Former Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal said that while people feared Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, the same isn’t true of LeBron James.
Many people agree the greatest NBA player of the past dozen years or so has been LeBron James. His accomplishments speak for themselves, and he’s not done yet, at least not individually.
The debate about where he ranks among the greatest basketball players of all time continues to rage. Some believe his individual accomplishments and 10 NBA Finals appearances make him the greatest, while others cite his 4-6 record in the championship series as the reason they believe he doesn’t rank extremely high on that list.
Perhaps one critical requirement for being the greatest ever is being feared by the rest of the league. Last year, Mario Chalmers, a former teammate of James on the Miami Heat, said no one fears the league’s all-time leading scorer. On a recent episode of “The Big Podcast,” Shaquille O’Neal said while players feared Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, he has never heard of a player fearing James.
Shaq says he never heard a player say they feared LeBron James
"I've heard players say, including myself, 'I feared [Michael Jordan].' I've heard players in [Mario Chalmers's] generation say they feared Kobe. I've never really heard any player say they feared LeBron."
Chalmers then elaborated on his claim that no one fears or has feared James.
“It’s not that you shouldn’t fear ‘Bron,” Chalmers said. “I just think, at the end of the day, ‘Bron has been through so much that he wanted to be liked. So it was kinda like, ‘I’m gonna do things now where people like me, people will respect me.'”
There is no doubt, regardless of where he deserves to rank among the greats of the NBA, that James has a different personality than Jordan or Bryant. Bryant, the late Los Angeles Lakers great who won five world championships with the team, was made into a villain due to the immense volume of hate he received from fans and journalists. He decided to embrace being a villain, and above all, he needed to win to be OK with himself.
James has a different type of motivation that drives him, but he has still placed himself into the highest pantheon of basketball greatness alongside men such as Jordan, Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Plenty of fans believe Gabe Vincent is a tremendous signing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team gave him a three-year contract reportedly worth $33 million to come west, and he has the potential to be an important contributor.
But some fans are convinced Vincent isn’t an upgrade over the outgoing Dennis Schroder. A few even believe he is a step down from the German native who was an integral part of the Lakers’ success this past season.
However, many scouts and executives around the league seem to like the addition of Vincent. In fact, one executive compared him to another guard who had substantial success with LeBron James: Mario Chalmers (h/t Lakers Daily).
“One league executive raved about the Lakers signing Gabe Vincent, saying the guard is ‘the perfect point guard to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis,’” wrote Woike.
“The executive cited Mario Chalmers as a player who reminds him of Vincent. ‘(Vincent) doesn’t need the ball, can shoot it and makes the right decisions. And, he can really defend.’”
James and Chalmers spent four seasons together on the Miami Heat. While Chalmers didn’t put up big stats, he was a reliable 3-point shooter that also contributed defensively.
Schroder needs to ball in his hands to be productive, but Vincent is reliable in catch-and-shoot situations, which would make him, at least conceivably, a better fit next to James. Although both are strong defenders, Vincent seems to do better than Schroder while guarding bigger backcourt players.
While D’Angelo Russell, at least as of now, appears to be the favorite to start at point guard this coming season, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that Vincent could supplant him depending on what happens in training camp.
Several NBA players have said opponents don’t fear playing against LeBron James the way players in the past did when facing Michael Jordan.
LeBron James has been arguably the greatest NBA player of the past dozen years or so, and according to a slowly growing contingent of fans, he just may be the greatest ever.
The greatest-of-all-time debate will likely rage on forever without a clear-cut answer, but one thing is for sure: One measure of being the greatest ever in any sport is how much opponents feared competing against that player.
In the 1990s, men around the NBA were famously petrified of going up against Michael Jordan, especially since his Chicago Bulls teams were always the overwhelming favorite to win the world championship whenever he played a full season.
The same could be said of Kobe Bryant during the first decade of the 21st century.
But apparently, James hasn’t generated the same type of extreme apprehension.
Guard Mario Chalmers, who won back-to-back titles with him on the Miami Heat, said that nobody fears going up against him.
“Nobody fears Bron. Nobody’s like ‘(expletive) I gotta go play against Bron tonight.’ Nobody said that. I don’t know why. Because I seen people be scared when they actually lined up to him but they’re not scared thinking about that matchup, right? You hear anybody from that era talk about going against Jordan, there’s a fear. So when you have people that fear a player, then that’s telling you something different already. Like, Jordan is just that guy.”
James doesn’t have the same mythology that Jordan built up for himself. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Jordan was 6-0 in the NBA Finals, while James, at least thus far, is just 4-6 in the championship series.
Do people fear LeBron James? According to Mario Chalmers, nope!
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If you’re trying to think of arguments in favor of why Michael Jordan is the GOAT and LeBron James is not, you might note that people feared MJ.
