Is LeBron the second-best player off all time? Stephen A. & Mad Dog debate | First Take
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- Опубліковано 12 тра 2024
- Is LeBron the second-best player off all time? Stephen A. & Mad Dog debate | First Take
Stephen A. Smith and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo debate whether LeBron James is the second-best player of all time.
#FirstTake #NBA
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This great value version of Skip is exactly what Stephen A needed
😆 🤣 😂
Bro I swear that's his cousin
@@grapesoda24 na that's skips little brother
Skip WISHES he was MAD DOG. MAD DOG was doing sports talk radio in the 80s... Hes been in this business DECADES longer than Skip.
@@joe-tatothepotatobiden47 I think Skip been doing it that long as well
If you told me this guy was the younger brother of Skip I'd ride with it 🤣🤣🤣
Lmao I legit thought that was Skip before he started talking 😂
no cap😂😂
Yo, I thought this was the old first take crew with Skip😂😂😂
Thought the same thing I’m down for this guy on first take everyday
Lmaoo bro I’m crying
"Bird never played bad in a big series"
So we gonna act like Bird didn't score 8 points twice, in his 1st finals and wasn't the finals mvp in that finals
Doesn’t fit their narrative.
Why does not winning Finals MVP matter so much to people. Finals MVP is the best of one series and still a great achievement but Curry has never won it and those teams don’t get there with him especially his play in the first 3 rounds of the playoffs.
If your team wins the finals you did enough lol.
He had two bad games but played great defense and rebounded and they won
@@jessieurena7583 Just say we forget because Cornbread Maxwell carried him. That's it, that's the only difference, the only difference is that Celtics team was good enough to win, despite Bird being bad
Bird also had a bad series against the sixers (he wasn't great in the first round either) in 82 and the bucks in 83
In the peak of his prime Miami Heat Lebron post Mavericks finals loss was one of the scariest players of all time. Dude was unstoppable.
Lebron prime was 2013-2018. Those 2 years specifically are the best of his career !
@@wesleycuban8649 yeah and lost 4 finals in his prime including a sweep
@@drakotv9240 Team sport. Bron was playing against the 73-9 warriors + KD while Bird was playing against the 40-42 rockets in the finals 😂😂😂
@@Cheapness360 wasn’t the same 73-9 team nice try tho and Bron still had a superteam one of the years he lost to KD
@@Cheapness360 Clippers , Pelicans , Rockets didn’t get a sweep, so why does Lebron on Cavs get swept in the finals? Guy is a choke artist
You can tell Stephen A is having fun debating with this man
Yea Russo is a great addition
He needed a new Skip lol
Bron is number 1 and I want to debate every one and I want all the smoke in these comments!!!
Not violently because some make more than what it is because rap.
But State your case for Mike!
Tim Duncan is better than Charles Barkley, Shawn Kemp, and Karl Malone. I want to start there when LeBron was 22.
I want all the smoke in these comments!
ESPN knows what they have with MadDog on First Take. They pretty much posted every segment of today's show on youtube lol. I'm here for all of it. 👍🏽
Dr Strange unveiled a New SKip Bayless Variant
I thought I was the only one. I couldn’t watch him at first but he grew on me.
🔥🔥🔥
Lol he’s teach never will be a skip bayles mad dog takes are very shitty skip atleast makes since some time
Its like SAS and Skip reunited😂
These two together are gold
It’s also very refreshing to see Mad Dog bring out the best in Stephen A. The show is at its best when an opponent makes Stephen A go absolutely crazy, and we haven’t seen that since the Skip Bayliss days and the early days with Max.
Mad Dog is perfect opposite SAS. He irks SAS in a way only Skip could. 😂
Skip 2.0 😂 love it
Here 4 all of it
@@connordavis2345 I love the NYC accent. It makes it even more out of bounce 🤣🤣
@@alexo.6478 Is Also Know as Reincarnation Of Skip Bayless.
@@jamesnelson5618 He is the loud Skip 🤣
Mad dogg is the best cohost with Stephan A! Super fun to watch!
This loud mouth idiot pales in comparison to Skip or even Max
It’s so weird seeing Stephen A defend Lebron’s greatness instead of attacking it, albeit talking about LBJ being the second greatest of all time coz we all know that no one is touching MJ as the GOAT of all GOATs.
Nah Lebron is the greatest basketball player ever.
@@bro_soldier642
Tell that to Jason Terry.
@@bro_soldier642 LOL! How is he the greatest with all those final losses and not as many rings. He doesn't have as many MVPS Final MVPS he doesn't have a Defensive Player of the Year Award. He isn't better than MJ offensively or defensively. He's not as clutch as MJ and LeBron has come up small against Dallas MJ never came up small even in losses
@@Slyrock-1000 Bron not better than MJ offensively cause he’s on the same level but I’ll agree with defense
@@imsortaugly he is not on the same level Offensively than MJ. MJ scored more had better fundamentals, better foot work and could score from all areas of the floor and make free throws
Bird has been slept on. He was a monster.
