H.O.F. Watch - LeBron James
Photo. Jonathan MannionEvery day we’re taking one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and breaking down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: LeBron James.
LeBRON JAMES (5th year, Cavaliers)
26.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.7 steals per game
Why: No one other than MJ will have more visibility. LeBron is gonna be everywhere for the next decade-plus, and so long as he keeps producing on the court, he’ll be a worldwide mega-celebrity the likes of Tiger and David Beckham. Marketing aside, though, there’s no reason LeBron shouldn’t finish his run as one of the all-time greats. Physically he’s an anomaly, and has shown no signs of being injury-prone so far. Scoring-wise he’s going to be a staple in the league’s Top 5, and his rebound/assist numbers put him on a level with Jordan, Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. LeBron has already carried the Cavs to the Finals once and has an All-Star/All-NBA spot in his pocket for as long as he plays.
Why not: Early in his career LeBron developed a rep for not being clutch, but he did a lot to change that in the ‘07 playoffs. Still, a championship wouldn’t hurt his cause.
Our call: IN
The H.O.F. Watch archive
11/9 - Tim Duncan
11/8 - Steve Nash
11/7 - Yao Ming
11/6 - Gilbert Arenas
11/5 - Robert Horry
11/2 - Kobe Bryant
11/1 - Grant Hill
10/31 - Dirk Nowitzki
10/30 - Tony Parker
10/29 - Elton Brand
10/26 - Carmelo Anthony
10/25 - Vince Carter
10/24 - Penny Hardaway
10/23 - Alonzo Mourning
10/22 - Allen Iverson
10/19 - Dwyane Wade
10/18 - Chauncey Billups
10/17 - Stephon Marbury
10/16 - Jason Kidd
10/15 - Shawn Marion
10/12 - Ray Allen
10/11 - Chris Bosh
10/10 - Chris Webber
10/9 - Paul Pierce
10/5 - Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 - Gary Payton
10/3 - Tracy McGrady
November 12th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
dasmedc says:
duh
November 12th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
dre in o town says:
No.
November 12th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Gregg says:
Too early.
If he gets a serious injury a la G.Hill or Penny (knock on wood), he won’t make it in.
He should not have won ROY, (cough) Melo should have won that.
He’s a really BAD free throw shooter. He’s killing my fantasy team.
What’s sad is that it will be probably at least 3 years from now till he makes an All NBA first team since he plays the SF. With the center position rotating between Howard-Yao-STAT for the next 5 years until we see Oden, and the Guard position locked up with PG’s like Nash, D-Will and CP3, and Kobe a lock at the two, the forward position is a dogfight with top forwards like Garnett, Duncan, Nowitski, McGrady who are putting up ridiculous numbers for “winning”/”dominant” teams.
November 12th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Damon says:
obviously too early, but if he nearly keeps the pace, he will already be in before he turns 30. I’m no lebron lover, but as the second or third best player in the league at 22, he has the best case of guys under 25.
November 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Celts Fan says:
YOu guys are dumb. THESE ARE BASED ON HOW THE REST OF THEIR CAREERS PROJECT BASED ON WHAT THEY’VE DONE IN THE PAST. Every day, someone says, “You can’t make that argument, it’s too early.” Read the goddamn thing before the article.
He’s obviously in, but he does definitely need to work on shot selection. For a guy that’s that gifted as a passer to be dribbling out the clock and settling for 20 foot jumpers like he does way too often is pretty ridiculous. He’s definitely worked on the J in the off-season, but it wouldn’t hurt for it to be more consistent. Having said that, only injuries can stop him from making it…
November 12th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Bron42 says:
Like celts said…if he career keeps up as it has, he’ll be in just on hype alone ring or not. Can’t shoot for crap (completely streaky) and has missed more game winners than he made. Also a terrible foul shooter. Still probably in at this rate though.
