There are only a handful of great all-around players in the NBA, but the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler believes that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is still the best in the business.
Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, Ben Simmons and Giannis Antetokounmpo are among the few players in the league who are like Swiss Army knives, those who contribute to a team in more ways than one.
Despite the all-around brilliance of the aforementioned players, Butler thinks that the 35-year-old James has continued to show this season that he hasn’t relinquished his throne as the league’s most complete player yet.
“He’s still the best all-around player in the league.” Butler said in an exclusive piece he wrote for The Players’ Tribune. “He literally does everything well. He can shoot. Pass. Attack the rim. Defend. You need a bucket? LeBron’s got you. You need a rebound, a steal or a block? He’s got you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it.
“Bron’s got you.”
The 15-time All-Star hasn’t slowed down much as he remains one of the game’s most unstoppable forces, according to Butler.
“When you talk about a combination of speed and athleticism, plus a combo of strength and explosiveness, you gotta start with LeBron,” Butler added. “He’s one of the most dynamic players this league has ever seen. He can literally play every position on the court and be elite at all of them. That makes him a matchup nightmare because the smaller, faster guys can’t body up with him — he just overpowers them — and the bigger guys who can bang with him in the post aren’t quick enough to keep him from getting to the rim.”
James is currently averaging 25.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Though this is already his 17th year in the pros, this is the first time that he is leading the league in assists.
“He’s always looking to get other guys involved, too. He’ll defer to his teammates and play unselfish basketball, and then when it’s time to win the game and be LeBron, he miraculously puts the cape on and … BAM!” said Butler.
“Game’s over.”
James is already a three-time NBA champion, but it’s clear that he isn’t satisfied with the number of rings on his finger yet. He hopes that his excellence on the court on a nightly basis results in a fourth title under his resume by season’s end.