He’s a Top 10 arguably 5 player of all time. Where’s the part about him being slept on?
@@ericdupree8603 let me guess… you put him over Kobe🤦🏽♂️
@@ronnellroyall9024 anybody who knows basketball would definitely put bird over kobe. Easily top 5 of all time
@@ramsey8560 Nah bro...Kobe was a different kind of monster...
@@vulcronic9818 yea he’s buggin Lmaoo
I had stopped watching First Take post Max's exit. But dude, Mad Dog is just too good and his pairing with Stephen A is pretty good as well. Pretty Pretty Good...
Max sucks
He yelled back S.a wasn’t ready lol
I started watching after Max’s exit
@@dantegreen7642 max was the goat
@@acgthamc max is the Goat with Keyshaun and jWill that what his is he now a Likeable man there for good but not in First Take When it Come to Tom Brady F.O.T.C.T
These 2 together are great. Need more of these guys more often
Dr Strange unveiled a New SKip Bayless Variant
@@norvinzor 🤣🤣🤣
@@norvinzor 😂😂💯💯
the fact u guys watch this bogus
@@jaysonsmith7264 Aren't you watching it too?
So happy to see Mad Dog back. These two make the best sports news duo on TV..
Skip. Shannon. Where did they go?
@@noahaxtell4784 they're boring
The argument with Mad Dog’s argument is that Lebron’s peak hasn’t dropped. In Miami, Lebron was at peak condition but his game peaked 2015-2018
Mad Dog is like a more reasonable Skip. These two will be good together.
I think we found the new Co-Host of First Take. This guy is good !!!
They misspelled the title of the video
This honest dialogue makes me feel good!
fellas, we might officially have a skip bayless 2.0 right now.
Another truth teller? Let him cook.
Yup another truth teller
@@magodtrick3166 naw
@@joebudd6716 naw
@@dayo9136 sure
MadDog should be on the show more, I think Lebron the greatest SF of all time but the points he made for Bird were nice
He mentioned brons mavs series and made it seem like bird aint have a finals series like that. In the 81 finals larry bird 2 8point games on 27% shooting in the finals playing 40+ mins.. then his 12 point game on 31% shooting all in that same finals series but he never disappointed? why is it that everybody elses low moments get cemented over ?
@@NBAKING149 that’s because they won that year despite the bird struggles, winning cures all.
@@NBAKING149 if you win it doesn’t matter, that’s a dumb point by a imbecile like you no disrespect
@@NBAKING149 wasn't that bird's 1st or second season? Lebron was in his prime against the mavs.
@@l9ikjam he was drafted in 78 I believe and that performance that was in 81finals… my point is why lie like he aint disappoint in a finals
Mad Dog goes by facts and stats with his argument. Skip goes by what he feels that day. Big difference
@shai watts 🧢
What kills me about when someone brings up Larry Bird is the fact that Larry Bird will tell you Lebron is better than him. 🤣🤣🤣
MadDog is money. They gotta keep him on. He’s one of the few guys with solid knowledge who can match Stephen A in volume. New York genes, I guess.
Nah
Bird ain’t lebron😭
They both from the sane era in New York so
Even though SAS had to correct him a few times..
@@jwave903 MAD DOG's entire point was that Larry is better in his prime and conceded that Lebron had a better career. Stephen A. listed off accolades and said bron had more like is means anything. Stephen A never corrected him. Fact is that we got an entertaining and interesting debate about Larry vs Bron in their primes. MAD DOG is the GOAT of sports talk.
I actually compared their 5 prime years (Bird from 81-86 and LeBron from 2012-2017) and their numbers are actually almost identical (Bird slight edge in rebounds and LeBron slight edge in assists). During that time they BOTH WON 3 TITLES AND 3 regular season MVPs. The only difference is LeBron won 3 FVMPs to Birds 2FMVPs. LeBron made 2 First team ALL Defensive and one 2nd team ALL Defensive while Bird won 3 2nd team All Defensive. Finally LeBron did make it to the Finals all 5 years bird did not.
It’s actually very close but in their 5 year Primes LeBron slightly edges Bird
Well said
Look at Bron from 06-10. He was a monster! And yet, had no help equivalent to the help Bird had in relation to the league's level of skill then. Bron is beyond Bird except in shooting and gritty play
The only problem is , When did Lebrons prime began and when did it end?! Because I can count much much more than 5 years.
Lebron is a glorified james harden. Only plays on offensive side
One thing I love is Bird was 4th in MVP his rookie year and then was top 3 every single year until he broke his back
Bird was better than Lebron at their peak. Lebron only has him on longevity. Bird was a better shooter, rebounder and defender and even passer.
No
@@stellarwind1946 You don’t have any facts
@@borood1188 stop it. Get some help.