November 12th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Ben says:
Of course at the end of his career LeBron should be in the H.O.F. As of right now, at this moment…NO. He hasn’t done anything that Latrell Sprewell hasn’t done. Only the Finals appearence makes him have better credentials than Vince Carter. LeBron is still developing (hard to believe, as good as he is, he’s getting better!), by the end of his carrer he will be in the hall…
November 12th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Lucky Lester says:
This guy is what the hall of fame is all about - he’s basically the face of the league, and he carries a team of mediocre #4 or 5 options to places like the NBA Finals. The only reason Verjao can even think about getting big money is because LeBron wins and gives him a chance to think he helps the team enough. Not one guy would do more with the Cavs than Bron does, and I’ve never been a Lebron lover - The Lebron’s however, I’ve always liked them - anyway, he’s a GREAT player and only needs a few more years like he’s had to be warming up a speech for the hall…
November 12th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Big10 says:
I love watching LeBron play but, let’s be honest, he’s not better than Gilbert Arenas — and Dime says Gilbert is “out.” The only thing LeBron has over Gilbert is the Nike hype. Let’s be honest about another thing — last year’s Cavs wouldn’t have made it out of the first-round of the playoffs if they were in the Western Conference, so people give way too much weight to the idea that LeBron “led his team to the NBA Finals.” At least 6 (maybe 7) of last year’s Western Conference teams were better than LeBron’s Cavs.
Plus, now that the Eastern Conference has improved, I see the Cavs falling back to the second-tier for several years to come behind Boston and Detroit, and having a tough time getting past Chicago, Toronto, and Orlando. Without a MAJOR addition to the Cavs’ roster to be LeBron’s sidekick, LeBron might not taste more than the second-round of the Eastern playoffs for the rest of his career.
Having said all that, if he stays healthy and keeps his stats up, LeBron will make the Hall. He just has to be careful with his high-flying game, though, which makes players like that prone to injuries these days. Just ask Vince Carter and Dwyane Wade. My main point is that LeBron is not an automatic lock for the Hall based only on what he has done so far.
IN (if he stays healthy for at least 5 more seasons).
November 12th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Charles-K says:
I’m sorry, he isn’t better than Gilber Arenas??!?! That strikes me, and likely every other person who has seen the two of them play as insane. Lebron can rebound, pass and (when he feels like it granted) defend, way way better than Arenas. Not to mention, Arenas isn’t a better scorer anyway. Arenas can’t utterly dominate a game like Lebron either.
I would be willing to suggest that even if LeBron were to get a reasonably serious injury and play like Grant Hill for the rest of his career, he would still likely get into the hall. To be assured the hall, he needs maybe 3 more great/normal for LeBron, seasons. Anyways, the final verdict is in, as long as he has a few more decent seasons.
Lata
November 12th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Big10 says:
Yes, Charles-K, I stand by my Arenas comparison. Gilbert *can* play defense and has actually been among the league leaders in steals for the past few seasons. Sure, LeBron has a rebounding advantage because of his size, but Gilbert is more clutch and has a longer shooting range.
It’s sad that Agent Zero’s body may finally be slowing down now, but, at his peak, he was almost as unguardable on the offensive end as Kobe.
November 12th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Austin Burton says:
At his peak? You mean last season?
November 12th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Eric says:
This is the Basketball H.O.F. not the “NBA” so players are judged in their College, Pro & International career.
I.E. - In a previous article, Grant Hill is in b/c of his dominant collegiate career (2 championships) and his first 4-6 NBA seasons (’next Jordan’) as well as the 1996 Gold Medal.
Kevin Durant’s unprecendented success in 1-year of college basketball plays heavily in his favor!
LeBron doesnt have that type of college exposure (obviously) but his first 4 seasons have been great, but only 1 gold and 2 bronze medals hurt him. Let’s see him excel in something besides the NBA (a dominant China Olympics would be grea for him). But as previous people have stated, he has and will be the face of the NBA for years to come. He’s in.
Let’s see a SPREWELL H.O.F discussion
November 12th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
kowtz says:
@ Charles-K…
Gilbert Arenas? can’t dominate? are you serious?
Gil is better than Bron for me… ok ok, I amy be smoking opium for saying that, but heck, look at where I’m coming from…
GIL was killing at the start of 07… droping 45? 50? 60? (has bron scored 60 yet?)making game winning three’s more than once? HIBACHI!
Remember the time when E.Jordan was drawing up a play for the final shot when Gil breaks the huddle and says, give me the ball and I’ll win it for us… and does so…
GIL is also a much better entertainer than anyone else… Gilbertology? Arena’s Blogs? the 20k bet with deshawn… the 100k bet to shaq, between the legs trampoline dunk?
And why should GIL be in the HOF? and I see him better than Bron?
Gil was a SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICK… bron was a hyped up first pick OA…
Gil came from a 12th man… to a max player in 6 years…
Bron came from a PHENOM… to a yes, but doubtful in 4 years…
Bron has 2 years left to prove me wrong…
November 12th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Duke says:
Odd, I thought there would be like beaucoup post about lebron.
