LeBron James owns the ball - (Erik Drost - photo)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a hook shot threat - (Steve Lipofsky Photo)

The huge presence of LeBron James is a physical threat to the NBA's real... little people - (All Pro Reels Photo)

LeBron James was a physical threat to 7"5" Yao Ming during the 2008 Olympics

Charles Barkley was a member of the 1992 USA Olympic Dream team BUT… he was never a member of an NBA title winning team ALL TIME NBA NEVER WON-NA TITLE TEAM

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

SPORTS NOTES EXTRA - LeBRON JAMES - THINK ABOUT IT

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

All season LeBron James was challenged about his age and what was perceived as his declining skills. As he said he would do his talking on the court. He did and out played many of his young competitors. His season totals match his career levels and in some ways exceed them. He is an amazing physical specimen. The point is he could not achieve his greatness… BACK IN THE DAY - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Thursday May 25, 2023

BACK IN THE DAY COMPARISONS

There is no question that LeBron James has a tremendous amount of talent. The point is he is not the greatest player ever. His accomplishments have been made when rule changes accommodated his style of play. The fact that he was a young 18-year-old superstar he was somewhat protected by the league. In effect he has a primadona personality.

This debate about you can't compare ones talent from different eras is nonsense. The evidence is what can today's player do in an era when they played basketball and not today's sissy-ball fashion show era.

This season James has been challenged about his age. At 38 he's playing great. His averages this season are comparable with his career stats. Where he falters is that amount of games he plays in a season.

In the five seasons with the Lakers he's played 278 of 410 regular season games for an average of 55.6 games a regular season. His salary is $44,474,988. The result is he's paid $799,909 a game. He's almost being paid $1 million a game. The reality is, he's worth it since he's a top box office draw.

This season James played only 55 regular season games. To reach his million dollar a game value he would only have to sit out another 11 games to bring his season total to 44 games played.

Today's ticket prices are accommodating these huge salaries today's NBA players are being paid. When you see game price information that read tickets available for as low as $200... it's time to say OUCH!

It's not like the 50 cents I paid to see a pre-season double header at Merchantville High School featuring the Minneapolis Lakers, Philadelphia Warriors, NY Knicks and Boston Celtics. Yes... I too, am OLD… BUT… EXPERIENCED and KNOWLEDGEABLE... as in been there done that.

James' age has been the major sticking point about his career. At the beginning of the season the Houston Rockets Jabari Smith Jr. said to James that LeBron played on the same team with his (Smith's) father. He then asked James doesn't that make you feel old?

During this season's playoff series with the Memphis Grizzlies James was again given an age challenge by the Griz's Dillon Brooks. Brooks commented that James was old. The old man replied that he would do his taking on the court. He did resulting in Brooks and the Grizzlies being sent home while the old man and his Lakers teammates played on.

James has broken NBA records to perpetuate his greatness profile. The problem is he couldn't achieve those records in an earlier era. First off is his breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record.

Think about this during the earlier part of Jabbar's career there wasn't a 3 point shot. In those days a 7 foot player didn't shoot 3's even after the rule was implemented in the 1979-80 season with the Celtics guard Chris Ford being the first to make a 3.

With that in mind James made 2262 three point shots. Deduct 2262 points from his 38,652 record breaking total and James would still be shooting to break Abdul-Jabbar's record.

Abdul-Jabbar played half of his 20 year NBA career without the three point rule. After it was implemented he was only 1 for 18 in shooting 3's in his final 10 seasons in the league.

It took Abdul-Jabbar 1,560 games to set his record back in April 1984, James surpassed that milestone in 1,410 appearances... now that's an achievement.

James entered the league after graduating high school. He scored his first points in the NBA at the age of 18.

Abdul-Jabbar then known as Lou Alcindor, was not able to play professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA) out of high school. At the time, the league only accepted players beginning with the year that they could have hypothetically graduated from college.

While in college a no dunking rule was introduced to deny Kareem of one of his scoring advantages. In those days rules were made to keep players in check, not like today when rules are made to let the inmates run the asylum.