@@stellarwind1946 Get some brains.
Man Russo has me laughing on this one...Bird. he reminds me of that scene from Coming to America when the guys says, "Here we go again...they always mention Marciano."
1:48 this guy is a casual then. Bird's history of underperforming in the playoffs gets overlooked a lot by both fans and the media. If one were to take a long deep look at Bird's long list of playoff failures they would see why he is not ranked top 5 of all time by both fans and the media nowdays
1980- Averaged a .51;1 TS% in the postseason. In-game 5 vs. the Sixers, he shot poorly, 5-19 with just 12 points, as the Celtics lost the game. His man (Dr. J) averaged 25 PPG in this series. His team loses in 5 games despite having HCA and winning 61 games. Had an 18.3 PER in the postseason
1981- Has a .53;2 TS% in the postseason. He had a bad finals where he averaged just 15 PPG on .41;9 shooting and .46;0 TS%.
1982- PPG average dropped from 22.9 PPG to 17.8 PPG. He has an embarrassing .47;4 TS% in the playoffs. He averaged a pedestrian 18.3 PPG against the Sixers. Averages 17 PPG in the final 2 games of the series. The Celtics lose again with HCA. The Celtics won 63 games and had the #1 SRS in the league. Has a 17.9 PER in the postseason.
1983- The Celtics get swept by the Bucks. The Celtics win 56 games and had the #2 SRS in the league and lose again with HCA. Bird plays awful again. .47;8 TS%. His PPG average drops 2 PPG in the playoffs. Bird missed a game in the series but that game happened to be the closest one (Celtics lose by 4). In the 3 other games, the Celtics lose by 14.3 PPG with Bird on the court.
1984- Great playoffs. Averaged 27-14-4 in the Finals and had a .60;7 TS% in the playoffs. First great playoffs of his career. The Celtics win the title over the Lakers in a massive upset.
1985- Celtics make the finals, but Bird's numbers drop in the playoffs. His PPG drops by 2.8 PPG, Reb by 1.2 Reb, and AST by 0.7 AST. Had an average .53.6 TS% in the postseason. Bird plays even worse in the finals. His PPG dropped 4.9 PPG, his Reb 1.7 Reb, and AST by 1.6 AST in the finals compared to his regular-season average. His Finals TS% is just .52.7. Not only that, but the Celtics finish with 63 wins and lose once again with HCA a constant theme in Bird's career. This is the first time in Celtics history they lost in the finals with HCA.
1986- Great year. His best year ever. Wins the title. .61.5 TS% in the postseason and amazing finals.
1987- I think this is his most admirable playoffs up until the finals. The Celtics were quite banged up this year. Averaged 27-10-7 in the postseason with .577 TS%. Though his numbers in the finals dropped off once again. His PPG was 3.9 PPG down from the regular season, AST down by 2.1 AST and his TS% was just .534. In-game 6, Bird scored just 16 points on 6-16 (.37.5) shooting. In the final 3 games of this series, Bird averaged just 20 PPG on .37.7 shooting and .49.2 TS% with 3.7 TOV. This is the first time Bird has played without HCA in the playoffs and his team loses.
1988- Bird's PPG drops by 5.4 PPG, Reb by 0.5 Reb. Bird shoots an awful 40-114 (.351) against the Pistons. Has a mediocre .53.8 TS% and 20.2 PER in the playoffs. The Celtics had HCA and the #1 SRS in the league and you probably guessed what happened next, Larry Bird loses with HCA once again.
1989- Injured doesn't play in the postseason.
1990- Bird shoots .53.9 TS% and has 3.6 TOV as the Celtics once again you guessed it, lose with HCA.
1991- In the first round, his team needs to go 5 vs. the 41 win Pacers. His PPG drop by 2.3 PPG and his Rebounds and Assists also drop quite a bit. Has a .49.0 TS% 15.8 PER in the playoffs. Against the Pistons Bird averages 13.4 PPG on .44.6 TS%. His 56 win team played with you guessed it HCA and loses with it.
1992- Doesn't play in the first round as the Celtics sweep the Pacers. In round 2, his team goes 7 against the Cavs, but Bird plays in 4 games and his team was 1-3 in those games. Averages a pathetic 11.3 PPG and 4.5 Reb which are 8.4 PPG and 5.2 Reb down from his regular-season average. He has a .51.4 TS% and 16.4 PER in the postseason.
So out of 12 years, you get 9 years under .54.0 TS%, 5 under.52.0 TS%, and 3 under .50.0 TS%. From 80-83, he had a 19.9 playoff PER. In that span, Johnny Moore, Franklin Edwards, Gus Williams, and Bob Lanier all had better playoff PER and WS/48. Teammates Parish, McHale, Tiny Archibald, and Cedric Maxwell had better TS% in that span.
