CLEVELAND — Folks frequently ask sportswriters the most memorable thing they’ve covered.
For me, the answer depends on the day. It could be an Ohio State football national championship, a Final Four, World Series clashes, NBA playoff games, world championship boxing, Jack Nicklaus in a PGA event, or 1-on-1 interviews with Bill Belichick, Urban Meyer, Archie Griffin and Richard Petty.
But when this career ends, the response should be just one word: LeBron.
I’ve watched LeBron James play basketball since before he could drive.
I covered him as a high schooler multiple times, from a sophomore year blowout of Crestview in northern Richland County, through four state tournaments, and even a routine regular-season beatdown of Willard at the JAR in Akron. I’ve covered him a handful of times as an NBA superstar in Cleveland, too.
So when Richland Source colleague Zac Hiser asked if we could request credentials to get art of LeBron for our system, I said sure. On the way to Cleveland, Zac asked when was the last time I had seen LeBron in person, and it turned out to be eight years ago in a regular-season loss to Kobe Bryant.
That’s way, way too long between visits to see a state treasure.
LeBron James is the greatest basketball player I’ve ever seen, in person or otherwise, and yes I’ve seen Michael Jordan. There has never been anyone like LeBron, not with his size, skillset, clutch play, and overall game. His durability and extension of brilliance has reached its 15th season at the highest level in the world. Incredibly, at age 33, King James still reigns supreme on every NBA court he surveys.
Virtually everyone wants to compare James to Jordan. That is absolutely the wrong comparison. Jordan was a pure scorer. That is a sidelight for LeBron. James is so good he’s one of just seven guys in pro history to go over 30,000 points, and it’s not his best trait.
The right comparison is LeBron to Magic, a far more athletic, far better shooter, and even a better clutch player than Magic, but the Laker great at least came the closest to the overall basketball IQ and control of pace, handling of the ball, generalship of his team, etc.
While in Miami, LeBron defended a Hall of Fame point guard (Tony Parker) and Hall of Fame 7-footer (Tim Duncan) in the same Game 7 of an NBA Finals. No one has ever done that.
Zac and I saw LeBron in a March 5 blowout of Detroit. He played just 28 minutes, scored 31 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and handed out 7 assists. He hit 5 of 7 treys. He guarded Blake Griffin and scored at will inside too, despite the presence of 7-foot All-Star Andre Drummond.
If James has lost a step, I didn’t see it. Actually, LeBron is now a better basketball player than he was during his first stint in Cleveland. He’s certainly a better perimeter shooter. His postgame is dramatically improved, too.
And this is a guy who won four MVPs (and should’ve won six), before he returned to Cleveland four years ago and ended that overwhelming championship curse.
Off the court you find no criminal behavior, no accusations of mischief in a league that has endured scandals reported (Kobe Bryant’s rape charge) and under reported (Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley’s gambling habits).
James refuses to shut up and dribble, as he was scolded to do by a commentator earlier this year. Instead, he offers his political slant whether you like it or not. He correctly views himself as a black leader, but you won’t see him use that stage or his voice in the aftermath of Game 7 in an NBA Finals as a political pulpit (like the Hollywood types who routinely ruin their Oscar moments with a goofy drive-by slant).
I’ve often wondered what it was like to see Babe Ruth in his prime, or Wilma Rudolph or Jackie Robinson or Babe Didrickson or Jim Brown or Joe Louis.
I was too little to really remember Gale Sayers or Wilt Chamberlain or Peggy Fleming or Jean-Claude Killy, Mark Spitz, Margaret Court, Willie Mays or Roberto Clemente. By the time I came along Muhammad Ali’s days of floating and stinging were well behind him. My most vivid memory of Jack Nicklaus was his 18th and final win in a major. That was when the Golden Bear donned the green jacket after his 1986 Masters win, conquering Augusta at age 46.
Make no mistake, I’ve seen some tremendous athletes at their respective peaks through the years. Tiger Woods, Mike Tyson, Martina Navratilova, the Williams sisters, Tom Brady, Johnny Bench, Barry Bonds, Mary Lou Retton, John McEnroe, Bonnie Blair, Brittney Griner, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and yes Michael Jordan.
But the very best, in any sport?
That guy grew up right up the road. And no matter what free agent decision he makes this summer, LeBron James will always be an Ohio treasure. And to this point, he is the best I’ve ever seen.
Thanks for the memories, LeBron.
