There is no doubt that Miami Heat superstar LeBron James is the best player in the league.
James has already won three NBA MVP awards, including for the 2011-12 season, as well as a scoring title and a rookie of the year award. He was the youngest player to record a triple-double in the playoffs and the youngest to score 19,000 points.
After signing with the Heat in 2010, he led the team to the NBA Finals, falling to the Dallas Mavericks. Last season the team won the championship, James's first of his career.
But can he be the best player of all-time? One elder statesman of the league says that James has all the tools to do just that, including surpassing Michael Jordan as the NBA's all-time best.
Jackson made the comments on the "Waddle and Silvy Show" on the radio in Chicago last week.
"He's got all the physical attributes," Jackson said, according to ESPN.com. "He is a player that can play four positions. Except for perhaps the center spot, which he hasn't (been) given a shot at yet, he can play those other four positions quite well. This is unique; Michael could play three and was very good at all three of those, but as a power player that LeBron can become, I think he has an opportunity to explore and advance some of the status that he has already gained."
James is entering his prime now and Miami has only improved since he got there. He is an elite passer, defender and scorer and can play nearly every position on the court. Unlike many other players that score a lot, James has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for four straight years and has averaged nearly seven assists per game in his career.
"Winning six championships is an elusive thing out there, and they haven't won two yet," Jackson said. "But he's kinda got the smell of it, and even the Olympic experience this summer, he was the granted leader of that team and was the critical player when they needed something to happen in the final games. I think he's there, I think he's at that position. He's got good things ahead of him and a lot of it depends upon if he's gonna be healthy for the remainder of his career."
Obviously Jordan has the advantage in NBA titles with five to James' one, but James won his first title at 27 years old, which is one year younger than Jordan when he won his first. James still has at least 10 years ahead of him to catch up to Jordan in that category.
Jackson has won 11 NBA titles, including six with Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He also coached the Los Angeles Lakers to five championships.
"I have a hard time judging the best player, but I do think that Michael had more moves in the post and he had more of a perhaps shooting touch with his back to the basket and all these kind of things that were part of his game," Jackson said.
James has been criticized for not developing a post-game, but showed improvement this season in that position. During the offseason last year he worked with NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon to help improve his post skills and scoring.
"LeBron has this train out of control when he gets the ball in transition that he can go coast-to-coast without anyone getting in his way, and if they do, he's going to over run them. And he's got the power with the body and he's developed a left hand that's extremely good. There's a lot of things that you are seeing in the development of this player that leads towards that, but the ideal and the whole reason behind this is what kind of championships are you gonna get from a player like this? Can he match what Michael has done?"
The Miami Heat will be the favorites for the upcoming season out of the East, but will face improved teams in the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The team will also have to contend with the group they beat in last year's finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are expected to improve with another year of playoff experience under their belt.
"It's more difficult, it becomes more difficult, with each one you win," Jackson said. "There is never really an easier path. You know the direction, you know what it takes, you know the length of the season and how to pace yourselves."
LeBron James is a worldwide superstar and an impressive talent. Only time will tell if he can surpass the great Michael Jordan as the NBA's best player of all-time.
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