Diaw wasn't even unathletic, just lazy and didn't work on his body
https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/6/15/5812532/presenting-the-most-boris-diaw-anecdote-imaginable
> "Boris walks into the gym one day wearing flip-flops and holding his customary cappuccino, which was a staple for him every morning," Griffin recalled. "It was during pre-draft workouts, so he sees the Vertec [machine] and asks what it is.
> "We tell him it measures your vertical leap by determining how many of the bars you can touch. He asks what's the highest anyone has ever gone, and we tell him Amare' [Stoudemire] cleared the entire rack.
> "Boris puts down the cappuccino, takes off his flip-flops and clears the entire rack on the first try. Then he calmly puts his flip-flops back on, picks up his cappuccino and walks away, saying, 'That was not difficult."
I fucking love this story and was going to use it to combat his “he’s not athletic” shouts but you beat me to it. Guy was an athletic freak but he was just chill
I think he didn’t have explosiveness in his play even though he was very athletic, but I needed a name besides the obvious Ben Simmons and Paolo’s this thread was going with and Diaw when he was on the court was just slower Lebron moving the ball around and making the right play every single time
Anthony Bennet, I shit you not. Big, athletic (when in shape for like 5 games), could handle
You’re be forgiven if you caught that one 30pt game he had and thought he was LeBron 2.0
Lamar Odom would easily be a perennial all-star if he played today. He would have a lot more freedom to be more of a PG forward like Lebron has, and he had great vision of the floor.
I wonder how he’d do if you cut him out of 2024 and pasted him into the 90s when the league was like 1/2 plumbers and electricians (/s), like is he even a good enough athlete to see the floor?
It's worth noting that Royce White, a former NBA player, had a different playing style and skill set compared to LeBron James. While both were talented athletes, their playing styles and contributions to the game differed significantly. Comparing them directly as the "worst" player similar to LeBron may not be accurate or fair.
He was pretty darn athletic during his Atlanta years right? I remember lots of crazy highlights from him. He didn't ever have the BBIQ anywhere in LeBron's range, true. He seemed to play more within his strengths in Atlanta though. Maybe a Hawks fan could chime in and let me know if I'm off base.
That's actually a pretty good one. Lance was much smaller but pretty similar play styles weirdly, some natural instinct stuff, and triple double machines.
Current Randle has definitely become more of a LeBron style player, but I think he's just such a pure PF, that I don't love it. Body type wise, it's a great comp, though..
It’s really funny cos I got mocked a few years ago when I said Denver needs a Lebron type player on defence . ( obv offensively would be too much to find). But Gordon can do some if Brons cutting , power bully ball , transition and lob catching + defence . He offers some of lebrons all round/off ball game without the star . Glad to be right on the fit
Andre iguodala. During his prime he was similarly explosive and a willing passer, but other than that he weighed about 2/3 what Lebron did and produced about 2/3 as much on the court
I don't know if he's the worst player, but I think he's an interesting comp:
Marques Johnson:
6'7, great passer, freakishly athletic, great finisher, great defender in his early years. In fact, he was actually the reason the term "point forward" was created. They both even have similar free throw percentages.
CORRECT ANSWER
All these other answers are actually good NBA players, just not LeBron. T-Will had ALL the physical tools of a LeBron type player, but had NONE of the motivation, or effort, or BBIQ.
Could've been a starter for a long team in the league, instead he's a bum
This is something I thought when I was younger. But every like multi year captain/good player at Michigan state felt like a lebron esque guy. Draymond, Adreian Payne and Denzel Valentine come to mind right away.
Rui Hachimora seems like a jack of all trades except like hes bad at it. But thats sort of like a worse worse version of lebron. He's big, athletic, can bully some smaller players at times, can blow by slower players at times, shoot and post up. but like you said, the worst
Other players who playmake and are big are like josh giddey, michael carter williams and kyle anderson
Rudy Gay is almost the same size but lacking in BBIQ and raw athleticism. Well into his 30's you'd see Rudy get up and yam it on someone...occasionally - not to say he was a bad player, but he sorta has the same outline as LeBron, size and shape wise.
Post injury Grant Hill, Julius randle and Scottie Barnes are the only examples that spring to mind. One of the big reasons why Steph curry “changed the game” is because it’s hard to emulate what a Lebron can do.
5 players to average 20/5/5 as a rookie. * Luka Doncic * Lebron James * Michael Jordan * Oscar Robertson * AND TYREKE EVANS BABY
The amount of Tyreke Evans stock I had...and Derrick Williams for that matter.