Another scoring advantage available for today's players is this so called Euro step. What the F happened here? I would get into fights in pick-up game when someone took as many steps as they take today. I have yet to find out who, when and why this rule was passed. It enables a player to move in three different directions on a drive to the basket. It is supposed to help a small player (aka little people) avoid a taller player.

Hell… almost all of the players today are tall.

Oscar Robertson was the first big guard at 6'5". That was topped by 6'9" Magic Johnson. Now there are numerous 6'8" guards. Seven footers like Nikola Jokic function like guards. They bring the ball up the court, shoot 3's and make great passes.

James is no little guy. He's a beast (THE HULK) at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) and 250 lb (113 kg) when charging down the lane. Where's the help for the LITTLE PEOPLE?

Back in the day he would have had his head handed to him, Bob Pettit style, if he drove down the lane without permission. Defense ruled then, offense and entertainment does now. There would be no free dinner's, lay-ups or dunks. As former NFL lineman Jerome Brown famously asked, did the Japanese sit down and have dinner with the Americans before they bombed them at Pearl Harbor?

There were no free passes in those early NBA days. Scotty Pippen pointed out that during his time in the league there was no hugging opponents like there is by players today.

The BAD BOY Detroit Pistons established the Jordan Rules which meant that every time Michael Jordan drove down the lane TO BUST HIM UP! They beat him and threw him to the ground. Jordan didn't cry or pout to officials, he took it like a man and returned the favor by kicking their @$$e$ with hard play that brought about positive results. Those results were six NBA titles in eight seasons including two back, to back, to back title reigns.

Amazingly James missed a third of the regular season with injuries that supposedly requires surgery. He returned to play a few games prior to the beginning of the playoffs. The way he was moving around during the playoffs was amazing. It raises questions was he injured or simply saving his strength to be fit for the playoffs?

If he really needs a surgery and has one who knows he may come out of it singing I BELIEVE I CAN FLY. He's already done his version of the film.

As the saying goes… you fooled me once shame on you, you fooled me twice... SHAME ON ME!

Yes unquestionably James is a great talent and physical specimen. It's his fitness that is more amazing than his record breaking accomplishments. He played ALL 48 minutes in game 4 when the Lakers were eliminated and swept 4-0 by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. He was THE ONLY PLAYER TO PLAY ALL 48 MINUTES!

Back in the day James would have limited minutes. Limited not for his talent but the manner he behaves. He complains, pleads and frowns so much with referees that back in the day he would have been tossed out of the game. During that time the refs were the boss. Players didn't cry and complain as much or… not at all. There was more discipline and respect in those days.

I recall while I was touring with a band I encountered the Boston Celtics while in transit at the Dallas, Texas Airport. All of their players were dressed in the same colored gray suits with maroon ties. Cedric Maxwell was the only lippy player as he said something to me as we crossed paths.

At that time the league was the brand not the player. The Celtics stood out since in games they all wore the same black Converse sneakers… NOT THEIR BRAND.

Player branding was initiated by Magic Johnson as I understand it. He goaded then Commissioner David Stern into being able to profit from his name.

Yea, yea, sure, sure times have changed BUT… there is no question players can be compared to different eras, they do in other sports... why not the NBA?

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

May 25, 1975 Golden State beat Washington 96-95 to complete a sweep of the NBA Finals, one of only six title sweeps. The others were by Boston (1959), Milwaukee (1971), Philadelphia (1983), Detroit (1989) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2002).

May 25, 1992 Danny Biasone, who was credited with introducing the 24-second shot clock to the NBA for the 1954-55 season, died in Syracuse at the age of 83. Biasone arrived at 24 seconds by dividing 2,880 seconds, the total playing time, by 120, the approximate number of shots he figured two teams took in a game.

May 25, 1993 Charles Barkley, acquired by the Phoenix Suns in June of 1992, won the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player. Barkley, who helped lead the Phoenix Suns to a franchise and NBA-best 62-20 record during the 1992-93 season, averaged 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 76 games.

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