The Chosen One or more like The Protected One.

[TheMan]

http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/SPO...NIBrd_ST_U.htm

A longtime Suns follower and observer of the NBA recently e-mailed to point out that LeBron James is getting unprecedented protection from NBA referees.

For instance:

Last season, James was whistled for just one foul in 24 games. He wasn't called for a foul at all in six other games.
It's also worth noting that he didn't foul out of any game and reached five personal fouls only twice.

James is averaging 1.97 fouls per game over his career. That's fewer than some of the greater defensive players in the history of the NBA.
It's also way below the 2.6 fouls per game that Michael Jordan averaged during his career -- and we thought he was getting all the calls.
The only superstar we could find in league history who even came close to LeBron's level of Teflon was Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged 1.99 fouls per game during his career.
Chamberlain never fouled out of a game in 14 seasons. James has fouled out three times, but not since April2, 2008, in a game at Charlotte.

We know what you're thinking: This isn't anything new in the NBA, which always has had a reputation for protecting the best, most marketable players.
Well, yeah. But not to this level.

Sam Smith, who covered Jordan's career in Chicago, was first to point out on the Bulls website a couple of years ago that James is making Jordan seem like a Y-league hacker.
In 2008-09 James averaged 1.72 fouls per game and had one stretch of five consecutive games without a foul. We added it up, and James totaled three hours, three minutes and 49 seconds of game time in that stretch without being called for a foul!
In all, he played 11 games that season in which he wasn't charged with a foul.
Then in 2009-10 it got downright ridiculous. That season James had 13 games in which he wasn't called for a foul and another 24 with one foul.
He finished the season with an unbelievable average of 1.57 fouls per game.
Maybe the league took at least a little notice -- or perhaps the referees didn't like all that hoopla around "The Decision," either -- because even with 30 games of one foul or none, James saw his average per game jump to 2.06 last season.
Keep in mind that this is a guy who was named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team last season, so he at least has a reputation among coaches who pick the team for being an elite defender.
Thus, he isn't just avoiding fouls by letting people score.
What makes it all really questionable is that the NBA's rules have changed in an effort to reduce contact on the perimeter.
Yet, James is committing fewer fouls than the Z perimeter players of past eras when more contact was allowed.
Magic Johnson averaged 2.3 fouls per game. Gary Payton averaged 2.2. Dennis Johnson averaged 2.8.
How does James compare with some of his contemporaries?
Kobe Bryant has an average of 2.6 fouls per game for his career, and 2.1 per game was his best season once he became a full-time starter.
By contrast, LeBron's worst year was 2.29 in 2005-06.
Dwyane Wade has averaged 2.5 fouls per game during his career, Rajon Rondo 2.3, Kirk Hinrich 2.3, Shane Battier 2.4 and Grant Hill 2.4.
Evidently, James really is the "Chosen One."

[Ketchup]

Maybe he's just really good at defense? Did you think of that?

[DuMa]

watch the games. he hardly ever fouls a shooter. its easy to use your statistics to point out something you claim not to be true. LBJ just has a great reputation for not fouling and being a great defender. If you watch him closely and i assume everyone always does, otherwise there would be countless of youtube video mixes of him fouling and getting away with it. LeBron is the most scrutinized athlete on the planet. Anything he does or doesnt do will be fully dissected. Watch the games. He just doesnt foul at all.

[EasyD]

James is also the only NBA player ever who refers to himself as "winner" and "king" without ever winning.

[nba_55]

the butt hurt one

[stallionaire]

Maybe he's just really good at defense? Did you think of that?

[kurt_rambis]

what possible reason would the nba have to protect lebron over jordan, kobe, magic, etc? not only is there nothing close to evidence for this, there's no motive either

[brantonli]

Maybe he's just really good at defense? Did you think of that?

Have you even seen NBA games lately? Sometimes you don't even need to touch a player in order to foul someone. Plus they listed some other fouls per game like:

Yet, James is committing fewer fouls than the Z perimeter players of past eras when more contact was allowed.
Magic Johnson averaged 2.3 fouls per game. Gary Payton averaged 2.2. Dennis Johnson averaged 2.8.
How does James compare with some of his contemporaries?
Kobe Bryant has an average of 2.6 fouls per game for his career, and 2.1 per game was his best season once he became a full-time starter.
By contrast, LeBron's worst year was 2.29 in 2005-06.
Dwyane Wade has averaged 2.5 fouls per game during his career, Rajon Rondo 2.3, Kirk Hinrich 2.3, Shane Battier 2.4 and Grant Hill 2.4.

That said, I think if LeBron suddenly lost his entire offensive game, he could still make a decent living at the NBA level as a defender.

[wpdougie2180]

watch the games. he hardly ever fouls a shooter. its easy to use your statistics to point out something you claim not to be true. LBJ just has a great reputation for not fouling and being a great defender. If you watch him closely and i assume everyone always does, otherwise there would be countless of youtube video mixes of him fouling and getting away with it. LeBron is the most scrutinized athlete on the planet. Anything he does or doesnt do will be fully dissected. Watch the games. He just doesnt foul at all.

This is the perception that is being perpetuated but it's not true lebron barrels into defenders constantly yet is never called for offensive fouls he plays ultra aggressive post d but is never called (for example Harden was continuously called for fouls on Kobe for nothing not to bash Kobe just bring up a recent example) or how about when he ran over rondo in game 1 & 2 only to get a no call or get the on Rondo. Touch fouls are constantly called in the nba yet for some reason that doesn't apply to them for instance the 3rd quarter free throw line jumper by Pierce could have easily been called a foul even Breen said Pierce went up after the contact (it was a very similar play to the 2 And 1s Lou Williams got in the 18-point comeback against the Celtics. Anyone who can't see that they are reffed differently is blind or in denial.

[pegasus]

This the perception that is being perpetuated but it's not true lebron barrels into defenders constantly yet is never called for offensive fouls he plays ultra aggressive post d but is never called (for example Harden was continuously called for fouls on Kobe for nothing not to bash Kobe just bring up a recent example) or how about when he ran over rondo in game 1 & 2 only to get a no call or get the on Rondo. Touch fouls are constantly called in the nba yet for some reason that doesn't apply to them for instance the 3rd quarter free throw line jumper by Pierce could have easily been called a foul even Breen said Pierce went up after the contact (it was a very similar play to the 2 And 1s Lou Williams got in the 18-point comeback against the Celtics. Anyone who can't see that they are reffed differently is blind or in denial.

Good post. Lebron also gets away with constant push off with his off hand.

[TheMan]

the butt hurt one

[jlip]

James is also the only NBA player ever who refers to himself as "winner" and "king" without ever winning.

"King James" was a moniker given to Lebron back in high school by fans. He went to a private religious high school, and they decided to make a play on words that tied a religious theme to his last name.

[nba_55]

why are you crying?
Rose didnt bring enough fish today?

[Legends66NBA7]

You're setting yourself up, OP.

[tmacattack33]

This is stupid. It completely ignores the other explanations for Lebron not fouling.


If u don't even take into consideration the other side of an argument, I'm not reading your argument.