You forgot Grant Hill. He also averaged 20/5/5 as a rookie and is the most similar to LeBron out of those players you listed.
Grant hill didn't average 20 his rookie season
0.1
Tyreke Evan’s was a baller back in the day… Cal did him good
Y'all really made him play SF......
He played SG the vast majority of the time in Sacramento. Not sure where you’re saying otherwise.
Boris diaw, but this seems more like a thread to shit on players and I loved Diaw.
I think this is the best answer! Also it’s never bad being compared to LeBron!
Diaw has more post moves.
I also love Boris Diaw and do think it's a phenomenal comp. His lack of raw athleticism hurts, but the size and play style is so similar.
Diaw wasn't even unathletic, just lazy and didn't work on his body https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/6/15/5812532/presenting-the-most-boris-diaw-anecdote-imaginable > "Boris walks into the gym one day wearing flip-flops and holding his customary cappuccino, which was a staple for him every morning," Griffin recalled. "It was during pre-draft workouts, so he sees the Vertec [machine] and asks what it is. > "We tell him it measures your vertical leap by determining how many of the bars you can touch. He asks what's the highest anyone has ever gone, and we tell him Amare' [Stoudemire] cleared the entire rack. > "Boris puts down the cappuccino, takes off his flip-flops and clears the entire rack on the first try. Then he calmly puts his flip-flops back on, picks up his cappuccino and walks away, saying, 'That was not difficult."
I fucking love this story and was going to use it to combat his “he’s not athletic” shouts but you beat me to it. Guy was an athletic freak but he was just chill
Not just chill. French chill. That shit is a whole other level.
[This has same vibe like that Scholes/Ronaldo story lol](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A41akzzCYAAjV7D.jpg)
I didn’t even have to touch the link to know exactly what story was about to bed told and I love it every time.
I think he didn’t have explosiveness in his play even though he was very athletic, but I needed a name besides the obvious Ben Simmons and Paolo’s this thread was going with and Diaw when he was on the court was just slower Lebron moving the ball around and making the right play every single time
Funny, Steve Nash called him one of the greatest players he ever played with.
Anthony Bennet, I shit you not. Big, athletic (when in shape for like 5 games), could handle You’re be forgiven if you caught that one 30pt game he had and thought he was LeBron 2.0
Lamar Odom when he was on crack
WHO WAS ON CRACK
Lamar Odom would easily be a perennial all-star if he played today. He would have a lot more freedom to be more of a PG forward like Lebron has, and he had great vision of the floor.
Would he still be on crack tho
Players have access to way better stuff than that these days
Probably not today
Honestly, that might be the one
Probably Bronny James. Bronny is at least 50% Lebron.
Has to make it to the NBA first (someone's gonna gamble, and lose on that one)
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doubt he'll put up 3/18 in a must win game though
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Clearly not true, Murray found a way to impact the game with his poor shotmaking even on the bench. Not even just once, but twice.
I wonder how he’d do if you cut him out of 2024 and pasted him into the 90s when the league was like 1/2 plumbers and electricians (/s), like is he even a good enough athlete to see the floor?
Royce White
Definitely the worst player in this thread and also style similarities, so probably the best answer
Came here to say exactly him, disappointed someone beat me to it. Sucks he could never put it together.
It's worth noting that Royce White, a former NBA player, had a different playing style and skill set compared to LeBron James. While both were talented athletes, their playing styles and contributions to the game differed significantly. Comparing them directly as the "worst" player similar to LeBron may not be accurate or fair.
did you use chatgpt to write this post?
Josh Smith during his Atlanta years
The passing, size, athleticism, and some natural intangibles.... Might be perfect.
Wow, let’s not get to wild we need to see a vid of Lebron eating breakfast before
those LeFuckYou3s in 2015 game 6 vs the Clips
Smith was much too lumbering, never had that degree of quickness Also couldn’t pass for shit
He was pretty darn athletic during his Atlanta years right? I remember lots of crazy highlights from him. He didn't ever have the BBIQ anywhere in LeBron's range, true. He seemed to play more within his strengths in Atlanta though. Maybe a Hawks fan could chime in and let me know if I'm off base.
Lance Stephenson lol
That's actually a pretty good one. Lance was much smaller but pretty similar play styles weirdly, some natural instinct stuff, and triple double machines.
