NBA analyst Nick Wright had a bold statement that a bad version of LeBron James in the ongoing playoffs is still as good as Boston Celtics’ legend, Larry Bird.
Speaking on Colin Cowherd’s The Herd, the FS1 analyst compared James’ numbers in the playoffs to Bird’s career stats. “Worst LeBron we’ve ever seen,” he said before showing his numbers on the screen with a silhouette on the other side, who was later revealed to be Bird.
A quick look suggests that James’ dwindled numbers in the ongoing playoffs were pretty much on the same lines as Bird’s career averages, and there wasn’t too much of a distinction.
"So, the worst LeBron we've ever seen — what he's been reduced to is Larry Bird?"
— @GetNickWright weighs in on @ColinCowherd's LeBron epiphany pic.twitter.com/5H1RTt50kN
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 16, 2023
As far as the playoffs average goes, the Lakers star has averaged 28.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 279 games in the playoffs in his career, resulting in four NBA championships — two with the Miami Heat, and one each with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers. Bird notched up 23.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game in 164 games. He led Boston to three titles and was a two-time Finals MVP.
While Bird may have been the frame of reference for Wright, the former has been a Celtics cornerstone during his 13 years in the NBA.
Wright’s comparison aside, it’s worth noting that James considered Bird as one of his top three players that include Michael Jordan and Julius Irving during an interview in 2013. Comparing two players of two different generations is pretty much debatable in itself, but on a larger scale, there’s no doubt that both players have been absolutely brilliant in their own right.
Chandler Parsons Believes LeBron James Should Be Considered The GOAT If He Can Lead The Lakers To A Championship This Season
In related news, adding his take to the GOAT debate was former NBA star, Chandler Parsons.
“If he wins this after everything they’ve been through this season… tell me he’s not the best player of all time. Scoring record and a chip,” he said on FanDuel TV earlier this week.
His prolific scoring is on a bit of a wane this postseason averaging 23.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 5.3 APG, but James has still been a force making plays for the Lakers and executing them to perfection — a classic case being their 4-2 win against the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the playoffs.
In a way, Parsons is right considering how the Lakers started their season. And if they are where they are at the moment, much of that credit goes to James for buoying his side.
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