David Stern On LeBron: “He May Be The Best Player Ever”
In 25 years as league commissioner, David Stern has seen his fair share of great players from Michael Jordan to Larry Bird to Kobe Bryant. So who’s his favorite all-time player? Stern recently told Rick Harrow from The $ports Take (Versus) in an episode that runs on Oct. 27, that he’s quite the fan of the King.
“He may be the best player ever to have played. Michael might dispute that, but he has a lot of canvas yet on which to paint. I have no doubt the picture is going to be beautiful.”
“You know, he hasn’t won anything yet but he may be the best player ever to descend to this planet. It’s a delight to watch him; it’s a delight to watch him grow, to see his width and breadth, in terms of his interest and capacities. He’s a great kid and a great player.”
Is LeBron the most talented player the league has ever seen?
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
zen says:
he sees what i see
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:09 pm
control says:
Wow, “the best player to descend to this planet”. Is it just me or is it slightly unprofessional for the commish to so openly suck a player’s dick like that? He’s not only giving lipservice, he’s stroking that shaft, playing with them balls and drinking that cum.
I don’t think it’s hard to wonder why people think this fag is fixing games and telling refs to take it easy on his big money makers…
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Chicagorilla says:
lol….. D.Stern sure knows how to sell. And one way or another, he’ll MAKE SURE LeBron goes to the FT line enuff to become the all-time leading scorer. He did it with AI, and look how far that got an undersized 2G. With LBJ ,as Flight and Willie from White men can’t jump would say “that shit is Too Easy… Too Easy… I’m done, I don’t want to play no more”.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
40 cal bouncemag.com says:
David Stern obviously didn’t take his medication before making that statement and I’m a huge Lebron fan, you cant call someone great unless they have won a few rings or at least was a factor in there team winning it all, that’s like saying Dominique Wilkins who practically averaged 4 less points in his prime and 1 less rebound should be named the greatest, this is a slap in the Face to Mike Jordan who won 3 rings took an extended vacation and came back and won 3 more, that’s called great, Kobe who won 3, got rid of the yellow bus and won 1 more that’s called great, Lebron is a monster but we cannot call him great until he achieves greatness!
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Chicagorilla says:
LMAO@control…
Stern is Jeff Portnoy from Tropic Thunder
“Alpa!. If you untie me I will literally sck your D!$k right now. I’ll cradle the balls, stroke the shaft, work the pipe, and Swwwallow the gravy. Get it over here buddy, lets do this”
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Big Sia says:
What Control Said
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
J.Tobias says:
The answer is no
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
boombastic says:
I wonder what he thinks about Stephen Curry…….
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
kg fan says:
control had the best answer. i do think he may be the best athlete, but not best player or most talented.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
dreams says:
DIME, i’m a huge fan of yours.
I buy every fucking copy of every monthly edition.
But this is why I’ve grown to hate Lebron James over the years. Article after article, after article. I don’t understand the point of this article..are you trying to make fun of Stern by making him look like Lebron’s bitch. Or are you making fun of lebron, and how this article shows proof that Stern favours lebron over the rest of the league. Thus making me think that lebron gets all the calls in his favour, I.E every time a defender touches him.
DIME i love ur shit, but the dick riding’s gotta stop.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Shrink This says:
Stern is just marketing the product that currently makes he and the NBA the most money.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
nola says:
that is so inappropriate for the commissioner to say.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
K Dizzle says:
Translation: “He’s makin me a shitload o money”
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
karizmatic says:
How do you mean talented? I mean Naturally 6′9 250 one of the fastest players ever to play especially at that size, but really in general…ridiculous hops for a man that size, crazy dexterity, hand eye coordination. The dude has hell of natural talent…definitely in the upper echelon of talent to play any sport.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Michorizo says:
Who’s blowing who?
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Maynard says:
Why shouldn’t the commissioner offer his assessment of a player, especially if it’s a player of utmost importance to his league? Stern’s been involved with the NBA since the 1960’s; you’d think he would have picked up a few things about the game since then — I mean, not on the level of the commenters here, what with their jokes about fellatio, but he can do his best. And of COURSE it’s commercially responsible to keep his name in the news; the same thinking applies to why this basketball blog writes about LeBron all the time, he’s the most notorious and important figure in the sport right now.
Stern acknowledges that LeBron has not won a title at this stage of his career. You know who else hadn’t at a corresponding stage? Jordan. Did that make him any less than the best player in the game at that point? It’s a rhetorical question.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
First, the commish should never (out loud at least) have a “favorite player” or say that he thinks such and such player is the best ever.
