LeBron James named Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year

[coolz]

LeBron James named Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year - NBA News | FOX Sports on MSN

As a third basketball player ever after Larry Bird and Michael Jordan

Congrats!

[SportsItUpCards]

Lebron!......

[asujbl]

LeBron is going to be a player the world doesn't really appreciate until he's done.

This season being a prime example - just casually dropping 25/6.5/7 with a PER of 29.76...while shooting 60% from the field (not to mention like 45% for 3 and 85% from the line)...think about that for a guy that isn't a pure low post player (like the guys around him in the stats - Howard, Drummond, Jordan etc...)

Only one player ever has done what LeBron is currently doing (in terms of PPG and FG%) and that's the greatest low post player I've ever seen in Kevin McHale. No one else has ever crossed the plateau that LeBron is reaching.

And almost no one seems to care. People care I suppose but it's just a ho hum, another day, with LeBron.

I feel bad for the Durant's of the world that they won't win an MVP with LeBron around (or they shouldn't - someone will get a boredom MVP like Barkley did)

[coolz]

Very true asujbl

On the bright side, you can say that people knew how great he is, and things like this sounds 'normal' for LeBron

Anything less than spectacular, the LeBron haters will flock back

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by asujbl

LeBron is going to be a player the world doesn't really appreciate until he's done.

This season being a prime example - just casually dropping 25/6.5/7 with a PER of 29.76...while shooting 60% from the field (not to mention like 45% for 3 and 85% from the line)...think about that for a guy that isn't a pure low post player (like the guys around him in the stats - Howard, Drummond, Jordan etc...)

Only one player ever has done what LeBron is currently doing (in terms of PPG and FG%) and that's the greatest low post player I've ever seen in Kevin McHale. No one else has ever crossed the plateau that LeBron is reaching.

And almost no one seems to care. People care I suppose but it's just a ho hum, another day, with LeBron.

I feel bad for the Durant's of the world that they won't win an MVP with LeBron around (or they shouldn't - someone will get a boredom MVP like Barkley did)

Not being picky but some of your stats are incorrect. He is shooting 60%, but you're off by 5% on threes and 10% at the line. And I think many people don't look at him like he's Jordan is because he does not have Jordan's game or the same type of dominance. Lebron dominates by getting his 23-25 and by also having several other all stars around him to distribute to. Lebron only leads his team in scoring about 65-70% of the time. Jordan dominated by taking over games offensively. You could count on one hand how many times he was outscored by one of his teammates in a season because he didnt have a bunch of offensive weapons like Lebron does so it doesn't seem as dominant while you're watching.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

Not being picky but some of your stats are incorrect. He is shooting 60%, but you're off by 5% on threes and 10% at the line. And I think many people don't look at him like he's Jordan is because he does not have Jordan's game or the same type of dominance. Lebron dominates by getting his 23-25 and by also having several other all stars around him to distribute to. Lebron only leads his team in scoring about 65-70% of the time. Jordan dominated by taking over games offensively. You could count on one hand how many times he was outscored by one of his teammates in a season because he didnt have a bunch of offensive weapons like Lebron does so it doesn't seem as dominant while you're watching.

Yeah you're right on my stats - I just ballparked it off the top of my head - he's at 40% and 76% for the season.

I don't really agree with anything else you said however. LeBron doesn't dominate offensively because he doesn't need to (from a PPG view). He could absolutely take over games if the situation called for it - he's done it a million times.

[groundsupport]

[dasiegel]

asujbl- I think he has his haters and all but this guys is only 10 years into his career and other greats like Barkley, Magic, etc. are saying we've never seen a player like him and that he's in the top 10 of all time. In a world where greats like Russell, Bird, Magic, Wilt, Kareem, MJ, etc are so revered to be put into that category while you are only half way or so through is pretty solid. I think he is appreciated now as we speak. Unlike MJ or Magic/Bird though the game is actually already accepted world-wide so he isn't gonna do groundbreaking cultural things like the Dream Team or "bring the NBA back" like Magic/Bird. His play however speaks volumes and he has a LOT of fans.

[bdoody42]

Pretty rare accomplishment by a basketball player. Only Jordan and Bird before him.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by dasiegel

asujbl- I think he has his haters and all but this guys is only 10 years into his career and other greats like Barkley, Magic, etc. are saying we've never seen a player like him and that he's in the top 10 of all time. In a world where greats like Russell, Bird, Magic, Wilt, Kareem, MJ, etc are so revered to be put into that category while you are only half way or so through is pretty solid. I think he is appreciated now as we speak. Unlike MJ or Magic/Bird though the game is actually already accepted world-wide so he isn't gonna do groundbreaking cultural things like the Dream Team or "bring the NBA back" like Magic/Bird. His play however speaks volumes and he has a LOT of fans.

I agree that ex-players appreciate what he's doing.

I don't think the casual fan really comprehends his level of play