LeBron's first 3 years against other High School Stars

[CelticBalla32]

No I mean the difference is glaring, i'm comparing LeBron to other HOF'ers here, and LeBron is still making them look like scrubs

While the others averaged 7-10 points in their first season, LeBron was already getting 21/6/5

When the others were getting 15 points a game, lebron was already a 31/7/6 beast, numbers the prime versions of the other HOF high schoolers couldnt sniff.

Its actually a significant difference

Everybody develops differently. And if you're going to look at it like that, you have to consider their usage. LeBron got a chance to put up those numbers right away because he came in as THE guy on his team. Meanwhile, the others didn't weren't even starters right away and were playing in the shadows of others (Kobe had Shaq, Eddie Jones and Van Exel...... Vince was the man in Toronto and T-Mac was behind Doug Christie too... KG quickly earned his starting spot but Sam Mitchell started over him right away).

Even though Kobe put up 7 PPG his first year, I bet you if he played 35 minutes per game as the go-to guy he would have put up some numbers at age 18.

Of course, LeBron was further along than them from the get-go. I'm not disputing that, but stats often come down to usage and I think the drastic difference in their numbers is a product of that.

[BoutPractice]

The first reason is that LeBron was both better and more precocious than these 4 players, giving him a significant head start.

The second reason is that his attributes translated more rapidly to the league. Kobe, TMac and Garnett had length and NBA skills but not the strength, Dwight had the strength but no real basketball skill. LeBron had the right combination from the start: he was quick as a guard, strong and tall as a forward, could dribble, pass, get to the rim at will, and already keep the defense somewhat honest with his shot.

The third reason is that he was drafted number one overall to a horrendous team (the same is true for Dwight, but no one ever insinuated that Dwight was better than LeBron anyway). Kobe, for example, landed in a team that was trying to build a dynasty around Shaq. And TMac was pretty low on the pecking order when he arrived.

[pauk]

Well he was better & more NBA ready than any HS player ever.

[iBandwagon]

Well look at that, Kobe's 3rd year is almost as good as LeBron's 1st. Godbe

[dubeta]

LeBrons 2nd year as a 19 year old was better than Prime Kobe holy

27/7/7 on 47% shooting


A 19 year old version of LeBron was better than any version of Kobe. Let that sink in for a second. A teenager was better than prime Kobe

[JT123]

Well look at that, Kobe's 3rd year is almost as good as LeBron's 1st. Godbe

Fcking ether!

[dubeta]

It seems i'm the only kobe fan who has the balls to enter this thread

Oh well

[CelticBalla32]

LeBrons 2nd year as a 19 year old was better than Prime Kobe holy

27/7/7 on 47% shooting


A 19 year old version of LeBron was better than any version of Kobe. Let that sink in for a second. A teenager was better than prime Kobe

Rookie/2nd year LeBron was not better than Kobe at his peak.

Kobe was insane.

[pauk]

Everybody develops differently. And if you're going to look at it like that, you have to consider their usage. LeBron got a chance to put up those numbers right away because he came in as THE guy on his team. Meanwhile, the others didn't weren't even starters right away and were playing in the shadows of others (Kobe had Shaq, Eddie Jones and Van Exel...... Vince was the man in Toronto and T-Mac was behind Doug Christie too... KG quickly earned his starting spot but Sam Mitchell started over him right away).

Even though Kobe put up 7 PPG his first year, I bet you if he played 35 minutes per game as the go-to guy he would have put up some numbers at age 18.

Of course, LeBron was further along than them from the get-go. I'm not disputing that, but stats often come down to usage and I think the drastic difference in their numbers is a product of that.

Why wasnt he given that chance then? Being in the shadows of Van Exel (PG) or Shaq (Center) doesnt explain why he didnt get to start/play at SG.... which was filled in by a Eddie Jones, a 12-14 ppg at best player during that time at even heavy minutes.. clearly if they saw Kobe as a better option / being better he sure would get the spot over Eddie.... and that Kobe couldnt prove for 3-4 of his first years in the NBA.... Lebron for sure would, i think he would immediately throw either Van Exel (and play PG) or Eddie Jones back to the bench as a rookie and in the next year & so on the discussion would instead start to be who is better, Shaq or Lebron.... and if the championships would come the same years its highly likely Lebron would had a much higher chance than Kobe did to snatch some MVP/FMVP away from Shaq in the process.... not to mention Shaq would have been much more happier with Lebron's style of play & attitude, he wouldnt chase him of, meaning they could have stayed together much longer than Shaq/Kobe did, meaning more championships...........

