LeBron James Says He’ll Be On Basketball’s Mt. Rushmore, Has Long Way To Go
By Andrew Fisher
@AndrewFisherRS
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It’s taken awhile, but LeBron James finally sounds like a guy who believes he can be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. After winning two championships, that sort of thing will happen. There was never any question about James’ physical abilities, it was always just a question of whether he was mentally tough enough. But after a decade in the league and four MVPs, there’s no question that James is mentally tough. He’s in his prime now and the only question remaining is how great his legacy will be.
So where does James think he’ll end up when it’s all said and done? On basketball’s hypothetical Mt. Rushmore.
Here’s what James told Steve Smith in an interview for NBA TV:
“I’m going to be one of the top four that’s ever played this game, for sure. And if they don’t want me to have one of those top four spots, they’d better find another spot on that mountain. Somebody’s gotta get bumped, but that’s not for me to decide. That’s for the architects.”
So who’s on James’ Mt. Rushmore right now? Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson. He apparently had to think hard on the fourth choice.
To me, I don’t see how he could have left Julius Erving off the mountain. People don’t realize the impact he had on the game. Do yourself a favor and watch the Dr. J documentary that NBA TV did a couple years back. Watch that and you’ll conclude that it’s just wrong to leave the Doctor off basketball’s Mt. Rushmore.
But getting back to James, is it possible? Could he work his way into the top four or higher someday? Sure he could. But I don’t think it’s likely. James is destined to be a top 10 player in my book. Unless he wins an unprecedented amount of MVPs or he wins six or seven titles, I just don’t see a way he can move ahead of Bird, Magic, Jordan or Dr. J.
All of those guys changed the game forever. James is simply the greatest player of his generation. Has he done anything revolutionary? Not in my book. Not yet, anyway.
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Regardless of whether LeBron James is on basketball’s Mt. Rushmore, you can witness his great play in person by visiting Razorgator and buying Heat tickets today!
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