So many players, like Steve Nash, have come out and said that they feared playing against Jordan. According to John Salley, who played alongside MJ while on the Bulls, “everybody” was afraid of Jordan.
Jordan imposed fear in the hearts of his own teammates, said former Bulls big Jud Buechler (via ESPN):
“People were afraid of him … We were his teammates, and we were afraid of him. And there was just fear. The fear factor of MJ was so, so thick.”
You’ll hear the same thing about matching up against Kobe Bryant. NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant and NBA champion Richard Hamilton have said as much.
But according to Mario Chalmers, the same cannot be said about LeBron. Chalmers played alongside LeBron in Miami and the two didn’t exactly get along. Here is what Chalmers recently said (via Playmaker):
“Nobody fears Bron. Nobody’s like ‘[expletive] I gotta go play against Bron tonight.’ Nobody said that. I don’t know why. Because I seen people be scared when they actually lined up to him but they’re not scared thinking about that matchup, right? You hear anybody from that era talk about going against Jordan, there’s a fear. So when you have people that fear a player, then that’s telling you something different already. Like, Jordan is just that guy.”
Longtime Celtics star Paul Pierce said that guys in his era “weren’t afraid” of LeBron and former NBA All-Star Antonio Davis said that there is “no fear” when playing against LeBron as well.
Back in 2017, before he faced the Cavaliers in the playoffs, Boston’s Jaylen Brown said that he wasn’t scared of LeBron James and said that the superstar was just a “regular guy” to him. Dion Wright, who plays professional basketball overseas, matched up against during a Pro-Am game. He said he wasn’t afraid, either.
But there are opposing voices, too. Kendrick Perkins confessed that he was so scared to play against Cleveland in 2008 that he literally prayed something bad would happen to LeBron during practice.
“There’s certainly a level of respect. But for the fear factor, if you get into a playoff series with LeBron, if you’re prepping to play LeBron, you’re certainly fearful of who he is as a player. Physically, I took a charge on LeBron my fifth year in Orlando. I caught his spin move perfectly. I ended up with 11 stitches under my eye.”
Redick said that he was standing there and knew LeBron was going to make that spin move, and still, he was fearful. The longtime sharpshooter said that James commands a certain level of fear rivaled only by Stephen Curry.
“He finished the victory with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Bailey recorded a game-high 10 “good” possessions, per ShotQuality, the second-most he had ever finished with during his NCAA career thus far.
The freshman had eight layups during the contest, mostly finishing in transition. He leads the tournament in total fast break points scored (13), per CBB Analytics.
UCLA played with a quicker pace (64.8) during the 48 possessions Bailey played relative to the 13 possessions (53.6) he did not, via Pivot Analysis.”
Make sure to check out the full list for more details!
Grizzlies (-4.5, -200) vs. Mavericks (+170), O/U 227.5, 8:00 PM ET
Luka Doncic and Ja Morant are both out while Kyrie Irving is questionable. But this is a huge game for the Mavericks, who would finish as the No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament if the season ended today — but are also in danger of fully missing the playoffs.
When the upcoming NBA G League season tips off next months, fans can expect to see more familiar faces than they would in a typical year.
When the upcoming NBA G League season tips off next months, fans can expect to see more familiar faces than they would in a typical year.
The NBA G League is hosting a bubble tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex in Florida. Once teams are assembled, they will arrive to the location by January 26 for physicals and onboarding. The first game is set for February 8 and teams are expected to play a “12-to-15 game schedule” before their single-elimination playoffs from March 5-March 9.
This offseason, per ESPN, the league also eliminated restrictions for signing players with at least five years of NBA experience. For example, as reported by Adam Johnson, this is how Jeremy Lin was able to sign outright with the Santa Cruz Warriors rather than enter the draft pool. This is reportedly a one-time exception for the G League.
Similarly, others with NBA experience signed outright as veteran mentors for the inaugural G League Ignite squad. Players like Amir Johnson and Bobby Brown will lend a hand for top prospects like Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green as they transition to the pros.
Otherwise, however, players not already on a roster who are looking to get back on the court and play in the upcoming bubble season will have to hear their names called on Monday. Over the last few days, we have learned about several players (e.g. Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson) who recently signed NBA G League Standard Player Contracts.
Even those who have been around the league for years have no guarantee of being selected, though. There are only 17 teams playing in the bubble, as 12 have opted out.
While the draft will have a maximum of 26 players selected, teams are allowed to forfeit their picks, so that number could end up even smaller. But that has not swayed the nearly 200 players who are hopeful about suiting up in Florida.
