When LeBron James entered the NBA as 19-year-old phenom, it was easy to marvel at his spectacular dunks and ability to fill the stat sheet.
But as a 27-year-old, titleless superstar, James has become one of the most scrutinized players in the league. It’s become more common to criticize him for fourth-quarter inadequacies than awe at his abilities.
Well, the two-time MVP is having the best season of his career. James entered Tuesday night averaging 29.2 points, 6.8 assists and 8.5 rebounds a game. He’s shooting 55.2 percent from the field, a mark usually only reserved for centers who don’t attempt shots outside the paint. And his player efficiency rating (32.79) is almost an entire point higher than Wilt Chamberlain’s single-season record of 31.84 in the 1962-63 season.
James has transformed his game to become even more dominant. A career 33.0 percent 3-point shooter, the Heat forward has drastically cut down on his shot attempts from beyond the arc. Two years ago, he averaged 5.1 3-point shots a game. That number has dropped to 1.8 attempts this year. He’s also improved his interior play, developing post-up moves and grabbing a career-high 8.5 rebounds a game this season.
Being taken for granted has become a right of passage in NBA superstardom.
It’s why Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant centers to ever play the game, won just one MVP. Critics focused on his dismal free throw shooting rather than his unstoppable drop step. Every superstar gets nitpicked. Kobe Bryant is a head case. Tim Duncan is boring. Dirk Nowitzki is soft. But those stars all have a title to quiet the haters.
James’ flaws will continue to overshadow his talents until he wins a championship.
But just because he hasn’t won a title doesn’t mean basketball fans shouldn’t appreciate the once-in-a-generation type player James is. The league will never see another 6-foot-8, 250-pound small forward that can pass like Magic, fly like Jordan and score like Kobe. Let’s not forget that.
– Jeffrey Tomik
