(Photo : Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
At 37 years old, LeBron James still produces excellent numbers for the Los Angeles Lakers. Though, one NBA Insider finds his style of play not that exciting to watch.
NBA insider Chris Broussard is just one of many who believe that LeBron James ranks among the league's all-time greats. The sports commentator for Fox Sports, however, does not find the Lakers' superstar's playing style to be particularly "pretty."
Chris Broussard discussed with Rob Parker that behind Michael Jordan, LeBron James is the "second-best player ever." While praising King James as a player, he also noted that his game lacked the grace of Michael Jordan and other legends like Steph Curry.
He pointed out that LeBron James's play "isn't really that pretty,"
As per Lakers Daily, Broussard said: "He's a great passer, but he won't pass like Magic [Johnson]. ... Jordan flying through the air, he was so graceful, like Kobe [Bryant] on steroids. I think that stuff matters, and Steph, just from the range he shoots with, the handle he has."
He went on to liken LeBron James to Karl Malone "with point guard skills," saying that though he is effective offensively, LBJ is "not as fun to look at" compared to the other basketball greats he mentioned.
Broussard has a valid point, though. But while the beauty of LeBron James' game may be debatable, his accomplishments in his nearly 20-year career are undeniable.
LeBron James Still Plays Better Than Most Younger Guys
LeBron James has kept career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game on 50.4% field goal shooting and 34.5% three-point shooting. He has been named to the All-Star team 18 times, won four league MVP awards, four finals MVP awards, and four NBA championships.
The seasoned veteran, now 37 years old, continues to perform at a very high level. Though his explosiveness may have diminished due to aging and injuries, he still manages to put up 24.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per contest.
Read Also: Brittney Griner Update: Where Is the WNBA Star After Reported Transfer to Russian Penal Colony?
However, despite LeBron James' greatness, the 2022-23 Lakers have yet to overcome their obstacles. The team currently has a record of 3-10 after 13 games.
Nevertheless, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks still considers LeBron James the face of the NBA despite the Lakers' lackluster performance so far this season.
The Greek Freak's Humility
In his 10 years in the NBA, the Bucks' superstar player has accomplished a ton, but he still does not think that those feats qualify him to be the league's main man.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the greatest basketball players today. He has been named to the NBA's All-Star team six times, was named MVP twice, was named to the All-NBA first team six times, and won a championship. "The Greek Freak" averages 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this season after putting together an MVP-caliber campaign last year. He is also shooting 54.2% from the field.
The Bucks are second in the Eastern Conference and have had a strong start to the season with a win-loss record of 11-3.
On Serge Ibaka's show, "How Hungry Are You?," the Milwaukee Bucks forward was recently asked if he feels like the NBA's face after winning two MVP awards. Antetokounmpo claimed that the league has many notable players.
Anyone who follows the NBA even casually can notice that the 6'11 power forward has been a dominant force for quite some time. But Giannis does not regard himself as the face of the NBA when asked. For him, it is still LeBron James, per Fadeaway World. And he acknowledged other great players like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, and Joel Embid, who also represent the league.
Giannis Antetokounmpo on being the face of the NBA
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) November 16, 2022
“LeBron is,” Giannis said. “LeBron’s still playing. Steph just won a championship, KD’s still hooping. Embiid’s killing. Jokic back-to-back MVP. Luka Magic. There’s a lot of people out there.” pic.twitter.com/EZGwMpVUQK
"I feel like I'm one of the faces of the league, LeBron is. LeBron is still playing!... There's a lot of people out there," Giannis said, as reported by The Score.
The Lakers will play two home games this weekend: against the Detroit Pistons this Friday and versus the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
Related Article: Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson Has a Message for Critics Amid Shooting Struggle