From 88-92, he had an 18.8 PER which is 25th among players with 10 playoff games played. Players who had better playoff PER's in that span include Fat Lever, Terry Cummings, Roy Tarpley, Cedric Ceballos, and Sarunas Marciulionis. His teammates Reggie Lewis and Kevin McHale had better playoff PER's in that span.
With Bird, you get a nice 4-year run that had 4 straight finals appearances but outside of that, you get a 4-year span of .505 TS% (80-83) and a .525 TS% span (88-92). In 12 years, you get 7 losses with HCA. Basically, out of Bird's 13-year career, you have 1 injury season and 3 non-descript postseasons at the end of his plus some playoff disappointments early in his career.
Bird played in an NBA that shot about .48.5 in his career. Yet, in the post-season, he only shot .47.2. Which is bad enough, but, wait...it gets worse. He shot a career .45.5 in his five finals. In fact, he shot under .39.9 in his 31 Finals games as often as he shot over .49.9...eleven times (including two games of under .29.9!) His high Finals series was only .48.8, and his low was .41.9.
And how did the great "Game Seven" Bird fare in his lone game seven finals game? 6-18...or 33%.
Furthermore, in his five Finals, he was only the best player in two of them, and in fact, lost out to a teammate in the '81 Finals for the FMVP (Cedric Maxwell.) In fact, Bird wasn't even the second-best player on the floor in two more ('85 and '87 Finals.)
I ain’t reading all that. Proud of you or sorry that happened
Yea no one reading all that lol
A little too invested
💯 well said... I've always felt the playoffs should factor more heavily in the GOAT discussion and when we talk about playoffs the gap between leBron and bird is immense
I’ve never seen so many facts in a single response
“Assassin Gene” is totally something Skip Bayless would say.
Stephen A misses that because that's what brings in ratings
Here's the thing I dont think everybody is ready to hear.
when it comes to the top 10...you cant go wrong.
all scales of greatness so its completely fine to choose anybody from it.
Bird never came up short in the finals? In the 1981 finals he shot 41% from the field and averaged 15 ppg
I’m sick of this narrative that Lebron has never had a “assassin’s mentality”. The guy literally went into boston with not only facing elimination but with his legacy on the line and he flat out saved the miami heat in game 6- it was a one man show vs an entire team that game. Same thing happened when he made his first finals, the guy is 23 years old and goes into Detroit and scores his teams last 25 points in the fourth quarter and OT to send them to their first nba finals appearance in franchise history. In 2016, down 3-1 he scored 40 points in games 5 and 6 and then had a triple double and the greatest block in nba history in game 7
That 2018 playoff run that fool went God mode
@@a.m.617 bro was just out there getting any bucket he wanted
@@a.m.617 theres never been a better individual playoff run
Miami LeBron and 2018 LeBron is the best player ever
Totally agree.. you are a complete moron if you don’t think Bron is clutch. Madgod using birds 4 years of peak for his argument is Soo stupid. Bron n magic way better than bird. Not even an argument or discussion
Chris is saying some facts but the thing is that Bird had only 5-6 years in his prime but LeBron no one knows XD
12 years of greatness, 6 of them after he badly injured his back. Funny how that some of Bird's most dominant statistical seasons came AFTER he was hurt. I would pick Bird over leflop at ANY point during Bird's entire career.
Leflop
Letoxic
Lebrick
LeGM
LeDrama
Lecorrupt
Le manipulative
Etc
@@samjon6403 LeKing
@Secret le meltdown
Le2ndonlytoAirJordan
They are both wrong. The 2nd Best Player of All Time is Kareem. GOAT List --
1. Jordan
2. Kareem
3. This is where it gets tough. In this "tier" there are 5 or 6 players that can be placed this high. Those players are so close that I can see any order from 3 to 7.
Nah lebron passd karrem
@@luffy5859 -- Lebron is closer to #10 than #1. Why? No player has had the Advantages that he had yet come up short so often. No player has Underachieved as much as he has.
When he said = "Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, Not 4, Not 5, etc., etc.", he must have meant the number of Finals LOSES!
@@MasterSpade nah am pretty sure he is talking who the best all time and when your talking about who is the best it’s not about the rings if it was then mj would barley be top 3
Outstanding segment 🤣🤣🤣
Mad Dog is too much like Skip with the facial expressions in the intro 🤣
They want another skip
@@tommyisrael6038 he’s not actually on the show he was a guest for MLB but Im for it
Bro I was thinking the same thing 😂
Bird had a finals where he dropped 8 pts in back to back games…
Lebron always guarding by Jason terry and JJ berrea for a full series
@@TheStefanp10 If you actually follow basketball and not just follow twitter trolls you would know LeBron had Shawn Marion on him and DeShawn Stevenson coming of the bench. Tyson Chandler was guarding the paint too. But I get it, you don't care about basketball. You just want spread lies and hurt the history of basketball.
