Daily NBA Fix: LeBron James Still Quietly The Best Player In The NBA
By Ben Gibson
On today’s Daily NBA Fix, a near triple-double performance by LeBron Jame reminded us he’s still the league’s best player.
LeBron James has been in Stephen Curry‘s shadow so far this season, and for good reason with Curry on a rampage from beyond the three-point line. The Golden State Warriors are still perfect and starting off the season in near historic fashion. Somehow, the league’s best all-around player feels like he’s not getting enough attention with his 10-3 Cleveland Cavaliers.
James had 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on Saturday as the Cavaliers took down the Hawks, but his numbers so far this season are just as good as they’ve ever been. He’s been shooting his best since 2013 with a 51.8 field goal percentage, and his average of 26.6 points is up slightly from last season’s 25.3. He’s still in the top 10 in scoring, to little or no one’s surprise.
I’m not saying he’s being underrated or anything like that, but it is amazing to me that he’s been an afterthought to many of the other storylines to start the season.
Whether it’s Kristaps Porzingis in New York, Curry and Golden State, or even Paul George and the Indiana Pacers’ run of success, there’s always something that seems to be getting noticed more than LeBron right now — which, if anything, is a great way to judge the health of the league. One of the for sure all-time greats is still playing at a MVP level, but he isn’t even the most talked about player.
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Part of this is the natural fatigue of him being in the spotlight for so long. Him being dominant isn’t that exciting to us anymore. It is only natural that the newer players and the storylines they bring with them are getting our attention. It’s like gravity: It’s an amazing force and phenomenon that we see and experience every day, but no one is that impressed that we don’t just float off into space every day. We just accept it. We accept that LeBron James being amazing is just part of life.
I’m sure LeBron doesn’t mind the spotlight shining elsewhere for the time being. Being the NBA’s best player for most of your career comes with immense pressure, so even if you can handle it, it doesn’t hurt to take a step back from time to time.
Besides, once the playoffs come the pressure and the spotlight will be back and as intense as ever. He lost two All-Star teammates in the playoffs last season, giving him good enough reasons to not be able to stop the Warriors single-handedly, but if the Cavaliers are in good health when the playoffs comes, LeBron will likely only have Golden State in his way of another title.
Porzingis’ Progress
Another day, another game, and another reel of Kristaps Porzingis highlights. This time it was in a 107-102 win over the Houston Rockets as Porzingis had 24 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks in a near triple-double performance.
Yesterday I said the New York Knicks aren’t a joke anymore, and Porzingis is one of the reasons why.
Morris, Drummond Run the Hook and Ladder
There are only so many ways to say Andre Drummond is a really damn good basketball player, but on Saturday night he teamed up with Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris for this basketball version of the hook and ladder play.
It was the Washington Wizards that got the 97-95 win over the Detroit Pistons, but considering both teams have winning records right now, it’s hard to say anything other than the fact it is another sign the Eastern Conference is getting better.
The Warriors are still king, and the Western Conference is still better, but I think we can put away the idea that conferences need to be dissolved.