Second, any time someone who says “I know he hasn’t won anything yet but he’s probably the best ever” has just contradicted himself and is basing his assessment on potential only. So more accurately, ‘Bron MAY ONE DAY END UP POSSIBLY BEING the best ever. Why even get into that now?
Third, Stern is an excellent business man. Basketball mind he has NOT.
Oh and fourth, I’m just mad he didn’t say Kobe, that’s all.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Lol talk about pushing the product..
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
And @ Maynard:
Yes, it definitely DOES mean that Jordan was not the best ever in 1989. He wasn’t the best ever until he had a complete body of work.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Dee says:
he may be the best talent but not the best player ever. M. Jordan will always be the best player ever.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
BiG ShoT BoB says:
Yeah no surprise here everyone knows Bron is the new face of the NBA and Stern is going to promote him accordingly.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
control says:
Maynard
You seriously don’t think it’s unprofessional, at the least, for a person in the premier position of power in the league to say something along those lines?
At the very LEAST it will make it difficult to even have the APPEARANCE of being impartial when it comes to making choices about any punishment or dispute that would occur involving LeBron. Now, if something goes down and he rules on LeBron’s side, right or wrong, the otherside is just going to say “well, you are in LeBron’s fan club, that is the only reason you let him get away with this, or are on his side”.
It’s like a judge saying before a court case “yeah, I think the defendant is a crazy mother fucker, I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire”. Yeah, he may feel that way, but he has to at least keep the appearance of being impartial.
Stern also took it a step too far with his praise. He’s talking about LeBron like he’s Jesus in the second coming. “the best player to descend to this planet”, seriously? That is higher praise than I could offer ANYONE. That crosses into stalker territory.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
NC says:
David Stern is a marketing genius!!! That is all I have to say … I wonder how his praise of Yao is repped in China. Bron is young, the new face of the game … these comments make perfect sense.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
SJ says:
What a salesman. Gotta admit, LeBron is fun to watch, though. Just need to ignore the refs favoring him and giving him freebies… but he’s not the only one that gets this.
Go Spurs.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
douglas copeland says:
that comments says so much..explains a lot of bias officiating for this cat that i’ve noticed since he got into the league and the apex of that bias was seen clearly in that orlando magic series when this cat was tripping and falling into players and they were getting called for fouls…thanks for confirming the bias we already knew you had for Bron Stern…real unprofessional,it’s time for a new comissioner and i’ve been saying this for sometime especially when he put on blinders to refs gambling on games this guy epitomizes everything wrong and dishonest with sports.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
douglas copeland says:
“Just need to ignore the refs favoring him and giving him freebies”WTF?man this is whats wrong with sports and Bron gets calls it took Kobe and Jordan years to get.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
POPPI GEE says:
It’s just pimpin.
GOD forbid but if LeBron gets injured, Stern will just find a new top ho to pimp. Course a pimp always gonna make their top selling girl look like the best. In LeBron’s case he is a young reliable ho too. Stern just pimpin, nothing more and nothing less.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
control says:
GEE
You are right about the analogy, but usually it’s the ho going down on the pimp…not the other way around…
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Ian says:
Damn people why take this shit so seriously he’s selling his product wtf do u guys want him to talk about? Zack randolph?
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
knock knock says:
Whatta lil biatch. ANyone else notice during the ecf finals lebron literally had every game shooting around 10-25 yet still got 40 pts???
DUH, if your at the line 20 times a damn game. i believe his ft average was around 21 at one point, A NEW NBA RECORD. Those games are boring as hell to watch, he literally is still at 75% WHEN he gets 20 freaking chances. He’s just too overrated, in my opinion.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
douglas copeland says:
knock knock i feel you,see that’s what you guys are trying to get everyone to over look he’s not marketing his product his products market themselves he’s making obvious his bias. Knock, knock hit the nail on the head that orlando magic series was ridiculous they practically gift wrapped the series for him but he’s such a poor free-throw shooter so the best team actually won.The bias is bad for sports and than you go on record with that kind of quote, like I’ve said for sometime,Stern has done his time took the league to new heights but it’s time for him to step down he’s damaged goods and is a company man.We need fresh ideas,new blood in his position.He’s my least favorite commissioner in all of sports.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
douglas copeland says:
Ian?where taking it way too serious?your taking it too casually. He’s disrespecting the integrity of the game,no professionalism at all and it just so happens his statement is supported by how we see ref officiate games Bron plays in.I refuse to watch a fixed fight, J,Kobe,TD spent years in the L before they got the benefit of most calls, this cat came into the league and
was getting those calls, no paying of dues. Commish your foul for that one and need to be over taken by coup.lol.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
K-Dub says:
Is this what happens when you become commish for too long? you get stupid? big LB fan, but he has to win something first.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Mellmeister says:
Isiah Thomas as the Next NBA commissioner… anyone?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
douglas copeland says:
completely disrespecting the game and than you say he’s better than J and this cat got one MVP on his resume…if that’s not tainted and bias I don’t know what is.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Rare Air says:
I’ll say what I have said about LB all along, win something and then lets talk - otherwise you might as well be the Dan Marino of the L.
