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LeBron James is not the NBA’s all-time greatest, and it’s not even close

By Jaxson Brown

LeBron James hugs Michael Jordan (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
LeBron James hugs Michael Jordan (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – APRIL 28: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat hugs Michael Jordan after defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 109-98 in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 28, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – APRIL 28: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat hugs Michael Jordan after defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 109-98 in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 28, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Many are quick to throw LeBron James in the conversation as the NBA’s all-time greatest player ever, but he’s not even close

If you grew up in the 90’s, chance are you’ve played your fair share of Sega and most likely sported a fake tat a time or two. If you were into sports, you were also lucky enough to watch some of the greatest NBA trailblazers to have hit the hardwood.

Kids today hear whispers of greats like Patrick Ewing, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, and of course your air-ness, Michael Jordan. Sure, you’ll see his sneakers on shelves and have to listen to crazy LeBron James comparisons , but watching MJ live and in action was almost unworldly – and his game is what separated him from the elites. LBJ is a great player – no doubt a hall of famer – but its hard for me to rank him top 10.

Nonetheless, LeBron’s been given the workload to become the greatest basketball player of all-time, though he’s come up short over the years. Having the self-proclaimed title of “best player in the world”, Michael’s ghost will forever haunt him with Kobe’s right on the heels. Riddled with HOF’s throughout its history, LeBron made the journey even tougher on his quest to achieve deity-like status by joining the Los Angeles Lakers this off-season.

Now, not only does he have to continue to try to surpass the likes of MJ and Kobe, he’s face-to-face with the winning culture Los Angeles as created – all while having a losing work history. It’s impossible to be labeled the “best ever” when you haven’t climbed the same summits as those before you.

Certain criteria is at the forefront when discussing who’s best: scoring, defense, overall success, likeness, and other variables that constitute legendary status. Let’s dive a little deeper as to why LeBron has many more mountains to climb, and some he might never be able to conquer. For this, we’ll be using Jordan as the bar – because for some reason Bill Russell and Abdul-Jabbar never get any love.

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