Dennis Rodman: LeBron James would be ‘average player’ in late ’80s or early ’90s

Rodman added: “I’m just sick and tired of people always comparing him and Michael Jordan. It’s a whole different era, man.”




So it's not even worth having a strong stance one way or the other. It's impossible to prove. No one wins these arguments. Ever.

Better arguments are (before the season started of when Lebron paired of with Wade) who would be the leader of the team on the Heat, Wade or Lebron? There were a LOT of people saying it will STILL be WADE's team. This is something much easier to prove. Saying who would win or who would dominate is impossible to tell. There are far too many variables to consider and far too many impossiblities (yes, impossbilities! ) to prove.

 

Truth. He whines like a lil ***** these days imagine him playing through the 80s and 90s contact

 

Honestly, everything he said is correct. Call him a coke head or not, he's telling the truth. LeBron would have been average at best. With the less physical nature of the league these days, he's right about Jordan averaging 40 or more. He was almost there in the 90's before the NBA created these soft rules. He'd dominate today's soft players. Including the LeBron "The Flop King".

 

Honest opinion from an average hall of famer.

 

he's right

but who cares

 

I don't think LeBron is a real contender for GOAT at this point (we'll see over the next 10 years how his game holds up), but it's still plumb r****ded to say he'd only be "average" in the 80s and 90s. With his physical gifts and evolving skillset, I think it's safe to say he would have at least been an all star caliber player in any era.

 

Sorry, looking over my post made it seem like I was talking directly to you haha. I was just talking about the casual fans that bandwagon onto the 90's era is best era and the NBA sucks way of thinking. Those fans piss me off the most.

If they don't like the NBA then don't watch.

 

props if you made that...

 

Lebron is not merely an average player in any era of NBA history. The guy is a beast who is just about as unstoppable a force as there has ever been in this game.

 

Lol thankfully I didn't.

 

Average or not aside, watching the last few Heat games makes me wonder where's Lebron's lateral quickness? He got blown by Paul George and Kawhi rather easily. He's sacrificing his quickness for muscle/strength too much maybe...

 

This. There are so many variables that influence statistical data that merely showing statistics, on their own, is really meaningless. Statistics only show a certain small aspect of reality but only the controlling environment and variables that produced those statistics can provide meaning and relevance to the numbers.
Rodman is wrong about James being average but he was right about everything else he said. Rodman was always known to throw around controversial quips but make no mistake, on the basketball court, he was one of the smartest players who ever played the game. He knew what he was talking about.

 

this is exactly what my biggest issue with everyone's assessment of LeBron. He is the best player in the league, and elite player and amazing passer, but he is NOT a great defender. He's made his defensive "reputation" off of weakside blocks and overaggresive face up D. He's bigger than a lot the guys he guards and that his main advantage, otherwise, he routinely gets beaten off the dribble with anyone with a good first step or good offensive game. Last night, he got beat by Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.

 

Ironically, it's more likely that Rodman would be an average player if he played today.

 

He may be exaggerating, but go watch highlights of that era. The premier players in the league today have NO idea what it means to be on the receiving end of the previous era's version of a "playoff foul." Guy that didn't grow up playing in Rutger park, or some ghetto flat top have been coddled by their asskissing private schools and AAU league/summer skills camps.

Sure, everyone hurts the same. They're all human. But in 2013, it's a technical to stare at someone after a dunk. In 1993, you could punch someone in the face and maybe play out the rest of the game. Be serious.

 

Isiah Thomas said that, not Rodman.

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/05/sports/thomas-explains-comments-on-bird.html

 

James is a top 5 player no matter what era he plays in.

 

I don't think LeBron would be average in any era, but the part about
the Bulls whipping the Heat is dead-on! The 95'-96' team was just
phenomenal! They played in auto-pilot the entire season.
.......
.......
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lebron james would be the wilt chamberlain of the 80s..if he played in that era. with the faster pace, more possessions and crap...his stats would be better than oscar robertson's.