The 2021 G League Draft is scheduled for Monday, January 11, at 1:15 PM EST. Below are some of the most notable candidates, listed in order of how many minutes they have played in the NBA:
Recently, nine-year NBA veteran Mario Chalmers was a guest on The HoopsHype Podcast. He discussed his favorite memories from the Miami Heat’s run, his recovery after rupturing his Achilles in 2016, his hope of making an NBA comeback, “The 5 Tournament” that he helped organize and more. You can listen above or read a transcribed version of the chat below.
In the 2008 NCAA championship game, you hit the game-tying three with 2.1 seconds left and Kansas went on to win the title. You were named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. How did your life change after you hit that epic shot?
Mario Chalmers: It changed dramatically. I mean, just for myself, getting ready for the draft after that and just being a known face in all of these communities and in the basketball world worldwide, [it helped me] just leave behind a legacy. Everybody remembered me for that; you know, the kid from Alaska who hit the shot at Kansas. It’s just a great way to leave a legacy.
What was it like growing up in Alaska?
MC: It’s just like any other city. I mean, sometimes we definitely get a lot more snow than in most cities and it’s cold, but it’s colder in Chicago, New York and places like that – they’re all colder than Alaska during the wintertime. In the summertime, we have 24 hours of sunlight, so everybody is playing basketball all day. When I was growing up in Anchorage, there was a big basketball community and playing basketball is pretty much all we did every day.
Moving from Alaska to Miami had to be strange. You went from one end of the weather spectrum to the other.
MC: It was very different! I went from seeing snow for six or seven months out of the year to not seeing snow at all. So, the weather was probably the biggest. That and the culture. Miami is a big Spanish [city] and Spanish culture and Latino culture, but we don’t really have that type of culture up there as much in Alaska. It was just different as far as the culture and different as far as the climate.
You were on the Miami Heat for two seasons before the Big Three came together. During that summer of 2010, what was your reaction when you learned that Dwyane Wade was re-signing and LeBron James and Chris Bosh were coming to Miami too?
MC: I was happy; I was ecstatic. For me to be on that team and be able to play alongside three Hall of Famers, I knew it was great to add that to my resume, a great learning experience for me and a great chance to win.
The Heat had to get rid of a lot of players in order to create the Big Three. They cleared a ton of salary-cap space and made some trades. At one point, you were the only player who was still under contract. What was that like and were you worried that you might get moved too?
MC: Honestly, I didn’t know what was going to happen. But I figured with them trading away everyone else and with me being that last piece that I might be safe. I had good guys who vouched for me and I held my own when I was needed. I think I was just blessed to be in that position and to fit that spot that they needed.
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
How much did you learn from playing alongside veterans like D-Wade, LeBron, Bosh, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, Ray Allen, James Jones and so on?
MC: I learned everything. Anything that you want to name, I learned it from them – business-wise, how to be a professional in the NBA, what it looks like to take care of your body, how to be an everyday father (handling the ins and outs of traveling and being away from your kids) while playing basketball… All of those guys that you named, I’ve had multiple conversations with them (and still have conversations with them). Just being on that team and being with those guys, we formed very close relationships. And, like I said, I’ve always been a guy who held my own, so they all respect me. They all still talk to me, so we’re still friends and that’s a good thing.
When that team came together, there were super-high expectations. When David Griffin was on this podcast, he said that when he learned that LeBron was returning to the Cavs in 2014, he went from celebrating to getting anxious because he realized that there would now be insane expectations and pressure. Did you feel like that at all?
MC: Nah, I didn’t think that at all. Especially, for me, I’m the type of guy that loves the pressure situations. So, for me, I was just welcoming the challenge. I knew that with those guys coming to Miami, we were going to get everybody’s best shot every night. And then with how they were guaranteeing championships, we couldn’t let them down. We had to step up.
When LeBron is on your team, not only are there super-high expectations, there’s a ton of media attention and there’s a lot that’s asked of you because he demands greatness. What was it like playing with LeBron and experiencing that environment firsthand?
MC: You’re playing with one of the greats, so it’s a learning experience and it’s a lot of fun. But it’s also hard, like you said, with all the scrutiny and everything that comes with it. For a player like me that likes to take the last shots and likes to be in that moment, you gotta respect LeBron and you gotta let him take those shots sometimes. So in situations like that, it was a little difficult. But it was fun. I would never take away that experience of playing with that guy – he’s one of the greats and he’s still a person who I talk to to this day; we still have conversations. I learned a lot from Bron and we’re still friends to this day… He’s got one of the greatest basketball minds that I’ve seen.
What are some of your favorite memories from those Heat teams and that incredible run?
MC: Just the card games on the plane. Just traveling to different cities and seeing all of the hype that surrounded us every time we came into each city. Just the all-around experience of being in the NBA and being around those Hall of Famers, those greats. And Mike Miller and UD, who had been in the league for 15-16-plus years. I will never take those moments for granted. I’ll always remember those moments and always laugh about the fun we had.