[JT123]

Why wasnt he given that chance then? Being in the shadows of Van Exel (PG) or Shaq (Center) doesnt explain why he didnt get to start/play at SG.... which was filled in by a Eddie Jones, a 12-14 ppg at best player during that time at even heavy minutes.. clearly if they saw Kobe as a better option / being better he sure would get the spot over Eddie.... and that Kobe couldnt prove for 3-4 of his first years in the NBA.... Lebron for sure would, i think he would immediately throw either Van Exel (and play PG) or Eddie Jones back to the bench as a rookie and in the next year & so on the discussion would instead start to be who is better, Shaq or Lebron.... and if the championships would come the same years its highly likely Lebron would had a much higher chance than Kobe did to snatch some MVP/FMVP away from Shaq in the process.... not to mention Shaq would have been much more happier with Lebron's style of play & attitude, he wouldnt chase him of, meaning they could have stayed together much longer than Shaq/Kobe did, meaning more championships...........

Kobe stans will avoid this post like the plague.

[PsychoBe]

Why wasnt he given that chance then? Being in the shadows of Van Exel (PG) or Shaq (Center) doesnt explain why he didnt get to start/play at SG.... which was filled in by a Eddie Jones, a 12-14 ppg at best player during that time at even heavy minutes.. clearly if they saw Kobe as a better option / being better he sure would get the spot over Eddie.... and that Kobe couldnt prove for 3-4 of his first years in the NBA.... Lebron for sure would, i think he would immediately throw either Van Exel (and play PG) or Eddie Jones back to the bench as a rookie and in the next year & so on the discussion would instead start to be who is better, Shaq or Lebron.... and if the championships would come the same years its highly likely Lebron would had a much higher chance than Kobe did to snatch some MVP/FMVP away from Shaq in the process.... not to mention Shaq would have been much more happier with Lebron's style of play & attitude, he wouldnt chase him of, meaning they could have stayed together much longer than Shaq/Kobe did, meaning more championships...........

stop being silly. kobe wasn't allowed to be a starter until he was deemed "ready", it was taboo otherwise. ask garnett and t-mac too.

meawhile lebron was given 30+ minutes from the get-go on a horrendous team that gave him the highest usage rate out of any rookie ever in the weakest conference in the past 15 years for his first three years.

everything fell into place for lebron to put up the numbers that he did. all he had to do was do his thing.

[rule1223]

Melo put up better stats and led his team to the playoffs the same year, lebron robbed him of the ROTY and please dont say Carmelo was a freshman while lebron came out of high school, its no ones fault but lebron and his mom that he was held back a grade

[Encre92]

Why wasnt he given that chance then? Being in the shadows of Van Exel (PG) or Shaq (Center) doesnt explain why he didnt get to start/play at SG.... which was filled in by a Eddie Jones, a 12-14 ppg at best player during that time at even heavy minutes.. clearly if they saw Kobe as a better option / being better he sure would get the spot over Eddie.... and that Kobe couldnt prove for 3-4 of his first years in the NBA.... Lebron for sure would, i think he would immediately throw either Van Exel (and play PG) or Eddie Jones back to the bench as a rookie and in the next year & so on the discussion would instead start to be who is better, Shaq or Lebron.... and if the championships would come the same years its highly likely Lebron would had a much higher chance than Kobe did to snatch some MVP/FMVP away from Shaq in the process.... not to mention Shaq would have been much more happier with Lebron's style of play & attitude, he wouldnt chase him of, meaning they could have stayed together much longer than Shaq/Kobe did, meaning more championships...........

[Lebron23]

He's a phenom.

[Encre92]

LeBrons 2nd year as a 19 year old was better than Prime Kobe holy

27/7/7 on 47% shooting


A 19 year old version of LeBron was better than any version of Kobe. Let that sink in for a second. A teenager was better than prime Kobe