Our #5 Athlete of the Decade may not have that title yet, but he has just about everything else. The argument can be made that he has been the most transcendent athlete this decade though. He shot on the scene out of a cannon straight from high school and the constant speculation about his future has a city and a league in paralyzed anxiety. Breaking into the Top 5 is the King himself, Lebron James.
The Resume:
-5 Time All-Star
-2 Time All-Star Game MVP
-2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
-2009 MVP
-3 Time All-NBA 1st Team
The Facts:
-Youngest player to score 50 points, have a triple-double, and make an All-Star Team
-2008 Scoring Champ
-One of 2 players to average 27, 6, 6 for 5 years (Oscar Robertson)
-Youngest player to reach 10,000 points
-Holds or shares 49 Cavaliers records
-Most consecutive points in a playoff game (25)
Why He's Here:
-LeBron James is a freak of nature. Nobody else in sports is able to do what LeBron can. His passing, rebounding, and relentless attacks to the basket make him an unstoppable, all-around force on the hardwood. The only possible criticism of James is his lack of a consistent jump shot, and the lack of a championship ring. The skillset of James is only paralleled by Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson, only they weren't 6-8 and also built like the Rock of Gibraltar. You want proof as to how good LBJ is exactly? Watch the awesomeness and the diversity of these plays....
Oh, and do you remember this....
Lasting Impact:
-Off the court, LeBron has perhaps exceeded his on-court skills. Without a doubt, he's in the Top 2-3 most famous and recognizable athletes in the world. LBJ is everywhere. Posters, advertisements, magazines, commercials... you name it, LeBron is there. Heck, I even passed through the Charlie Rose show this weekend and he was interviewing... LeBron James!! His marketability is what takes him past Kobe Bryant on our list. Sure, if you have one shot you might want #24, but in terms of being an all-around athlete, #23 comes first. He's hosted SNL, he's got a mostly spotless reputation (handshakegate and dunkedongate aside) and he seems to be incredibly likeable and popular, especially with his teammates. Perhaps only Tiger Woods is as marketable worldwide as King James. Think of all the hype, expectations, and pressure when he came into the league from St. Vincent St. Mary. And yet, with everything that was laid upon LeBron James, he has surpassed expectations. Future stars take note, LeBron is the blueprint for all athletes coming into the pros on and off the court.
Of course, James' greatness helps his marketing ability. On the court, James is transcendent. The NBA has not seen an athlete like LeBron James, period. He moves with the grace of Clyde Drexler, the power of Karl Malone, and he can jump out of the gym like David Thompson. All LBJ needs is a title. Odds are, he will get it, and it could even be this year with Shaq at his side. When he hangs them up, LeBron will go down as a Top 5 all-time player. He'll eventually pass Kobe amongst the greatest players of this generation when he retires. Even if by some chance he never wins a title, the mere wow factor of being able to watch an athlete like LeBron James play will leave us telling our grandkids about how lucky we were to be a Witness. If I haven't convinced you he belongs on this list yet, here's my last piece of evidence...
Does LBJ belong or not? Leave us your feedback with what you think. Check back with RSS as we'll be continuing our Athletes of the Decade Countdown. We'll move into the Top 4 this week and look tomorrow for the YCS and what we missed this weekend! Good night, and good luck.
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