When LeBron left in 2014, you were still in Miami with Wade and Bosh for a bit. How did you react when LeBron decided to leave the Heat? Were you surprised by that?
MC: Umm, not really. I really wasn’t surprised. I don’t know why I wasn’t surprised, but it was just something that had kind of run its course. We had fun with it and then, you know, stuff happens like that. He wanted to go back home and he wanted to do something for his city, so you can never be mad at a guy like that who wants to go back home and do something for his city. So, I respected his decision.
In November of 2015, the Heat traded you to the Memphis Grizzlies. What was that like, getting trading and dealing with the change of scenery?
MC: That was a hard experience for me, I’m not going to lie. It was my first time being traded and then how I was traded, going to a city where I already wasn’t one of their favorites just because of the Kansas-Memphis thing. It was fun at the same time, to win the city over and them having my back, but it also had its hard moments with it – dealing with all the extra stuff that came with being a Jayhawk and beating Memphis in the National Championship… In my first game, I actually got some applause and that helped me relax a little bit and it showed that the city of Memphis loves the game of basketball. Whether they are die-hard Tigers fans or die-hard Grizzlies fans, they still love the game of basketball and Grit and Grind. If you show that you can Grit and Grind, you can win their hearts over and be one of them. And that’s what happened with me, so I had a lot of fun in Memphis.
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
In 2016, you ruptured your Achilles tendon. That’s one of those injuries that’s so devastating because you’re out for a long time and some players are never the same. How tough was it to go through that rehab and come back from the Achilles injury?
MC: That was one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. When I first had surgery, my stitches weren’t reacting well with my body, so I had an additional three surgeries. I had three extra surgeries, so that’s why it kind of took me longer to get back and for my Achilles to heal. But once I finally got going, I got everything feeling almost back . I was able to show a little bit of what I could do when I came back to the league [in 2017-18]. But after that, it felt like I lost a step. I don’t think I did, but I was just trying to learn how to use my body and work with that Achilles. I feel better now. I feel a lot better. It’s just a tough injury to come back from, I will say that.
Did the stitches cause an infection and that’s why you needed three more surgeries?
MC: Yeah, it caused an infection in the back of my Achilles, so they had to go in and take those stitches and put more in. But those didn’t react well either, so the stitches kept coming out. They were just trying to figure out why the stitches wouldn’t react well with my body and why they wouldn’t dissolve into my Achilles. Then, they finally figured out the right ones and then, after that, that’s when the healing process finally started.
Man, that’s brutal. There’s been a lot of talk about Kevin Durant recovering from his torn Achilles this season. Having been through that same injury and recovery process, what do you expect to see from Durant when he returns?
MC: With all of this time off and how he’s been able to work and how hard I know he works, I think KD is going to come back and not even lose a step. I think he will be right back to normal. Of course, it’s gonna take him some time to get adjusted to it – getting used to the physical contact of playing on that leg and pushing off that foot. But once he gets comfortable, he’s gonna be back to being KD, I think.
Playing on it for the first time after the injury has to be tough. Chauncey Billups once told me that he had a hard time after his Achilles injury because he would overcompensate with his other leg/foot and that caused additional injuries. How did that adjustment period go for you?
MC: It’s tough, like you said. It’s definitely tough. It’s just something that you’ve got to get comfortable with and it’s going to take time. I worked out with a track coach a couple times, just to help me with my stride and to be explosive off my foot when pushing off with that foot. There are just different things that you gotta learn and you have to be comfortable with it and trust in it before you can actually step on the court and be comfortable when you’re playing again.
You’ve played nine seasons in the NBA, most recently suiting up with the Grizzlies in 2017-18. Do you still hope to sign with an NBA team in the future?
MC: I definitely do. I definitely think I can still help a team, especially with my resume. I have a lot of knowledge since I’ve been to four NBA Finals and won two NBA championships and a college national championship. I just feel like I can provide a lot of knowledge to a young point guard and be a mentor. That’s the role that I’d come back to the NBA and be, so I’m open to it if it happens.
Recently, Raymond Felton and I talked about how most NBA teams are pursuing younger players that become available and not going after veteran players as much these days. Have you experienced that as well? And, if so, how frustrating is that?
MC: I’ve definitely experienced that. And, yeah, it is frustrating – just because there’s the saying, “A team always wants a winner.” I just feel like with my resume, I’m a proven winner. I’m not a bad guy in the locker room; I’m not a jerk. So, I just feel like for me to not even get a chance and not even get a workout or nothing like that, it’s a little disheartening. But that’s the way the business goes… I’m definitely surprised how they’ve shifted away from [veterans]. Those guys are very important. For me, some of my vets were Dwyane Wade, Bron, Jermaine O’Neal, Jamaal Magloire and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, so I’ve had vets that have actually been All-Stars and they’ve taught me about basketball, about family, about a lot of different things. I just feel like if I was an NBA GM or somebody that’s running an NBA team, I would want a couple of vets on my team, just to make sure my young guys are following suit and not doing too much off the court. You want to make sure they’re still focused on basketball and that they understand the business aspect of everything. And once you get to the NBA, you have a lot of freedom. And if you don’t use that freedom wisely, it could be a lot of trouble for you. So, I just feel like vets are good with that stuff. I had a lot of vets who helped me out and I feel like vets are always needed; somebody who’s been there before is always needed to help teach the new school.
