I was Wrong about Lebron James - He is not a Top 5 Player

Not sure LeBron brought popularity to the game. The ratings have consistently dropped since he’s been in the league. If you look at some of the lowest rated Finals in recent history, LeBron was on one of those teams. The highest rated Finals he played in was against the 73 game winning Warriors—that’s who they tuned into see.

When have you really said… I have to watch Lebron play tonight! Who says that…

He never was. Just over hyped, over pushed for all time points, over pushed by a clueless generation, overpushed by media and overpushed by his own Klutch sports with payoffs. Pathetic. He is a child. He is that 18 year old , drafted out of high school , became worth millions instantly, but never grew up.

The man is called the KING for a reason. Kings are powerful and they are entitled. The longer the King rules, the more the power wanes, and the entitlement grows. Lebron is a player that started off fresh and creative, but he is an angry man. You Americans have no real history with monarchies, but a true warriors is never a king. I can so feel your rant, and yes, the Kobe VS Lebron responses to losing games, is the true difference between the mentality, and the mentality of Kobe is simply superior. This is what makes us be better men, and that is not what Lebron offers.

(no offence).

i didn't even know he had 2 bronze medals. until kobe saved team usa in 08 & 12

I love your content but Lebron not being top 5 all time is the worst take EVER

I have been watching basketball since 1960 and I played.the game and there is no goat. But there can always be among the best to ever play
The game this gives each his
Due sometimes people can only go by what they see so you have to allow for that

he was out of the conversation when he joined the heat to form a superteam in my eyes. He took the easy route to get his first championship and I lost a lot of respect for him after that.

He’s not even close to being Goat, He’s not even that good. The way he plays would be an embarrassment on a high school team. Yeah he’s big and he can dunk. And sometimes shoot. Skilled, Shawn??? No, he’s not really even that skilled. Just no.

Can’t stand Lebron James. Has talent but sucks as a human.

LeBron 6 Finals Losses...........

Travelling, carrying the ball, double dribbling, flopping, illegal screens, offensive fouls with his arm. You name it, he does it. Multiple times per game, every game.

He is only good for stats but even his stats are inflated. Alot of uncontested layups (and still missing a bunch of easy ones), alot of cherry picking, alot of assist when he passes the ball and his teammate makes three dribbles to the hoop and it is still an assist: what a joke.

You are ABSOLUTELY right. I'd take Larry over him WITHOUT hesitation

LeChoke will never be on my top five let alone top ten ever imo of course

Biggest FRAUD in sports easily. I don't have him in my top 15

Lebron is 39 bro of course he lost some things defensively

Bill Russel, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird.... Why would ever think LeBron is top 5?

Here's the definitive list. According to yours truly...
1.MJ
2. Kareem
3. Wilt
4.Russell
5. Mamba
6. Timmy
7. Magic
8. Bird
9. Curry
10. Bron

LeBum has never been Top 20 .. I will take Bird at 60 yrs old over ANYBODY in today's Cupcake NBA

What about the certain use of PEDS which the NBA just like MLB covered up ??

yall are such fking dopes. this is not objective. there is no objective metric you can use to make a reasonable argument for LeBron not being in the Top 5. anybody that doesn't have him in the Top 5 always reverts to the same tired, emotionally driven talking points about his lack of "character", or things they don't like about his personality compared to their favorite players, or what they think he more broadly represents ab how the league has changed in ways they personally don't like... these are unserious arguments that have nothing to do with what he did on the court. and on the court, he lead more teams to championships than anyone other than Jordan (4FMVPS), at his peak he was the most offensively and defensively versatile and valuable player in the league, he's played at a high level for longer than anyone (25+ PPG for 20 straight seasons), he scored more points than anyone in history, he hit more game winners in the playoffs than anyone in history, averages more points than anyone ever in game 7s and in the 4th quarter, he has the 2nd highest PER in history, hes top 10 all time in 3 different stat categories, he lead 3 different franchises to championships... the list goes on. what he's accomplished is unprecedented and should reflect positively enough on his credibility to outweigh him complaining to referees (which magic, kobe and mj also did a LOT) flopping (which the majority of his contemporaries do), or whatever cringeworthy moments he has during press conferences where he says something passive aggressive, off-putting or "unsportsmanlike". but in the reactionary, contrarian-infested world we live in, all of those things (coupled w mainstream media's obsession w him) are enough to make people hate him to the point where they're honestly able to delude themselves into believing nothing he's done is impressive, he's not a top 5 player all time, or even top 10 or 20. he's a loser and he has "no skills". you don't have him over MJ, fine. but people honestly believe this sh*t and it's genuinely disturbing. it's really no wonder someone like Trump got elected in this day and age

He is one of the main reasons that the league is weak as it is today. LeBron would have had to toughen up fast had he played in the 90's

How is Lebron one of the most skilled players all time? Thats the only pushback I got for Shaun.

