The winner of this years NBA MVP was announced this weekend and the honor went to Lebron James in an absolutely amazing landslide victory. James 1,205 points in the votes nearly doubled anybody on the list and put him on a shortlist with some of the greatest to play the game as he joins only 10 players in the history of the NBA to ever claim the MVP trophy two years in a row.
Let’s take a looksy and see who’s who in back to back MVP winners. I think you may have heard of some of these guys before. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan and Steve Nash. Know any of them? Yeah just some of the all time greatest players.
So now we have to start talking legacy and greatest. That is where the discussion always turns when one of the biggest names in a sport gets one of the biggest honors, especially 2 years in a row. So is Lebron amongst the greatest to ever play the game?
In my opinion not yet. Lebron is still very young, and although he is the most dominant player in the league today, he has a long way to go before he can be even considered to be a part of the greatest to ever play the game. There has just been too much talent to come through the NBA to be throwing that out there quite this early in his career. Now ask me if I think he will be amongst them, or even if he will be the one. Yes! Lebron will rack up every award he can in Cleveland, he will win a ton of MVPs, break records, and he may even win a Championship if he stays there, but if he moves on to a more well rounded team in a bigger market Lebron will win many championships and I believe will securely place himself amongst the top of the list of greatest ever.
But it won’t happen without 7+ rings on his fingers.
Why? Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant has stats sheets, records, and trophy cabinets that go on for miles and without a doubt is one of the greatest to ever play the game, but when the argument comes up about Kobe being the best it is repeatedly shot down by 1 thing. Jordan has more rings.
In the end the only way to be the best is to beat the best. I think Kobe will take down Jordan by winning 2 more championship to give him a career total of 7, and then it will be up to Lebron to prove himself better than Kobe over a career and not just a few seasons.
Do you watch basketball at all? I ask that in all seriousness.
The Cavs are the best team in the NBA two years running and one of the deepest, ie well-rounded – they can play any style. Their organization is also first class and willing to spend money.
Why does a bigger market improve on that in terms of basketball?
Just for one example, the Knicks are terrible in terms of talent and their owner is one of the most inept buffoons in sports. The larger city will equate to wins how exactly?
P.S. Kobe will need 3 more rings to get to seven.
The Cavs aren’t the best or most rounded team 2 years running. And if they were why weren’t they in the NBA finals? IMO The Lakers are the best team in basketball, this year, last year, and the year before. The Lakers will make their 3rd consecutive trip to the finals this year and Kobe will get another ring.
A bigger market doesn’t mean a better team, but it does mean a better opportunity. You don’t hear players listing Cleveland as a place they want to go. You here Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston. A big market means it is easier to attract players. And Cleveland spending money hasn’t meant doodie for them. The Lakers payroll was 10 million + shy of Cleveland’s last year and it worked pretty well for them.
Thanks for correcting the Kobe rings error. My bad.
Also thanks for stopping by the site. We appreciate any good debate.
Brian,
I ask him all the time if he’s even seen Star Wars…. I think Lebron is young and is gonna be better statistically than Kobe ever will be….As for the big market small market debate, Cleveland has what it takes to make it, but I don’t see them beating the Lakers!