Last year, you played in Italy and Greece. How was your experience playing overseas?
MC: I had a lot of fun playing overseas. The game is different, the coaching is different. From my experience, I’ve run into two coaches that both told me that they don’t like the NBA or the NBA game style. But then they’ll come to you like, “Hey, you see the way that Steph Curry runs to the corner? Make sure you do that too!” So, it’s just funny to be over there and hear how they talk about American basketball and NBA basketball. But, I mean, it’s a lot of fun being over there. The fans are great. You get to go to new cities and the cities are great. It’s a lot of fun to experience a different culture and live life and be able to travel while playing basketball at the same time… I had a blast in Greece. That coach was amazing. I had a lot of fun playing for him, but then our season was cut short because of COVID-19. But that was definitely a lot of fun playing over there. I hope to go back there, if I can.
When your playing days are over, do you know what career you want to pursue?
MC: Right now, I’m going through my options, but I think it’ll be something to do with basketball. Coaching or becoming a scout are the two things that I’m interested in right now.
Speaking of COVID-19, how have you been spending this time off?
MC: I’ve just been at home, hanging out with my kids and that’s been a lot of fun for me – really having our downtime and being able to be with them and watch them grow and be able to have fun with them. Also, I’m trying to do some different business deals. I’ve been learning a little bit about the stock market. And I’ve been putting The 5 Tournament together. I’m just trying to keep myself busy. I’ve been working out a lot and just trying to do different things.
Ex-NBA players will compete in a 3-on-3 pay-per-view tourney called the "5 Tournament" from July 19-29, per a press release. It'll include Joe Johnson, Mario Chalmers, Mike Bibby, Nate Robinson, Eddy Curry, Donte Green, James White and many others. Here's a list of the rosters: pic.twitter.com/Wseuy8iAXM
You mentioned The 5 Tournament, which is a three-on-three tournament that features former NBA players from July 19-29 on pay-per-view. How did you initially get involved with this?
MC: I got involved through Jerry Castello. He contacted me, saying, “I have an idea to put a tournament together. What do you think?” And then he ran the idea past me and I was like, “Yeah, I’ll jump on board and I’ll help you put it all together.” We just took off from there. I met Jerry at the BIG3… so that’s how me and him connected. And then through his connections and my NBA connections, we started reaching out to people and we were able to put it together.
There are six different teams and the games will be played in Las Vegas. We’ve seen everything that the NBA is going through to resume their season. Was it difficult to put this event together amidst a pandemic?
MC: It’s been kind of tough, but it’s really not that bad at the same time… A lot of people liked the idea. We had a lot of sponsors jump on board and we had a lot of people jump on board who really helped us put it together. So, once we got the ball rolling, it became fairly easy to put together. The one thing that was tougher was finding out a location where we were going to be able to do the games with all of the testing and everything. But once they figured that out, it was pretty much smooth sailing.
How excited are you to get out there and play 5-on-5 again?
MC: I’m very excited. This is probably the longest I’ve been away from basketball when I’m healthy. So, yes, I definitely have the itch to get back out there and play and compete. We’re going to have some fun, playing against former [NBA] guys. That’s gonna be the main focus of this tournament.
While they used to be foes on the court, former Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers holds Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce in very high regard.
While there might be some who would diminish the legacy of Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, former Miami Heat point guard and Celtics foil Mario Chalmers is not among them.
Speaking in a recent interview with Heavy’s Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Chalmers shed a little light on the longstanding animus between Pierce and his former teammate LeBron James.
“I think it’s something personal,” offered Chalmers about his fellow Kansas alumnus.
“I just feel like Paul Pierce never got the respect that he deserved when it comes to him being that type of caliber player he is – because when you think about the top small forwards, you don’t name Paul Pierce,” he added.
“You name T-Mac, Scottie Pippen, James Worthy… you name guys like that. And I just feel like when they named ‘Bron he’s like he’s did things and I should be up there too, I did just as much as these guys did; I got the ring, I got the numbers…why is my name NOT up there? So I think that it’s a little personal matchup between him and ‘Bron. I don’t think it’s really any dislike, I just think that’s how he feels.”
