Chris Broussard believes LeBron James' game is not "pretty" like Steph Curry and Michael Jordan: "LeBron is like Karl Malone with point guard skills”
LeBron James is likely to topple Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring this season if he can stay healthy. In a few months, he could become the owner of arguably the most coveted record in NBA history.
Despite the ton of points “King James” has piled up over the years, he doesn’t necessarily have the most beautiful game. On “The Odd Couple” podcast, Chris Broussard tossed in his thoughts about James’ style of basketball compared to some of the greats of the game:
(Starts at the 7:55 mark)
“Magic’s [Johnson] passing was head and shoulders above the second-best ever. [Michael] Jordan flying through the air. He was so graceful, like Kobe [Bryant] on steroids. I think that stuff matters. Steph [Curry] from the range he shoots, the handles he has.
“LeBron is like Karl Malone with point guard skills. He can shoot, but it’s just not fun to look at and watch as some of these guys I’ve mentioned.”
LeBron James occasionally stuns basketball fans with rim-rattling dunks, chase-down blocks, or coast-to-coast drives while running over people. There’s a reason why he’s also known as the “L-Train.”
The four-time MVP’s handles aren't even that great compared to some of the best passers in the game. He sometimes has trouble getting separation from defenders by the way he manipulates the ball and the defense. More often than not, he’d end up barreling to the rim to take advantage of his freakish athleticism.
Michael Jordan, on the other hand, was a smooth operator who could dominate games with his silky jump shot. When the occasion called for it, particularly in his younger days, he also took flight with an impressive combination of grace and power.
"Kobe Bryant was Michael Jordan with hair. Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan made 9 First-Team All-Defense. ... Kawhi has the big hands, but he's not the closest thing we've seen to Mike, Kobe is. He's a carbon copy of Michael Jordan, not Kawhi." — @ShannonSharpe https://t.co/Hd4w3MdHHi
Kobe Bryant followed the same blueprint as “His Airness” and was practically a replica of the Chicago Bulls legend. Bryant’s footwork and aerial forays were also a sight to behold.
Steph Curry is also on the same level. Nobody pumps up a crowd the way he does by shooting 3-pointers, even from the logo. Some of the shots he has been taking would have been reason to bench him had he played in a different era.
With Curry, some of those shots have become the norm and something fans wait in line to see. Fans can’t get enough of the Golden State Warriors point guard warming up with his impeccable shooting and dribbling.
LeBron James may not have that “beautiful game,” but he’s nonetheless one of the most truly dominating players the NBA has ever seen.
LeBron James knows he doesn’t get points for style and beauty
LeBron James makes up for his lack of a pretty game with the kind of consistency that’s unheard of. In his 20th year in the NBA, nobody has played at this level. His combination of longevity and basketball brilliance is mind-boggling.
Regardless of the way he scores, the 18x All-Star just knows how to fill the scoresheet. He has 18 straight seasons averaging at least 25 points per game, per StatMuse.
His closest competitor is Kevin Durant with 14. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, owners of two of the NBA’s most aesthetically-pleasing games, only have 12 each.
NBA All-Time Scoring List:
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. LeBron James https://t.co/QBPsTHu38e
Steph Curry, the 3-point shooting god, hasn’t even reached half of what LeBron James has accomplished on that end. He’s got only seven seasons with at least 25.0 PPG.
This season, LeBron James has slowed down a little and is shooting just 23.9% from beyond the arc, the worst of his career. Despite that and being in his 20th season, he’s still averaging 24.9 points.
What he has accomplished as the soon-to-be all-time scoring champ is not bad for a pass-first guy.