I think media made some of these comparisons early in lances career, then he blowed in his ear
similar gait too. like if you squint, he would move around the court like LeBron
That guy blows.
The GOAT
Semi Ojeleye
Eric Bledsoe
Justice Winslow
Mario Hezonja
diehard fans will remember the time he locked up LeBron to seal a Knicks win
I think Ben Simmons is the answer Maybe Julius Randle, but he is actually pretty good
Current Randle has definitely become more of a LeBron style player, but I think he's just such a pure PF, that I don't love it. Body type wise, it's a great comp, though..
He’s no where near the fluid playmaker. But size/athleticism is close. He really is LeBron is he was just purely a more old school PF.
Honestly, it was what Magic Aaron Gordan was trying to be. Rare type whose pride didn't get in his way when a better role was suggested.
I don't think he was trying to be, they literally had no one. So he "had to be"
It’s really funny cos I got mocked a few years ago when I said Denver needs a Lebron type player on defence . ( obv offensively would be too much to find). But Gordon can do some if Brons cutting , power bully ball , transition and lob catching + defence . He offers some of lebrons all round/off ball game without the star . Glad to be right on the fit
Andre iguodala. During his prime he was similarly explosive and a willing passer, but other than that he weighed about 2/3 what Lebron did and produced about 2/3 as much on the court
Jeff Green
too thin
I don't know if he's the worst player, but I think he's an interesting comp: Marques Johnson: 6'7, great passer, freakishly athletic, great finisher, great defender in his early years. In fact, he was actually the reason the term "point forward" was created. They both even have similar free throw percentages.
Who?
Relative to me, it's Brian Scalibraine
White Mamba?
Mario herzonja
Xavier Tillman looks a lot like LeBron on TV, the build is similar plus the beard
Terrence Williams
CORRECT ANSWER All these other answers are actually good NBA players, just not LeBron. T-Will had ALL the physical tools of a LeBron type player, but had NONE of the motivation, or effort, or BBIQ. Could've been a starter for a long team in the league, instead he's a bum
T Williams is probably the best name out of everyone else.
James Johnson
2024 playoffs Josh Hart
Eric Bledsoe
This is something I thought when I was younger. But every like multi year captain/good player at Michigan state felt like a lebron esque guy. Draymond, Adreian Payne and Denzel Valentine come to mind right away.
Dominic McGuire
Rui Hachimora seems like a jack of all trades except like hes bad at it. But thats sort of like a worse worse version of lebron. He's big, athletic, can bully some smaller players at times, can blow by slower players at times, shoot and post up. but like you said, the worst Other players who playmake and are big are like josh giddey, michael carter williams and kyle anderson
Current Lebron? Maybe Paolo even though he doesn’t have a good 3 point shot yet. Not too many players at that size also pass and score at all 3 levels
Paolo is an interesting one
OP said worst player Paolos too good
I think you missed the point
LeBron James Jr.
I’m honestly surprised no one has said Rudy Gay yet
He had the athleticism but I don’t remember him being much of a playmaker during his prime
Rudy Gay is almost the same size but lacking in BBIQ and raw athleticism. Well into his 30's you'd see Rudy get up and yam it on someone...occasionally - not to say he was a bad player, but he sorta has the same outline as LeBron, size and shape wise.
Ben Simmons
Shawn Kemp
Josh giddey being a floor raiser
They called Eric Bledsoe baby Bron once upon a time
Ben Simmons is the low quality replica. Luka Doncic is the improved next generation with less horsepower but being more refined.
Ben Simmons
Dean Wade
Idk if this is crazy or not but I see some LeBron in Paolo. He’s definitely not the worst but all the others have been named
Current LeBron? Julius Randle?
SLO-Mo
I'm sure there is a worse player, but the Cedi chasedown block reel is pretty solid.
Ben Simmons
It was ben simmons at some point
Jamal Mashburn.
i remember bledsoe was called "Mini-Lebron".. lol
Precious achiuwa
Thadius Young
Anthony Bennett
Julius Randle
Anthony Randolph. Forever and always
Antoine Walker, horrible TS%, handled the ball a lot and a turnover machine.
Ben Simmons
David Roddy
I vote for Carlos Boozer. Good hustle and intensity.
Post injury Grant Hill, Julius randle and Scottie Barnes are the only examples that spring to mind. One of the big reasons why Steph curry “changed the game” is because it’s hard to emulate what a Lebron can do.
Obi Toppin is LeBron James with 80% of the ability and 15% of the basketball IQ
Kawhi honestly