Not Lebron

Posted by rohit on 12-29-2007 in Who is currently the best player in the NBA?

In my opinion, Lebron has yet to prove himself as the one of the top three, let alone the best player in the NBA.

His lack of a reliable jump shot is mainly what is holding him back. The ability to consistently knock down a jump shot from anywhere inside the arc is what made Jordan the greatest ever and currently makes Kobe the hardest player to defend in the NBA. Due to his size, Lebron can get in the lane and score in the paint better than Kobe and maybe even Jordan. The problem is, that's pretty much all he can do. Sure he has great court vision and passing skills. But, if you look back at his highlight reels, his best passes are almost always a result of him getting into the paint, drawing a couple of defenders, then dishing it out to one of his teammates.

The point of all this? Defenders have learned that leaving Lebron an abundance of space when he's outside is a no-cost option because his jumper is more often off than on. Until he learns to at least hit mid range jump shots on a regular basis, players like Kobe, and even McGrady, will continue to be much more taxing on defenses in the NBA.