Chalmers also had some feelings about Pierce’s clutchness, recently highlighted in a HoopsHype article and compared to Los Angeles Laker star Kobe Bryant by former teammate Ryan Hollins.
“This is going to sound weird coming from me but Kobe did it THROUGHOUT his whole career,” explained the Alaska native.
“Paul Pierce did it too, but not on big stages like that because he didn’t have the team to do that on big stages so, of course it’s going to stand out more, but Paul Pierce is just as clutch as any of them. Just like ‘Melo; ‘Melo is just as clutch as any of them too but, ‘Melo doesn’t get that respect because isn’t on that big stage.”
For someone who was such a pest to the Celtics in the Banner 17 era, it’s probably odd to hear coming from the mouth of Chalmers.
But whether it is simply respect for a former worthy foe or their shared alma mater, the former Heat floor general shares a high opinion of his one-time opponent in an era where Pierce has had his name dragged through the mud unjustly.
But those who followed his career even in the wilderness era of the Celtics know how talented the small forward was at the height of his powers, one of the most clutch wings ever to play the game.
After LeBron James had a heroic 18-18 effort in Game 1, LeBron waited for the right moment to pounce for a Game 2 win over San Antonio.
During the NBA’s indefinite hiatus, I will be rewatching every game of LeBron’s NBA Finals career. Every Finals game from the last 20 years is available to NBA League Pass subscribers on the NBA app or through apps like YouTube TV. We will be going chronologically through LeBron’s Finals career.
The Heat are back home for Game 2 as they now look at an 0-1 deficit for the first time in three NBA Finals together. The ABC cameras cut to Dwyane Wade in the team huddle hyping the squad up to get the San Antonio Spurs back tonight, after they absolutely locked up the Heat in the 4th quarter and had an answer for everything on the offensive end. Although LeBron had a triple-double, none of the Big 3 eclipsed the 20-point mark in Game 1 and still, they had a chance to win. And as far as the starting lineups are concerned, neither team has made a change in Game 2. The Heat have not lost two games in a row all season long, having accumulated the best record in the NBA at 66-16.
However, the hottest in the room right now is Danny Green. Green has started the game 3-for-3 from the 3-point line, pacing the Spurs to another early 1st quarter lead like they had in Game 1. Green’s hot hand continues as he single-handedly disrupts a 2-on-1 break by Wade and LeBron James, something that nobody ever does. He played that better than a defensive end on a read-option. The Heat, however, are much more locked in defensively and they aren’t letting Parker slice them up quite as much as he did in Game 1.
Meanwhile, the Spurs have shown their cards more on the pick and roll against LeBron James in this one. They are backing way off of him anytime someone sets a screen. San Antonio did not shy away from double-teaming LeBron in 2007 and they are going to force him to A) make the pull-up jumper or B) make Udonis Haslem beat them. Haslem obliges with an And-1 as the Mayor of Miami gets the crowd going.
As an aside from the game action, the 2013 Finals was also the first series that ESPN made Steve Javie a major part of the broadcast. They’re REALLY selling it hard. Meanwhile, Chalmers puts the Heat ahead at 16-15. But of course, nothing can go perfectly right. This game may be one of Chalmers best in a Heat uniform, as he ends with a team-high 19 points. As so often would happen during the Heat playoff runs, Wade comes up gimpy and will again have to play through the pain. Looking back on it, I really don’t understand how Wade ended up playing until 2019 with how often he played hurt during these years.
With about two minutes to go in the 1st quarter, LeBron comes over with another incredible rotation block on Duncan, his second in as many games. LeBron doesn’t block shots like quite as much anymore as a rim-protector unless he’s executing a chase-down block, and it’s one of the subtle and only ways we can tangibly tell he’s aging. That and him taking more 30-footers than anybody this side of Dame Lillard and Steph Curry. It’s 22-22 after 1.
Both teams remain deadlocked as the 2nd quarter stars, with Gary Neal replacing Danny Green as the Spurs 3-point shooter of the moment. Then Ginobili, who has had a tough start to the series, gets one to go and the Spurs go up 6. But the lead doesn’t last for long as the Heat tied things up with two minutes to go in the 1st half at 45-45. Then Chalmers, who was benched in the 4th quarter of Game 1, hits another 3-pointer to give him a Heat-high 10 points in the first half. Then a Wade layup makes it 50-45, giving him 10 points as well. Then Chalmers does as good of a job on Parker as anybody has done, forcing an airball. Then on the final possession of the first half, the Heat get another turnover, this time from LeBron, to close the half as the Heat defense has been suffocating.
At the halftime interview, Dwayne Wade says that he’s tired due to the pace in this game. Wade, Bosh and Chalmers are supplying the scoring for Miami right now, while LeBron’s best plays have all been on defense and in the service of his teammates. Again, I’m moved to say that I really can’t believe Wade played until 2019. The Spurs have stayed in this game with seven 3-pointers, because they’ve had eight turnovers. As the second half returns, Van Gundy and Mike Breen are focusing on the play of Wade, who had a strong first half in Game 1 but tailed off in the second half, along with the rest of the Heat offense in the 4th quarter.
