, Bench, and Cut.
LeBron’s best teammates of all-time.
Wade:
21/5/5
51/30/75%
200-85 record
Kyrie:
22/3/5
47/39/89%
132-51 record
Davis:
24/9/3
51/30/80%
75-33 record
Start. Bench. Cut. pic.twitter.com/4YKgNzddhH
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/durantmuse/status/1546930417651122176https://twitter.com/NotThtGuyDrake/status/1546930402291585024
Start Wade
Bench Davis
Cut Kai
— Will. 🏀🦅 (@WiLLns23) July 12, 2022
Notice how he won most with the Miami Heat organization? pic.twitter.com/lMnVd24UVW
— Bones🦴 (@Boness305) July 12, 2022
Starting wade (let’s get that out of the way)
Benching Kyrie
Cutting AD
— 𝕵𝖆𝖗𝖎❄️🎄 (@JariDaRealist) July 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/fanetooooooo/status/1546930481022787586
Start Wade, bench Kyrie, and cut AD
— George Hathaway (@hathawaygeorge9) July 12, 2022
Start wade bench kyrie cut AD
— Debaser (@Debaser7_) July 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/Jrusko29/status/1546930727974973440
Wade starts.
— ArsenalSZN (@Nkosi1of1) July 12, 2022
Peak for peak? If so
Start Wade
Bench AD
Cut Kyrie
When they played when LeBron?
Start Wade
Bench Kyrie
Cut AD
Only right answer ¯_(ツ)_/¯
— max (@NewEraFox916) July 12, 2022
With Wade by his side on the Miami Heat, LeBron James finally had a player he could rely on to score the ball. Even though LBJ had a rough performance, it was Wade who would step in and help out James. Not only that, but D-Wade was also one of the best defensive guards in the game and helped Bron and Co. to shut down opposing guards. Winning two championships and reaching 4 Finals with Wade, LeBron, on paper had the best partnership with ‘the Flash’.
Kyrie Irving, on the other hand, was a different prospect for Bron on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 18-time All-Star, who has always been the primary playmaker for his team, now had someone who was capable enough to create shots for his teammates. Although Irving and LeBron played only three seasons together, it was probably some of the best basketball Cleveland has ever seen. The duo ended up winning a championship against the record-breaking Golden State Warriors, where Kyrie hit the magical game-winner in game 7 in 2016 and made it to the Finals every year.
Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers, though, might be the most complicated one till now. While with Wade and Irving, Bron making it to the NBA Finals was a constant, his time with Davis and the Lakers has seen some massive highs and some unbelievable lows. While they have won a championship together in 2020 last season, the Lakers could not even make it to the playoffs. The 2022-23 season though will be key in determining what this duo’s legacy will be.
While the majority of Twitter generally ended up claiming that Dwyane Wade indeed was the best teammate that LeBron has had, whom would you pick?