These comments strike as odd coming from Stern who never usually says these sorts of things. Every marquee NBA player has had some sort of scandal at some point and it is only a matter of time before Bron has his.
Personally if Stern should be riding anyone at this point it’s Kobe because the Mamba is the most popular player in both Asia and Europe where Stern is trying very hard to market the NBA, all this hot air around Bron is tired.
Kobe and Mike didn’t even hear this noise because they have a combined 10, count em’ 10 rings between them both. Ball up Bron, otherwise your just Clyde Drexler.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
douglas copeland says:
well put rare air, this has been my arguement all along they’ve given this cat his stripes way to early.It’s like he hasn’t had to earn the respect he’s gotten. He came into the L and they were already calling him King putting him in the same sentence with J, when you had vets who paid there dues already.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Mellmeister says:
David “SuperHead” Stern is a Business Man… He was able to make the NBA one of the best leagues… he still is…
people are hatin’ on LeBron the same way they hated Kobe before… well, LeBron is Superman without the cape… and everyone bought the hype… why market someone who doesn’t have a fancy on…
SuperHead was wrong in sayin’ the greatest player ever…
he could’ve just settled with, “I see a Bright Future in this Kid…” or “He’s one of the best players that i’ve ever seen” ‘coz guys c’mon, 6′9, 250lbs., as quick as any point guard in the league… + mad hops… has a solid frame for someone who can play all positions… “He’s an athletic Freak”.
Stern, if that was your statement, i wouldn’t disagree…
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
douglas copeland says:
and see rare air that’s my problem with the media and Stern they constantly overlook Kobe and go straight to Bron when he’s done nothing that Kobe aint already done atleast twice.Than he takes forever and a day to levy a fine against Bron for not speaking to the media???Wow,that’s a rule if you don’t speak to media after the playoffs(win or lose)you get fined, why the long time to deliberate?…wait we’ve just received our answer from Stern…“He may be the best player ever to have played. Michael might dispute that, but he has a lot of canvas yet on which to paint. I have no doubt the picture is going to be beautiful.”
“You know, he hasn’t won anything yet but he may be the best player ever to descend to this planet. It’s a delight to watch him; it’s a delight to watch him grow, to see his width and breadth, in terms of his interest and capacities. He’s a great kid and a great player.”
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Dagomar says:
Lebron has the best PER since Jordan. But he’s a ways from getting to Jordan’s level just yet, though not as far as people think.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Ian says:
douglas
no it wasnt professional but damn he wants to sell so what better way to do it than using his hotest product? do i like it no but it shouldnt affect you guys like that either.
how is his mvp tainted? stern doesnt choose the winner.
selig is the worst commish in all sports.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Ian says:
dagomar
quick question who has the 4th highest per alltime? 7th?
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/per_career.html
oh shit would you look at that hehe
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
BiG ShoT BoB says:
There’s a simple slogan we got going in the bay right now - “Why Hate”
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:07 pm
sh!tfaced says:
LMFAO@2 My thoughts exactly…
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
B4L says:
@ ian
david robinson and tim duncan.. what does that hafta do with anything?
if you were refering to lebron and kobe, on which this conversation revolves, they are 3rd and 15th respectively..
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
THE chuck swirsky says:
@ control
.. best post of the year.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
ProphetGK says:
LMFAO @control u said it right buddy…
funny thing is in a few years he’s gonna be singing someone else’s praises…
October 24th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Pet Society Help says:
Milk it commish.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:29 am
zen says:
the word “MAY”
October 24th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Ian says:
b4l
no man im messing im prob the biggest spurs fan here thats why i mentioned it and the admiral is my fav player ever.
October 24th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Maynard says:
Control and Kermit, good morning and thank you for your feedback.
Kermit, in no way did I say that Jordan was the best ever at that point. I did, however, say that he was the best in the game at that point, which would seemingly be beyond dispute. Stern didn’t even go that far with LeBron, saying he thought he’d be the best ever when all is said and done (and not that he was his favorite player). In fact, if you go back and read what you said, it’s pretty similar to what Stern said. No use arguing if you’re making the same point.