Early in the 2nd half we are treated once again to the greatest transition defense ever played against the Miami Heat from Danny Green. LeBron tries to create contact and Green expertly avoids it, causing James to miscalculate his shot. Then LeBron takes the time-honored tactic of going straight to the rim and being a superstar to get a foul call. While LeBron’s aggression is notable, so is that of Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs are going to Leonard more in the post to start their half court offense. Even when he is blocked by James, his aggression creates a loose ball and an easy bucket for Splitter. And now Leonard leads the break in transition, kicking it to Green for his 5th 3-pointer of the game, cutting the lead to 54-53. Another thing that I really love about this series is how neither team is fouling very much. These games go by quickly, but they’re played with high quality on both ends. Leonard is doing more, getting a 3-point play, but he misses the free-throw, something that would come up again later in the series.Nevertheless, San Antonio now leads 58-56.
Then LeBron sets a blind pick on Tony Parker, sending Parker to the ground. The call goes against LeBron, who has followed up his 18-18-10 game with just 2 rebounds so far and he’s yet to be in double-figures. To his credit, the Spurs are forcing him into low-quality midrange shots and he’s trying to set up his teammates rather than take them. But at some point, LeBron has got to take the challenge. Luckily, Chris Bosh is an All-Star and has carried the load for the Heat offensively in this 3rd quarter. Meanwhile, Danny Green just blocked LeBron on one end and leading the game in scoring on the other. LeBron is still reluctant to oblige on the midrange pull-up, but he sets a screen for Chalmers and he crashes the board like a guy trying to find his own way offensively. It’s unclear if LeBron is all the way healthy, but he looks a step slow in Game 2 compared to what he had in Game 1. Or perhaps, he’s simply biding his time after running out of gas in the 4th quarter of Game 1, remembering how the Heat suffocated under a cascade of turnovers, before Tony Parker’s incredible runner.
The Heat bench is better this season though. Rather than leaking points when the Big 3 are on the bench, LeBron and the reserves are running up the lead. Honestly, the way LeBron is playing with this unit, Chalmers, a bunch of shooters and Chris Andersen, reminds me a little bit of watching contemporary Giannis Antetokounmpo play. Nothing sets things up quite like a screen from Giannis these days but LeBron in 2013 was delivering similar results, while also being maybe the greatest passer in NBA history to go with it. Almost on cue, LeBron hits Mike Miller for a 3. LeBron may only have 8 points, but he’s making everything happen for Miami to push them to a 10-point lead.
And then FINALLY, LeBron obliges the Spurs coverage of him and he steps into a midrange jumper. Unsurprisingly, this is when the Heat blow the game open. Then they post LeBron, a double-team comes, then he hits Mike Miller again for a 3-pointer. The Heat are now on a 19-3 run and have a 15-point lead, the largest lead of the series so far. The Heat have also made strong adjustments to how the Spurs have been guarding LeBron. The Heat are waiting to set the screens on the ball later and later, making it harder to go under the screen without giving up a quality shot at the rim. LeBron then goes coast-to-coast in transition, with the Spurs committing their 15th turnover of the night and it looks like this game is just about over, with Miami up by 19.
Now, the Heat are no strangers to seeing leads disappear, but reasonable people believe this one is over. Even Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy are already talking about the series being 1-1. And then LeBron has what will be the iconic play of the series, absolutely stoning 7-foot Tiago Splitter at the rim, which leads to a Ray Allen 3-pointer on the other end. Then LeBron gets rowdy with a dunk as he swings from the rim. He now has 8 points in the 4th quarter, perhaps lending more credence to the theory that he was saving the scoring punch until the final period.
Then a 3-pointer from James and the Heat are up 27. This one is over. Tracy McGrady is in the game for the Spurs. That’s about the only thing of importance left to say, with the Spurs Big 3 now chilling on the bench.
But now we have three games set for San Antonio starting in Game 3, where LeBron will now look for his first Finals win in the city of San Antonio. However, LeBron now finally has a win against the Spurs on his resume after losing his first five.
A playoff series between the Miami Heat’s Big 3 and the Golden State Warriors at their peak would have been great to see.
The Golden State Warriors are the best team of the 2010s, winning three championships in the decade.
But the Warriors would have some competition against the Miami Heat, a team that peaked just a few years before they took off.
Heat legend Dwyane Wade hopped on Instagram Live with Steph Curry on Friday night, and he asked Curry which team would win: the Heat’s Big 3 or the Warriors at their peak?