November 12th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Prada G says:
you guys think too much, he’s definitely in.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:50 am
Aaron says:
To the Filbert Arenas lovers, you must not have watched the 05-06 playoffs when LeBron dominated him and the Wizards in his first ever playoffs. And speaking of choking and not being clutch, let’s not forget who got into who’s head at the free throw line in that series. Biggest difference is that LeBron is a team player whereas Gilbert is only concerned with his box score numbers. Perfect example is the start of this season. The Wizards have a much better team on paper than the Cavs, but the Wizards, lead by Gilbert, are 1-5 and playing horrible. On the other hand, LeBron and the bums he plays with are a respectable .500. Sorry, but Gilbert is much more concerned with personal goals than team goals. He needs to stop blogging and worry about his team’s poor start.
November 13th, 2007 at 3:25 am
Ferdiberdi says:
Definitely in. Lebron is a can’t miss talent, surely one that will improve down the road. His shooting mechanics is shaky at best (he fades), that’s why he still isnt the clutch as Kobe or MJ. Imagine who can guard him once he gets the shot down. He’ll just barrel down the paint and shoot free throws.
Needs a championship though to silence the doubters. And hopefully a worthy supporting cast will appear soon.
Hope Dime goes for some more borderline or rising stars so that can spark some more meaningful debates. Spree is a good one…
November 13th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Johann says:
Hey DIME, let me suggest you the next candidate for HOF watch : BEN WALLACE. There will be a lot of discussion with Big Ben.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:06 am
DOC says:
hell yeah he in. he got passes like magic, score like mike and a fuckin beast like shaq.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Gregg says:
I like that Ben Wallace. He’s what Zo was defensively in his prime but without the offense.
I also want to see Pau Gasol- World Championship MVP not too while ago.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:41 am
girllybballluver says:
Lebron is soooo overrated!!!! I’d take Carmelo over him any day!!!
But at the end of his career, he’ll probably get in the HOF just off of hype alone…just like he got the ROY award.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:59 am
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
How is 26-6-6 overrated? Did you watch the Pistons series last year? I know we’re all tired of hearing “he’s only 22,” but it’s true: HE’S ONLY 22! Imagine when he’s 28 (Kobe’s age now), he’ll be getting 30-8-8 easy. And if LeBron ever got some decent players around him, it’s over as far as beating him in the postseason.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:00 am
2 Easy says:
Now Lebron will make it in due his hype and ability to live up to/surpass it. From the time he came in hes been hated on as much as hyped and yet over performin. His first game was ridiculous, on the road against an established team. He’s carryin an average team and makin them ALL better. I cant stand the terrible free throw shooting i mean if u can hit a fade away 3 in the corner ud figure a FT would be cake… maybe he needs to fade there too. Im not sure Id take Melo over Bron but I agree they robbed Melo for ROY. Stern shoulda made them Co like he did wit Kidd & Hill but ah well wats done is done
November 13th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Gee says:
In cause he won’t always play with scrubs and he will continue to be great. The only thing that can stop LeBron is LeBron and injury. Provided he acts right and doesn’t get hurt he is in.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
kowtz says:
@DOC
hell yeah he in. he got passes like magic, score like mike and a fuckin beast like shaq, and clutch like Kwame Brown… LOL!
November 14th, 2007 at 8:02 am
whogry says:
If Lebron’s not in, then stop the HOF discussion…….PERIOD!!!!!
November 14th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Ian says:
hey im with girly i think lebron is overrated
but arenas better than him LOL get the F… outta here.
lebron should get in
even if i feel hes overrated
and one more LOL about the arenas past his peak comment
hes 25 lol
November 16th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Sacto J says:
LJ will be in. Dude’s got mad game, and is the only other player besides Kobe Bryant that can make us forget about Michael Jordan. Dude scores, rebounds, drop sick dimes, and lately has been swatting everything he can catch up to. There’s little question here, and if you doubt it, shut your mouth and watch him play. The only person who can beat LJ on the floor (even against hte Lakers,) is LJ. Know this!
November 29th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
TheFallen says:
Lebron is in on hype alone… but those stats he’s putting up sure don’t hurt his case.
Sidenote: It’s ironic how no one mentioned him getting swept in the finals but Dirk is stigmatized by losing to the Heat in four.