LeBron scored 8 points in Game 4 of the 2011 Finals and averaged 17.8ppg for the series, getting outscored by Mavericks bench player Jason Terry. 1981 was Bird's second year. LeBron couldn't even make the playoffs his first two years. LeBron was in his absolute prime, 2011 was the only year he didn't win MVP from 2009 to 2013 just because of The Decision backlash and media voting fatigue. What's your point?
@@rightwingindonesian Twitter and guys like skip really turned basketball history upside down
DUMB POINT WATCH THE GAMES SCHNUCK
Agree or disagree I really appreciate someone who can speak for old school basketball whether I agree or disagree sometimes.
Someone pls remind me how bird played for his first ring?
Bruh you gotta make this guy a regular. He gives me Skip Bayless evil twin brother vibes lmao
Dang does Kobe even get mentioned anymore?
Kobe gets underrated cause of Shaq. I'd take Kobe in a series over Lebron because I could rely on Kobe to work himself to the bone to win the series for me. He's a killer. Kobe is amongst the most skilled players ever.
@@BlessedOne686 oh yea like those first round series he lost post Shaq and pre Pau. guess he didn't work to the bone huh? Lebron is just better plain and simple
@@BlessedOne686 kobe is the most overrated player in NBA history he is not a killer he is just a selfish ball hog
@@BlessedOne686 and you would lose every series 🤣 leBron's numbers dwarf kobe's so much that it's actually comical... leBron with no jumpshot by his 2nd year was shooting at or over 47% from the field kobe NEVER shot above 45% and kobe has the worse record of any star player against leBron... leBron and kobe stopped being a debate a looooooooooong time ago
Kobe is so overrated omg dude was never even the best player in the league
Can someone make a video about how Lebron tucks his lips in the team photo. I want to know if he tucks his own lips or if someone else does it for him.
When they say Jordan would be scoring 50 ppg the way the current game is played, Bird would be right up there with him, probably scoring 40+ ...but most people don't take into account of the game changed to be easier for offensive players.
That’s so cap
Bird scoring 40ppg+ is a MAJOR stretch
This guy is just like a less aloof version of Skip and it brings back old First Take memories
"...it brings back old First Take memories..." Yea, where a lot of lies and mistruths were told and repeated LMAO.
Example: This guy just said Bird never had a "meltdown" when real NBA fans know that Bird scored 8 points back to back in 1981, and a litany of over bad playoffs performances.
Anyone mentions MJ Kobe or bird
Also them: ASSASSINNNNN or “he just has that killer mentality”
Only to find out the bron has more clutch buckets than them all
@@mcadoojr not when it mattered most. Not vs the Mavs, Not vs the Spurs, Not vs the Warriors. 6 finals losses. where was the clutch then?
@@brettt141 guess u don’t know what clutch means 🤦🏾♂️. He’s hit more clutch playoff buckets than any of em.
Finals are the finals. The only blemish on his record is 2011. Nvr lost after that where he was supposed to win. His numbers since 2011 have been above and beyond almost everybody
@@mcadoojr clutch? Lechoke can't even shoot free throws even when his life depends on it 😂😂😂..stop with the bs kid, and if you seriously believe lechoke is better than goat mj, you badly need to get your head lobotomized, only idiots believe lehelp is the goat 😂😂😂
A no Assassin Gene with more pts than those 3. Say it ain't so, How can this be for not having the gene?
this the first good first take clip since max left. and even when max was here, there were few good moments. if y’all want more ratings get these two together frequently
With your life on the line in a Game 7 it's suicidal not to pick Bird over LeBron. Bird's 90 percent career free throw shooting to LeBron's 70 percent. All James has is speed, defense, and durability over Bird. Bird was far and away the better shooter, clutch player, team leader, as well as a GREAT passer on par with Magic, and boy could he rebound when it mattered most. It's Bird and those too young to not know what they don't know need to get educated.
You are delusional , lebron speed, defends and durability is going to destroy birds leadership, passing. And you probably never watch basketball if you think lebron isn’t clutch.
Can we just bring this MAD DOG guy on permanently to First Take! They have great chemistry together.
They done a radio show together for years
Bring him on for asinine basketball comments
This “LeBron isn’t clutch” narrative is old there are more ways to be clutch than just being a long ball sniper. How many game winners have we seen bron hit ? How many right passes or clutch stops have we seen ?
facts
Love Mad Dog, but him saying that Larry Bird has never choked is completely false.
Yes but also has the most missed game winners in the history of basketball so the word clutch never will be associated with Lebron
@@melvindoo643 where are the stats on that. And clutch is more than making shots. It’s making that right play in the clutch… making the right defensive play.
Ikr, i think there is like a 20 or 30 minute compilation of Lebron hitting clutch shots i think
Bird 15/20 from the floor “didn’t miss a free throw” 32 points? Assuming the 15 are all 2s didn’t he only shoot 2 free throws? Why add that lol.