He is physically gifted but where is the skill? I watched him from jump and he has very average to below average handles. He is a terrible shooter, 37% “shooting” from 3 feet out for his career. 7x % free throw shooting for his career. He has very basic skills but he has size and aided athleticism along with hand picked teammates to cover his shooting, post up and defensive flaws.

To say he is one of the most skilled all-time is to still be under the influence of the Klutch/shill media kool-aid.

Not at TOP 10.

This evaluation and criticism has been known about for years. I was so frustrated whenever a critic or fan claimed that Lebron James was better than Koby Bryant. However, when most general managers, coaches as well as players that played with both were asked who was better, most of them chose Kobe. A lot of Commentators, Sports analysts and some fans have chosen Lebron primarily because of his stats. BUT aL;LLEN iVERSON SAID IT BEST WHEN TALKING ABOUT who was better, Kobe or Lebron when he said, " I don't get it, I don't understand when they talk about GOAT, why they just overlook Kobe. Have they forgot?" Meaning don't they remember how dominate Kobe Bryant could be and was. Before now, hardly anyone outside of the players and coaches that played with Kobe and Lebron, no one even considered Kobe being better than Lebron; until now. When it comes to the differences between Lebron and Kobe, although some of it was physical differences, most of the difference was mental. Now, finally, after KOBE HAS PASSED, ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GIVING kOBE THE RECOGNITION THAT HE SHOULD HAVE HAD WHEN HE HAD JUST RETIRED.. Kobe's stats even though impressive, would have been much better if he had been a starter his first year but he did not start until his 4th year because he was on a great team already. And, his last three years he was hurt and did not play a lot.

Excellent analysis and subsequent comments.

It is sad that people try to compare Lebron to MJ. Lebron is one of top 10 best players, MJ 1. Kareem 2. Magic 3. Kobe 4. Oscar 5. Larry 6. Wilt 7. shaq 8. Duncan 9. . Lebron 10.......

Yall are speaking on his LA days… but don’t do the same for MJ wizards??? MJ was there to sell tickets since he was a partial owner… Bron is in LA for business and is trying to play with his kids… his legacy is already cemented in the top 3… yall watching a player in his late 30s 😂like all the greats were washed atp… but he averages more than 25ppg on over 50 percent shooting and that hurt him?

Like seeing the Lebron hate from a bunch of folks who look like they wasn’t really contributing to team sports is funny… all these greats have him top 3 but yall know more

Its always been extremely offensive hearing people compare Lebron to the likes of Michael and Kobe, it still happens thanks to the damn media agenda trying to keep peoples interest in what is now an extremely sub-par product and a shell of its former self. The day he retires is the day we celebrate like the Ewoks on the forrest moon of Endor.

All-time scoring leader, only player ever to play all 5 positions, he's playing with his son, carried 2 bad teams to the finals (2007 and 2018), and led both teams in points, rebounds, steals, assists and blocks in the 2016 finals. There's no way he's not in your top 5.

100% true

Ever since the Decision I knew LeBron would never enter the highest pantheon in the game. No matter how many championships he won or how many records he broke. A talented player, and for a time he was a great ambassador of the game. While we can never remove influence-peddling in terms of measuring a great's career (prime examples of not playing that game: Kareem, Oscar Robertson, Karl Malone), at this point we need independent voices like you to drown out mainstream media peddling the LeBron narrative. I believe the media is turning it around, bit by bit, and this whole business with his son is the final straw that will start to shift public opinion about him. I am not surprised that expansion talks in the NBA are ramping up so that LeBron can take his place among the owners and from his front office he can dispense largesse to media members. Heck, his camp even got to the media members covering FIBA and the Olympics. It's setting a bad example for all the younger players who may now think this is the way to go to promote your "brand" instead of working on your craft.

Lebron always been assumed to be as goat or at least goat with jordan.
So people who disagree have to spend their entire life disproving this
Who would want to do that

Kobe ahead in my eyes too! I got Duncan above bron as well.

Lebron every years he's not winning "it's the team, the injuries, the social environment, the media, the weather"

Dude is not greater than Steph Curry. Curry literally is the reason why he isnt winning

Being the Leading Turn Over of All Time alone disqualifies him from the GOAT Conversation lol

Everybody is just desperately grasping for excuses. Judging Willie Mays on how good he was when he played for the Mets is incredibly dumb and disingenuous. Look at him, he’s slow! They put him in left field! He’s not even fast enough to play center. He was only in the lineup 75 games and only had 8 home runs… definitely not a top 5 baseball player.

