Charles Barkley, the “Round Mound of Rebound” may have a thing or two to criticize about LeBron James, but he firmly believes that the NBA scoring leader ranks among the greatest of all time. The 76ers legend has openly praised James on multiple occasions, and surprisingly, he recently placed him ahead of Michael Jordan without hesitation.
This admiration stems from one key factor: James’ remarkable resume from his teenage years in the NBA. As a rookie, he immediately secured a starting position for the Cavaliers, averaging nearly 21 points across 79 games. His scoring prowess only grew from there, reaching 27 points in his second season and eventually climbing to 31 points per game.
Barkley joined ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith for an interview about the 4x champion, during which he revealed,
I think Michael Jordan is a greater player but I think LeBron’s story is arguably the greatest story in sports, because, out of of all of the guys in high school who came to the NBA, he was actually the only one who was ready.
He also drew a comparison between the Los Angeles superstar and another great player. He added:
As great as Kobe Bryant was, he struggled early. Kevin Garnett struggles, McGrady struggles. I think those three are the best high school players who went direct to the NBA. LeBron was the only one who was ready.
James has solidified his legacy in NBA history, clinching four championships and claiming the title of the league’s all-time leading scorer. Barkley suggests that we can also include “best narrative” in James’ accolades.
LeBron James powers the Lakers to victory over the San Antonio Spurs
LeBron James delivered a standout performance with 30 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to their seventh win in nine games. Despite Victor Wembanyama’s historic “5×5” statistical feat, the Lakers managed to secure a 123-118 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
LeBron James (Via People)Wembanyama, the French rookie sensation, made NBA history by achieving a rare “5×5” statistical performance in his first road game against the Lakers.
Despite falling one assist short the previous night in Sacramento, he recorded at least five points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals in just 30 minutes and 55 seconds of play, becoming the youngest player to achieve this feat in NBA history. James returned to action after missing two games due to an ankle injury.