Not true what Mad Dog said that Bird never came up small in a big series. In the 81 NBA Finals, Bird was coming from a 23 PPG average on 48% in the East playoffs and averaged 15 PPG on 42% in the Finals, he was so mediocre that Cedrick Maxwell was Finals MVP. Bird came up small.
I’m getting old Stephen A and Skip vibes watching this. 😂
This is the final test to see if this the next skip payless. This dude fricken passed. Welcome aboard mad dog
Payless😂😂😂😂
Lmfao. That was hilarious.
😂😂
Assessing isn’t a stat. Shooting well he’s one of the most efficient field goal percentage
It's time to bring up the debate again
Bird was older by 3 years so reached his peak earlier. spent 5 years in college so well polished. bird from 84-86 peak, and then magic reached his peak in 87-89. exactly the 3 year lag. I would say equivalent peaks because 2 championships for each during that period.
I think peak Bird is ahead of Magic. It's not by a lot, but you can see it. Magic definitely has Larry on career, though.
Larry Bird had an all time great career and did it in only like 10 healthy seasons.
I’m not gon lie… I’ve slept on Larry Bird heavy lol… MVP 3 years in a row? LeBron my 3rd fav player ever but comparing their primes bird kinda clears
UNCLE SHAY COMMENT “VALUE VERSION OF SKIP” HAS ME ROLLLLINGGGGGGGG LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
To be fair, I really did enjoy watching LeBron hug Jordan. Those are photos that will live on forever and is worth framing at LeBron's house. I know how much MJ means to LeBron. So it was nice seeing that moment.
Oh please stop it.
Peak Kobe has an argument for second as well. He was so skilled in so many areas of the game. But overall yeah Jordan then Lebron, it just makes sense
LeBron wayy better then kobe
I’m a Lebron fan and he is my number guy but this Kobe disrespect must stop. Nobody in the nba history had the complete skill set , moves , on the ball, off the defense and clutch factor and toughness all in one like Kobe but Jordan but Jordan didn’t have the 3 point range Kobe had. Kobe was as complete of a player that we will ever see in a long time if ever.
@@jdot8911 LeBron is not even close to being better than Kobe. If you mean better at choking and demanding trades every second because he wants a cake walk to another ring then yeah.
@@Adam-tw8yd he won without a super team already clown
@@jdot8911 no he didnt
Bird peaked before Magic tho. Magic was MVP in 90, and runner up in 91. By that time, Bird had suffered those back injuries. But I will concede the point that 84-86; Bird had the higher peak. Similar to Jimmy Butler and Derozan. Most ppl would take Jimmy up until this yr, but Derozan been more dominant this yr and likely the coming yrs as well
Both gentlemen make the show amazing Stephen got his dude to debate with.
Bird had two 8 point games in a finals series.
Is that when he was crippled with a bad back and could barely raise his arms over his head?
Didn't lebron have two 9 point games in the finals? Lol
I would take Larry bird all day offensively Larry bird can do more than lebron. He’s also an elite passer and an elite rebounder an elite scorer and shooter. Defensively he’s not garbage he’s just good not great.
Lebron had crabs and he was carried off the court lol
LeBron scored 8 points in Game 4 of the 2011 Finals and averaged 17.8ppg for the series, getting outscored by Mavericks bench player Jason Terry. 1981 was Bird's second year. LeBron couldn't even make the playoffs his first two years. LeBron was in his absolute prime, 2011 was the only year he didn't win MVP from 2009 to 2013 just because of The Decision backlash and media voting fatigue. What's your point?
This is the most entertaining first take in a while
Bird: 24.3 PTS - 10.0 REB - 6.3 ASSISTS - 1.7 STEALS - 0.8 BlOCKS - 3.1 TURNOVERS
Lebron : 27.0 PTS - 8.0 REB - 8.2 ASSISTS - 1.2 STEALS - 0.7 BlOCKS - 3.7 TURNOVERS
Larry bird is more clutch, he's a better shooter and statistically hes a better defender. 10 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks all better than lebron for his career in an era that was predicated on clogging the paint.
Jordan, Kareem, Magic, Lebron , Bird , Duncan
I never saw Bird play but according to the old heads who saw him play Bird at his very best has an argument for being the GOAT.
Just go look up his highlights, u couldn't tell by lookin at him but he had skills. He was a beast, kinda like Luka but with a better shot
And his trash talk and confidence was on one thousand 24/7
He was a skinny version of Kevin love with better shooting
He was Luka before Luka
You could say Klay Thompson at his very best has an argument for being the goat. If you look at the entirety of careers Bird isn’t even top ten. The 1981 finals dude averaged only 15 a game and Cedric Maxwell won mvp of the series
The Kobe disrespect is unreal that's just the facts. Larry bird definitely was that dude though
for real i hate it
Their great but still not better than Bron
Kobe is most overrated player ever.. he is not top 10 he is in that 11-15 spots
But LeBron is not 2nd he is 4-5th of all time
Kobe is not a player you get and say we Winning 50+ games sorry he needs a big and coach too win or Kobe will shoot you out the game last ring he was 6-24 if not for Ron Artist he would have lost...
