Three-time NBA champion LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and his legacy has always been a hot topic of discussion even when he burst onto the scene in the league back in 2003.
With LeBron getting a bit long in the tooth, the veteran forward has been a central figure in the greatest player of all time discussion in the NBA. Michael Jordan has held that distinction in the opinions of many, but James has made a strong case as of late.
In an interview with ClutchPoints, Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius Erving gave us his thoughts on the debate and who he views as the greatest player in league history up to this point.
“I think Kareem is and Michael [Jordan] follows Kareem,” Erving told ClutchPoints. “I think LeBron is in the conversation. Just the way he dominated his era. Playoffs. Finals six times in a row or seven times in a row whatever it is. It's almost a throwback to Bill Russell. Russell won eight in a row and 11 out of 13, so that's a difference. Bill had a dozen teams in the league. LeBron has 30 to deal with.
“It's probably tougher to win that many times and have a dynasty. Although Golden State might be poised to something to that affect. A true dynasty like UCLA's dynasty. Yankees' dynasty or Celtics of old dynasty. It's just not supposed to happen in professional sports anymore and probably won't, but LeBron's individual success in Cleveland and Miami and then back in Cleveland puts him in a unique category that's head and shoulders above most of the all-time greats. Myself included.
“You've got to give him his credit and I think the way he's handled it from a business perspective and from a personality perspective or whatever it just seems like he's 99 percent of the time making the right move. When he doesn't make the right move, it's nothing he can't recover from.”
We also asked Erving about his thoughts on LeBron's current situation in Cleveland and all the rumors surrounding his potential move to the Los Angeles Lakers next year. Erving didn't dismiss the notion that the four-time NBA MVP could be headed to Hollywood.
“You go to the NBA Finals three years in a row, I'm hard pressed to feel that anyone would want out of that situation,” Erving said of LeBron. “The reality is Kyrie [Irving] said I want out, so I'm from a different era [laughs]. I really just don't know.
“So Lakers, I go back to Shaq when he left Orlando. He wanted to be in movies. There's something there that's better to be a part of while you're playing, so there would be an easier transition after you get out. I could buy that.
“I've gotten a couple calls from shows where LeBron is an executive producer or show financier, so maybe here in California, it's a part of that in playing his last few there sets it up.”
For more on our interview with the Sixers great and details on his upcoming Julius Erving Golf Classic event, click here.
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