Control, I want you and all the other aspiring Oliver Stones to be able to sleep at night, so I assure you that if he ever had to make a ruling, Stern would be completely fair with anything regarding LeBron. The League undoubtedly wanted Knicks-Bulls in ‘97; did it stop him from suspending Patrick, LJ, Starks and Ewing in the playoffs? I wish it hadn’t. I think your analogy is kind of out there (the court case), I don’t think what Stern said is irresponsible or out of line — it’s ok, and probably preferable, for a Commissioner to be an admitted fan of the game — and I think based on what the young man has done, some superlatives are generally in order when describing him.
October 24th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Chocohazed says:
The commish must be on Dat DUST JUICE.
October 25th, 2009 at 5:31 am
mike senga says:
lebron’s my favorite player, but david stern clearly needs to learn how to voice his opinions. No one in the nba should be called great before championship trophies, regardless of how many points you score at will.
October 25th, 2009 at 6:08 am
chief youngblood says:
david stern is playing business man , kobe got the ring the lakers are the kings they don’t their covered he’s bolstering press for lebron but mostly just for the league the idea that any other than the rightful G.O.A.T is the greatest basketball player the world has ever seen is ridiculous. Michael Jordan was “the worlds greatest common denominator” ( scoop ) , “he was god playing basketball”(bird). And the impact he had globally socially and most importantly psychologically on American basketball fans is incalculable their is no comparison.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Scoob says:
I”m disgusted. What happens if LeBron has a career ending injury? He should just “subtly” continue to put Bron Bron in the limelight along with other NBA stars and keep his opinions to himself.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
yonkon says:
king of basketball, LeBron James,
http://www.kicknike.com
October 25th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
QazQami says:
i think stern can say what he thinks like every human being .. even if i hate this prick
for me lbj’s mix of power, speed and talent make him the best ever
give him horace/scottie or pau/lamar and u’ll see if he wins nothing
i mean… the guy is 24 !! think bout that.. c’on
October 26th, 2009 at 1:10 am
jheck says:
it is his opinion…but clerly LBJ is great…but what MJ have done no one can match it…maybe they can surpass MJ’s achievements..but surely no one on earth can really match it…and im sure about that…
October 27th, 2009 at 4:33 am
bigger_daddy says:
i no longer read any comments following control’s very morbid analysis.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Ivy says:
GOTTA BE KIDDING ME
THE GUY COULDNT EVEN LEAD HIS TEAM TO VICTORY OVER THE BOSTON CELTICS IN THE OPENING GAME
SO HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT HE”S THE BEST PLAYER EVER.
EXCELLENT PLAYER HE IS…BUT
TODAY OR EVER, IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHO IS THE BEST EVER OR GREATEST BUT ONE THING FOR SURE IS THE NBA HAS TURNED INTO A “1 PLAYER RULES THEM ALL” MEANING THERE HAS TOO BE 1 PLAYER WHO SURPASSES THE WHOLE TEAM INSTEAD OF SAYING OVERALL EVERY PLAYER HAS A SKILLED SET OF MOVES TO BENEFIT THE TEAM.
WHERE DID MOMENTS LIKE HOW IT WAS GO
KOBE N SHAQ
MALONE N STOCKMAN
MJ N PIPPEN
WADE N SHAQ
now its all glory for a star player thats why CELTICS are as good as they are ALLEN,PIERCE,RAJON N RONDO.
also MELO N BILLUPS.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Ivy says:
-i meant GARNETT at the end of the sentence
“now its all glory for a star player thats why CELTICS are as good as they are ALLEN,PIERCE,RAJON N GARNETT.”
October 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
wonderfulkat says:
Stern is full of Shit!
The NBA’s 30 best go-to players
http://dimemag.com/2009/10/the-nbas-30-best-go-to-players-1-kobe-bryant/
October 30th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
taylor says:
yo knock your r dumb bro hate to say. the best players ever inthe history have gotten to the line at least 8 times a game and its due to their efficiency of gettin to the hoop. lebron is hands down the best player in the league. didnt anybody else watch him single handley get his team into the playoffs against a stacked detroit team as a 20 year. while kobe wasnt even averaging 20 a game at that point in his career. he faced a far superior talent and team against tim duncan and co the best bigman to ever play. he gets to the hoop better than almost anybody i have ever seen. also his career 3pt percentage is barely lower and than kobes and his fg% is higher as well as domination in every other statistack category other than fg%. kobe is better at making clutch due to his playoff hardening. Since his been there so many times he doesent get nerves. but look who hes had every damn time hes went to the finals. gasol odom alone is a rediculous 1-2 and throw in bynum its not right. he also had the most dominant paint player to ever live for 3 or them and shaq was in his prime. lebron gets a 38 injury riddled slow man. check your facts man. lebron has 20 times the court vision of kobe. he averages 2 more assists a game than kobe with less people to dish too if lebron was on the lakers he would be droppin 10 dimes a game easy.