@@negusibe9232 how is Lebron not #2? 3 championship on 3 different teams
@@negusibe9232 LeBron in the west without AD has less wins than Kobe in 2006 and 2007 with Kwame Brown, Smush and Odom as teammates.
LeBron was 9-24 in Game 7 vs GS and if it wasn't for Kyrie or JR Smith going on a 8-0 run in the 3rd quarter he would have lost. We can play that game as well.
This is a great debate. Best ever is ludicrous
Larry Bird DID come up short in several important playoff series... look it up...
Dwyane Wade is like my 3rd favorite player of all-time. But he had weaknesses. He wasn't a shooter like MJ and Kobe was. Smaller. He had a lot of blocks but he wasn't a great man-to-man defender. He got injured a lot.
It's funny I rank 1 and 2 SG as MJ and Kobe (similar game). Then 3 and 4 would be Wade and A.I (IMO) similar game but wade was a better shotblocker/slasher. Both starting losing their prime cause of injury or over usage, well least for wade that college knee injury he had messed him up.
@@Hi-cq2hm go back to the clips and watch dwade before lebron!
@@Hi-cq2hm I'm talking about complete games b, trust me he was animal from then
Wade was definitely a good shooter. Just not threes.
He was a great mid-range shooter. Arguably the best mid-ranger shooter in the league other than Richard Hamilton, Ray Allen and Kobe. You have other non stars as well but he was a better defender than Kobe. Kobe peaked out out defensively around 2002-2003. Wades efficiency of defense went up and was a statistical monster.
I’m sorry you can’t convince me in the history of the NBA to take Bird over Bron
Dude know he wild for that one lol
You mean Brick
I Would take Lebron but the comparison is closer than you think
Greatest flopper of all time
Do your self a favor and watch bird in the mid 80s. Greatest all around player ever
Bird NEVER miss a free-throw!
*Also, Bird career FT% 88%*
*where's the other 12%?* 🤦♂
88% for a career is basically never missing a freethrow, nobody going 100% bird is well above good as a free throw shooter
@@treeznoforest9954 saying "never" is basically exaggerating, logic doesn't work that way
Wanna know who the REAL GOAT is? He's the guy that every player tries to compare themselves with. Case closed.
"15-20, didn't miss a free throw, 32 point" So....that means he only shot 2 free throws? Lol
🤣🤣🤣🤣
There were times when Lebron choked in the NBA finals. He'd just disappear. I believe that that would always be the reason against Lebron being considered in G.O.A.T debates.
This is what people miss when you say the GOAT you can't be a no show multiple times in big moments and say you're the GOAT.
"Times" or just one finals ? because besides 2011 it's very very hard to find a blimish on his resume
bird had back to back 8 points in the finals, still was greatest forward of all time
But he still in the conversation
@@playforkeeps3536 have you watched the last couple of games? LMAO. MJ never got booed at home. N.E.V.E.R
No perimeter defense (Don't act like this is the first season he does this)
Turnovers
etc.
Offense, he still got it but atm he's a liability. Those stats he's putting up is good but empty at the end of the day.
“I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE 2!!!!” 🤣😂
LeBron 2011 had better stats than Bird 1981
At their peak Bird was better than Lebron because he was a better shooter and rebounder, but Lebron has him on longevity.
Bird was never better than LeBron
@@domudeh3691 Right, he was just a better shooter, rebounder and defender though. STFU, idiot
Not true at all the only stat Bird has ever had over Lebron is rebounds and not by much.
@@MrForsar Bird averaged 10 rpg his whole career. Lebron has never even averaged 9 for season. And Bird is one of the best shooters in history, stupid.
@@borood1188 you dont even believe bird was ever better but your feelings for lebron get in the way
Kobe was Jordan fan service for 20 years. An MJ cover band. He's MJ for 90s and 00s babies. He's the 2nd *best* player of all-time. No weaknesses either. Maybe shot selection and inefficiency. Kobe was like MJ's own Bronny.
No lebron has weaknesses in his game
@@wangtang12 lol post moves, turnovers yes lebron has weaknesses
@@Pain-nw7gv bad at the free throw line, not a good outside shooter, not good at moving without the baskeball, once was weak going left, has not played great defense throughout his career ect. Your a fan boy so you're not going to mention these
@@wangtang12 I am not a fan boy I am agreeing with you bud I only included a couple.
Good chemistry give us more of this guy
These 2 are so animated! Whenever I see Mad Dog is appearing with Stephen A., I turn the volume down. 😂
Doesn’t LeBron have the most clutch shots along with the best percentage?
Stop it
Kyrie more clutch then LeBron
LeBron is 0-7 in the finals in clutch situations. Look it up.
