LeBron James is somehow still one of the best players in the world despite being on the cusp of his 20th season in the NBA. The King has defied Father Time to this point like perhaps no other basketball player has, and he has shown no signs of slowing down. Just last season, LeBron averaged over 30 points per game, a whopping total, one of the best of his whole career.
And what a career it has been, LeBron has won 4 championships, been to the NBA Finals 10 times, collected MVPs, Finals MVPs, and a ton of All-Star appearances along the way. He showed promise that arguably no player had shown since he came into the league in 2003, and he lived up to that and more. It’s safe to say that in 2010, right before he made ‘The Decision’ LeBron had already established himself as arguably the best player in the league.
And if that sounds like an opinion, it was also stated by another NBA fan favorite at the time. Tracy McGrady may not have enjoyed nearly the same type of longevity LeBron has, but he was a superstar in his prime. The lethal scorer paid James a pretty big compliment right as the King was entering his prime too.
Tracy McGrady Chose LeBron James When Asked To Pick A Player He Would Hypothetically Build A Team Around
In 2010, LeBron was 25, at the peak of his powers, with his future ahead of him. His decision that summer would be a defining moment in his career, but even before he did, his pedigree and ambition were known to all. This is probably why in an interview with GQ, Tracy McGrady picked LeBron as the player to build a team around.
GQ: “Let’s say, purely hypothetically, that you’re an NBA owner going into the offseason with limitless cap space. You can build your team around anyone you want…”
TM: “Who would it be?”
GQ: “Yup.”
TM: “Who do you think I’m going to say?”
GQ: “I have no idea.”
TM: “Really?”
GQ: “That’s why I’m asking.”
TM: “Hmmm, let’s see…there’s a guy who plays in Cleveland, I think they call him Lebron James. He’s only the best player in our league right now. He does it all. He rebounds, he assists, he scores, he’s exciting, entertaining.”
Since 2010, LeBron James has won 4 championships and 4 Finals MVPs and in the process, cemented himself as the face of the NBA. While players like Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, and Kevin Durant were around then, it’s pretty obvious that McGrady made the right choice. Ultimately, there aren’t many players one would pick over prime LeBron to build a team.
