Who has the best career of all time in the NBA
LeBron James became the all-time leading scorer in NBA history a week ago, combining regular season and playoffs (44,152 points), surpassing legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s mark.
It was yet another achievement for LeBron in his successful career and reignited the debate: Does “The King” have the best career in NBA history?
The answer will seem simple, better numbers, better season. But it’s more complex.
In the 75-year history of the NBA the greats have led the league at different times: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell Michael Jordan and now LeBron James.
The case of Bill Russell
I didn’t see him play, but I have no doubt: the greatest career in NBA history is that of William Felton Russell. Or simply Bill Russell. Point and aside.
It’s true that we’re in an era where, if something isn’t on TV or trending on social media, it didn’t happen. But I’m from the era where books don’t bite. And in the NBA ones, the great milestones achieved by the mythical number 6 of the Celtics are treasured.
He arrived in Boston after being a champion with the University of San Francisco. And as a rookie he won his first professional title. In the entire history of the NBA there are only three players who were champions in college basketball and the following year repeated the achievement in the pros: Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and the great Bill.
He was the cornerstone of the greatest dynasty that American sports has ever had: in thirteen seasons, he played in 12 Finals and won eleven of them with the Celtics. He has a ring on each finger of his hands and the eleventh one he had to keep in one of his pockets.
He marked an era in the NBA: Wilt Chamberlain (his great rival) epitomized offense and he epitomized defense. And since defense wins championships, Russell counts them in double digits and Chamberlain only has 2 (one of them when Bill was already retired).
Add to this that the last championship he won as a player-coach, and the story becomes an epic.
Nobody defines better than him the meaning of the word winner. That’s why the NBA did justice by naming the Finals Most Valuable Player trophy after him.
But if it hasn’t been clear, I’ll repeat it one more time: the best NBA career, the most impressive, the most sublime, is that of Bill Russell.
The case of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Why does Kareem have the greatest NBA career of all time? Simply put, no player combined greatness, durability and consistency like Abdul-Jabbar, who rewrote the NBA record book during his 20 glorious seasons on the boards with the Bucks and Showtime Lakers.
Before LeBron, no player in NBA history could touch Kareem when we talk about the greatest careers in the best basketball league in the world. But Kareem and LeBron are united by those aforementioned factors, plus others that separate them from the rest.
No other player entered the NBA with more pressure on his shoulders than Kareem in 1969, and LeBron 34 years later. Although they arrived in the NBA under very different circumstances – one fresh out of high school, the other after amassing arguably the best college career in history as a Lew Alcindor – both met and exceeded expectations.
What sets Kareem apart from LeBron? Not much, really. For now, time (and maybe a one-on-one with Bruce Lee). He still holds the title of all-time leading scorer in NBA history, still holds the record for MVP awards, and his 6 championships are second only to Bill Russell among Mount Rushmore players.
Oh, and the skyhook that remains the most unstoppable and famous offensive weapon in NBA history.
The case of Michael Jordan
It’s been almost 20 years since Michael Jordan retired for good from the NBA and his legacy remains unmatched and unattainable for the generations of basketball players who succeeded him.
The debate continues and will continue as long as the NBA persists in seeking a replacement for “His Majesty,” who turned 59 on Feb. 17 and whose numbers throughout his 15 seasons in the Association:
32,292 points 5,633 assists 6,672 rebounds Rookie of the Year 6 championships 5 MVP’s 6 Finals MVP’s 14-time All-Star 3 Olympic Games MVP’s 2 Hall of Fame Golds.
And although several of his numbers have already been surpassed or that many point to LeBron James as the best in NBA history, a large part of the experts, analysts and fans who enjoyed his game in the 90’s stay with MJ because they admire his winning mentality and the dominance he exerted on the court for more than a decade.
The case of LeBron James
The Lakers superstar surpassed Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this month as the leading scorer in NBA history in both the regular season and playoffs. At 37 years old, the ‘King’ records 29.1 points per game, his most since 2009-10 with the Heat. It is impressive what he continues to do on the court, considering that this is his 19th NBA season. To give you an idea, the highest scoring percentage for a player in his 19th tournament in the league was Kobe Bryant in 2014-15 (22.3 points).
‘LeGOAT’ has all the arguments to be considered the best of all time: titles (four with three different teams being MVP in the Finals), four regular series MVP’s, two Olympic gold medals, First Team All-NBA 13 times (record), five times All-Defensive and 18 All-Star Game appearances, equaling Bryant for the second most selections. Only Abdul-Jabbar (19) has more.
It is the 18th consecutive season James has been selected to the All-Star Game, emulating Kobe as the longest streak in history. James is also first in wins, points, steals and shots scored in postseason history. He has played in 10 Finals, with the 2016 Finals being the most heroic, coming back from 3-1 down with the Cavaliers to the Warriors.
The best part? That retirement seems far away, for the time being.