@@alananderson7903 you see how you had to break it down to “finals”.
@@joekolpe9849 numbers don’t lie
The best players with no glaring weaknesses are Jordan, Bryant, Olajuwon, Bird, Jabbar, Durant, McGrady, Robertson, and West. LeBron isn't a natural shooter. Kawhi also doesn't have any weaknesses. Just his knees.
Kawhi isnt a good passer
@@markusmahadeo1374 they don’t have basketball in Puerto Rico forgive this guy
boy i thought that was skip when the video first turned on 😂😂😂😂🔥🔥🔥
Every basketball sports talk debut always covers with who is the GOAT or Mt Rushmore etc..
MJ, Kareem, Magic & Wilt > Bron
Personally I’d take Bird, Kobe & Shaq over Bron too
We get it you just dont like bron
Okay you guys are just saying anything now 😂
The narrative that LeBron isn’t clutch existing for so long will forever be crazy to me
Haha I know right....LeBron has the most buzzer beaters all time in the playoffs and shoots a better percentage on them than Kobe and Michael 🤣
@@bigroncoleman11 Against weak east teams. He is 0-6 on game winners/tyers in finals
Playoff game-winners/tyers with 25 seconds or less
-Jordan 10/19 (53%)
- LeBron 8/23 (35%)
Finals game-winners/tyers with 25 seconds or less
-Jordan 4/8 (50%)
-LeBron 0/6 (0%)
As crazy as Russo sounds, I saw prime time Bird outplay superior athletes and I bet his and LeBron numbers are actually similar...
I give the slight edge to Bird... and let me say this, a lot of former players think Bird is top 3 all-time, better than Magic and just slight behind Kareem and MJ... for my money, Bird's in the top 5 along with Magic and Kobe...
Paul George has no weaknesses either to his game. He's basically Tracy McGrady to me. His game is even prettier to watch than Kawhi's. But he's just way too inefficient. Very skilled but very inefficient.
He's noooooooooooo TMAC🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The question: "Is LeBron the second-best player of all time?"
The answer: "I'll take Bird"
yeah thats how you say no. You give the person who would be #2
@@brettt141 lebron played in a weak sissy era! Lebron would ask Celtics fans to be ejected
Yeah that’s how you answer the question by telling who your #2 is.
@@goldenstatewarriors9418 I don't understand why GSW hates Lebron so much. Y'all beat him many times no need to worry about him
@@jerryren2645 I don’t hate him at all. Respect him a lot.
I don't think LBJ is number 2 all time but at this point, I think Bron has surpassed Bird. I think Bron is top5 all time but I think Kareem, Duncan, and Bill Russell are ahead of him. An argument can be made for Magic. But it's really hard to definitively choose one. If Larry had one more ring, I would say that Larry is in that conversation.
Bill Russell Tim Duncan? Ahead of Lebron? That’s crazy bro 💀💀
@@skywalker2676 how exactly is that crazy?
Bill Russell is an 11 time champion. Not enough fingers to hold all his rings.
Tim Duncan was a force for 2 decades, two hall of fame careers for each decade he played, 5 time champion, defeated Lebron twice, once swept him and the other one was Duncan defeating Lebron when he had a SUPER TEAM with Miami, 6 time all defensive, 2 or 3 time MVP. (And I specifically mentioned Lebron because you were asking why I could put him above Lebron.)
In what way is that crazy to say?
@@skywalker2676 bill Russell was a sky Walker dummy
@@SShaBazzz bro I have to agree. putting Tim Ducan ahead of Lebron is insane. I'm not taking anything away from Duncan all-world talent, but ahead of king James is hysterical
@@mathischristensen3946 what makes that hysterical though.
this is halarious
Instead of being obsessed with rankings, it's really easy to say that LeBron is one of the best players of his generation. Leave it at that.
the best
@@ceceroxy2227 no MJ is goat
@@dewman7477 he said this generation
At the end of the day, we can all agree that MJ, LeBron and Kareem are the consensus top 3 greatest players ever
Pretty much I say Russell and Magic and Bird at the extra table
I don't understand why Duncan is left out of the conversation. All round basketball greatness has to include defence weighted at 50% and with the most all defensive team selections in history with 15 he deserves some credit. For all the years Lebron has played he only has 6 and to compare that to Kareem who has 11. Kobe has 12 and MJ has 9. These numbers should be compared to their total years played.
The greatest basketball player debate should only include years where the player was elite on both sides of the ball.
@@azwanazmi1484 but who has the most first team selections. I think Jordan and kobe have the most with 9 and Jordan has a defensive player of the year.
@@jonathantstorm3859 but Kobe’s defensive team selections were based on reputation after 2005 so that’s not an accolade I’d use
Kobe?
Didn’t bird score like 8 points in two finals games . Wym he never underperformed?
This is one of the better debates