Curry said the two could settle everything out on NBA 2K, but Wade laughed and said he isn’t good at the game. Still, with the two team’s peaks only around four years apart, it’s a hypothetical matchup that could have been relatively feasible if the Heat had a longer run.
The Warriors have revolutionized offense, with Curry and Klay Thompson being the sharpshooters for a team that heavily utilizes off-ball actions and misdirection.
At their peak, the Warriors screened teams into oblivion, and with Kevin Durant in the picture, they were basically impossible to guard.
Though they boast great shooters, the Warriors have never relied on shooting from deep — that’s why their best teams had the most productive offenses in league history. They were unpredictable, while still having the threat of elite shooting.
When they won the title in 2017, the Warriors ranked fifth that regular season in 3-point attempts per game (31.2). When they won a second straight championship in 2018, the Warriors ranked 17th in 3-point attempts (28.9).
Golden State’s motion offense has been filled with position-less lineups, but what’s interesting is that the Miami Heat’s offense was the predecessor for the Warriors’ success.
The Heat were pioneers when it came to showing how small-ball lineups could work in certain situations. That was when LeBron James began playing more power forward, working in the post against smaller defenders.
James had multiple shooters to pass out to if necessary, with Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen being viable options.
Like the Warriors, the Heat were also good at controlling pace. James and Wade were crucial for that, with Wade’s slashing and scoring ability being the perfect complement to James’ passing skills.
The Heat’s offense was effective, but the Warriors get the edge here. No team in NBA history has put on an offensive clinic quite like Golden State has.
Defense: Even
The Heat’s defense was smothering at its peak, and their blitzing would be the main reason they could hang with the Warriors.
The only chance any team had against the Durant-era Warriors was to apply pressure on the perimeter, while also having enough rim protection to cover any backside options.
The Heat had both during their run, with players like Wade, Battier, James and Norris Cole helping suffocate the perimeter.
Chris Bosh and Chris Andersen anchored the defense in the interior, with the big men being No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in blocks per game during the team’s 2013 title season.
Miami’s ability to go small would be crucial as well. Teams need to be able to switch on the perimeter to guard Golden State, and the Heat’s athleticism and quickness would allow them to defend the pick-and-roll and keep the Warriors in front of them.
Though the Heat’s defense was elite, the Warriors boasted just as good a defense at the height of their powers.
Much like the Heat, the Warriors regularly had the perimeter on lockdown, with Thompson and Andre Iguodala leading the top of the defense. The Warriors ranked first in steals per game (9.6) during their 2017 title season.
Draymond Green has always been an important fixture of the offense, with his quality facilitating and screen setting being his best attributes. But he is also a significant presence for the Warriors’ defense, and his ability to play center has helped unlocked their positionless lineups.
The 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Green is one of the best help defenders of all time, as his basketball IQ helps him be in the right place at the right time.
He can guard any position, and the Warriors would be able to contain the dynamic duo of Wade and James.
Prediction: Warriors would win, but the series would go the distance
With both defenses being great, it’s hard to put one over the other. That end of the floor would be tightly contested, and whether Miami could score enough points would be the difference.
During their 2013 title season, the Heat averaged 102.9 points per game and shot 39.6% from deep. During their 2017 championship season, the Warriors averaged 115.9 points per game and shot 38.3% from the 3-point line.
It’s difficult to see the Heat being better offensively than Golden State, though.
With a Hall of Fame-level offense, the Warriors would win, but it would be a close series because of the Heat’s stifling defense.
Former Miami Heat legend and current TNT television star Dwyane Wade told a great story about a high-stakes card game on the plane.
When the NBA season is going on as it is, players have lots of idle time, particularly while travelling, with nobody to spend it with other than each other. Sometimes that leads to video games but one of the NBA’s most tried and true pastimes is playing cards. Specifically, the game Booray. And LeBron James’ exploits in the game became the stuff of legend, at least according to his old Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade.
Wade participated in an AMA with Bleacher Report late last week, where one of the commenters asked Wade for his best airplane gambling story. What followed was an epic tale of how Mario Chalmers lost $50,000 to LeBron James when they were all on the Heat.
@srichmondBR: Best team plane gambling story?
We did A LOT of gambling … I don’t know what people think are good gambling stories about losing money hahah. The most memorable was Mario Chalmers. We played this game called Booray. You can put a ghost in the game and the ghost fades the pot. And Mario Chalmers was winning. LeBron was the ghost and the last hand he flipped over beat Mario Chalmers and I think he was out like 50K or something like that. The moment of it was so dramatic and we ran up and down the plane screaming and yelling because there’s no way you’re gonna lose to the ghost being up as big as he was when the game started. That was crazy
Chalmers was always the little brother of the Heat squads with LeBron, so him losing a big lead to one of the Heat’s stars fits the bill pretty accurately.
