James is the first player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP awards and has been a four-time NBA champion. He’s also on pace to break Jordan’s career scoring record.
The Former Lakers Trainer Skips the Michael Jordan Comparisons When Talking About LeBron James is a story about how former Lakers trainer, Gary Vitti, doesn’t compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan when talking about his career. Read more in detail here: lakers 2021.
In the never-ending (and tiresome) GOAT discussions, LeBron James often compares himself to Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson was tossed into the comparison blender early in James’ career because he’s huge and can pass. The James-Kobe Bryant scales have seen a lot of usage since LeBron joined the Los Angeles Lakers.
If only James had a skyhook, things would be a lot easier. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar may be added to the mix. For many commentators, comparing greatness to greatness is a small business. As a result, it’s no wonder that James’ name comes up often in these conversations. However, one veteran NBA watcher views LeBron as a player who is seldom mentioned in these discussions.
LeBron James continues to climb the all-time rankings.
LeBron James is in elite company on the all-time statistical leaderboards as he enters his 19th NBA season.
With 35,367 points, James is third all-time in NBA history, and he’s just two seasons away from overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for first place. He’s also eighth in assists with 9,696, and he’s on track to become just the sixth player to reach 10,000 assists this season. James’ next triple-double will be his 100th, making him just the sixth player in NBA history to do it.
For good measure, The King ranks 13th all-time in thefts, with a healthy 2021–22 season putting him in striking distance of the top 10. Even though he isn’t renowned for his shooting ability, James has made almost 2,000 3-pointers. There are just ten players that have achieved that level.
On any given night, the four-time MVP can dish out a statistical feast. As a result, a veteran NBA trainer compared James to a Hall of Famer from another period.
For more than three decades, Gary Vitti was the Lakers’ trainer.
LeBron James has been compared to Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant!
Gary Vitti, an ex-Laker trainer, says, “He doesn’t remind me of any of them. I believe he’s a mystery.”
“He reminds me of a larger version of Oscar Robertson.”
“He plays the game the way it should be played.”
pic.twitter.com/dubIZkqP8x – through Scoop B Radio pic.twitter.com/dubIZkqP8x
September 18, 2021 — Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB)
Gary Vitti had a front-row seat to some of the finest the NBA has to offer from 1984 to 2016. In his position as a trainer with the Lakers, he saw Johnson’s MVP years, Bryant’s whole career, and Jordan’s incredible stay in the NBA.
However, during a recent interview with Brandon Robinson on Scoop B Radio, Vitti said that LeBron James did not resemble him of anybody in that three. Instead, the Laker legend sees echoes of a legendary player from the past:
“I believe he is an enigma. He reminds me of a larger version of Oscar Robertson. Plays the game just how it should be played.”
As a supersized point guard in the 1960s, Robertson dominated the NBA. The Big O, who led the league in scoring with 29.2 points per game in 1967–68 and was a seven-time assist champion, was the first player to average a triple-double for a season.
As 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Robertson was a defensive thorn in the side at point guard. Power forwards with comparable physiques existed at the time.
A comparison of James’ and Robertson’s careers reveals some interesting similarities.
LeBron James epitomizes the NBA’s position-less age.
When it came to LeBron James (L), former Lakers trainer Gary Vitti offered an odd analogy, labeling him a larger version of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. | Getty Images/David P. DeFelice | Getty Images/Focus On Sport
LeBron James has played four of the five conventional positions in his 18-year career. As a rookie, he played shooting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers before switching to small forward. He spent two seasons as the Lakers’ point guard after dabbling at power forward with the Miami Heat.
LBJ is a previous scoring champion, much like Robertson. In 2007–08, he scored 30.0 points each night on average. In the 2019–20 season, James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship while leading the NBA in assists.
His career statistics of 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game are similar to Oscar’s 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game.
Some people chastised LeBron James for his willingness to pass at times throughout his career. However, his selfless manner of play distinguishes him from other talented players who were more concerned with finding methods to put the ball in the hoop. When put to the test, comparing him to Robertson isn’t such a leap.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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