I had to get in on this conversation. Long time lurker. In my opinion, no one in the NBA is on par with Lebron. He's too fast and strong. I remember watching a Lakers-Cleveland game and they were showing highlights at half time. Kobe's athleticism is not in the same league as Lebron's. True story. Lebron's dismantling of the Pistons that one game last playoffs is reason enough to say he is the best player in the game. But, the problem is, everyone loses their step. Lebron's, what, 22? He's been in the league for 4 years and has logged in so many minutes. Sounds like somebody else who almost dismantled the Pistons. Ask Tracy McGrady how it felt to carry a team on his back for that long. McGrady is a shell of a player he was before because the wear and tear of being the ONLY point of focus on an NBA team does that to you. The only intangible is that Lebron is built like a running back while guys that have lost a step, McGrady or Kobe, are thinner.
Still, I can't imagine Lebron going as strong as he is in 3-4 years unless he develops a better jumper. Wade's already reeling with injuries. Dwight Howard has the potential to be an enormous talent in the future, just because he won't take as big of a beating as Lebron. I don't buy that crap from Shaq that the only person who gets beat up on more than Shaq is AI. Still, put Dwight on the Cavs right now instead of Lebron and they don't make the playoffs. The Cavs are just a terrible, terrible team.
Also, those stats don't mean jack. Who cares if he scored 39 points and got that many rebounds and assists. There's no reason to say Jason Kidd's triple doubles are any less impressive. Steve Francis as a rookie got 25 points, 17 rebs, 14 dimes. I'm pretty sure he's playing third fiddle to Mike James and Rafer.