Bum

That negro was never in my top 5. Jordan, Bird, Magic, Bill Russell, and Kobe. True basketball fans know. This is based on whole body of work: individual & team accolades, and how much of that dog is in you.

Ryann Lodge

Are you high? Kobe wasn't picking up dudes 94 ft when he was old and was out of the league at 36. LeBron was considered one of the best defenders in the NBA from like 2012 to that 2018 finals. He was always locking down the best players and even guarded 1-5 on certain runs to the finals. No disrespect to Kobe, he is one of the goats but to discredit the fact that this guy has been finals MVP 4 times, league MVP, all time leading scorer, 4 in assists all time, 4 time champ, 3 different teams and didn't have a shaq or phil Jackson his whole career is mind blowing. He went to the finals at 22 with a team that no one else would have made it out the first round with. He's also regarded as a basketball genius by literally every one of the greatest basketball minds. Oh he complained about calls and doesn't get back on defense in years 20 in the league. Wow people will find anything to shit on this guy for.

1. Jordan - Obvious 1st, Double 3 Peat. Accolades speak for themselves, a lot of records. 6-0 Finals.

2. Bill Russell - 12x NBA ALL-STAR, 11x NBA CHAMPION. 5x NBA MVP. People knock him by saying his competition was lesser, but one should be judged by your accolades against your peers, using the systems available at your time not in others. Also…lesser competition? A reminder of who his main competition is:

3. Jerry West - Mr. Clutch, The Logo. 1972 NBA CHAMPION, 1969 FINALS MVP (On the Losing Team), 14x NBA ALL-STAR. 9 FINALS APPEARANCES. I firmly believe that he would’ve won multiple MVPs and Championships over Russell had the 3-Point line been implemented in his era. He was that good.

4. Magic Johnson - 5x NBA Champion, 3x NBA MVP, 3x NBA Finals MVPs, 12x All-Star. All in Probably the most Talent Rich Era, while still in an era of rough defense.

5. Larry Bird - 3x NBA Champion, 12x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA Finals MVP awards, 3x Consecutive MVP Awards, 8 Straight years being MVP or Runner Up. Swept Jordan Twice in the Playoffs. Talent Rich Era, and Most Difficult Conference at the time.

6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 6x NBA Champion, 6x NBA MVP, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 19x NBA ALL-STAR. Accolades speak for themselves, however the reason he slips to 7 is because unlike Russell or West, he didn’t really have any strong competition at all. The 70s really were a low point. Hence why Magic and Bird needed to save it.

7. Wilt Chamberlain - 2x NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, 4x NBA Most Valuable Player (including 3 Consecutive), 13× NBA All-Star. Not much more to say here, the Prototype Big man of Basketball. Not easy in the Bill Russell/Jerry West Era.

8. Kobe Bryant - 5x NBA Champion, 18x All-Star, 1x MVP, and a 2x NBA Finals MVP. Greatest modern player. Super-Talent Rich era.

9. Tim Duncan - 5x NBA Champion, 2x NBA MVP, 3x NBA FINALS MVP, 15x NBA ALL-STAR. Cannot be denied any longer. He deserves and earned his spot.

10. LeBron James - 4x NBA champion, 4x NBA Finals MVP, 4x NBA MVP, 20x NBA All-Star. Really wanted to put Steph Curry here, but the numbers just aren’t here. LeBron has made 10 Finals appearances to Steph’s 6, and although Steph has a higher win %, I can’t take away the effort it takes to get to the Finals without being hypocritical to my Jerry West choice.

I just never understand how anyone thinks he's anywhere near Michael Jordan.

💯💯💯

Glad you are seeing his game for what it is!!
All that fake falling aka flopping. He probably needs to retire...signs he really can't keep up like he used to...with max effort more times than not.

Lebron is good but to be honest, maybe top 20. Hell, that's pretty good. But I can't put him in front of Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Duncan or Kobe to name a few. He has skill, but he don't have the heart of a champion or top 5. He's a Stat chaser and team hopper to help him get his rings. He cheated to get those rings by enlisting help from other superstars. He a bad dribbler, a cry baby and worst of all a FLOPPER! Can you imagine Bird, Kobe or Kareem floopping? So top 20 isn't so bad.

lebron isn't a nice guy. he throws his coaches and teammates under the bus every time things don't go his way even if he's to blame.

lebron is the only player who people feel pressured to preface any critique by lavishing with all sorts of praise about how he is SO GOOD AT ALL THIS OTHER STUFF I'M NOT SAYING HE'S NOT GOOD AT A, B, C, D, E, F G

literally no other player in the history of basketball gets that kind of treatment because it's not necessary... it's a given that we can talk about them like they're a grown adult that can be critizued objectively

Jordan, Kobe, bird, olajuwon Abdul-jabarr.