Who's better: LeBron or Larry?
Two of the NBA's greatest small forwards do battle in our side-by-side analysis
By Chris Palmer | ESPN The Magazine
ESPN INSIDER
LeBron James has become the measuring stick of his generation. And as he climbs a half-dozen all-time lists, the inevitability of comparing him to the game's greats grows by the season. Michael Jordan seems to be the obvious comparison. But no matter how tempting that may be, it's a bit premature.
A much more logical debate measures James against arguably the greatest small forward ever: Larry Bird.
Both players have compiled fantasy-like résumés and had a hand in revolutionizing the game by pushing the boundaries of what a small forward is capable of. Despite their stylistic differences, James and Bird have eerily similar philosophical approaches, work ethic and competitive natures.
Bird already is in the Hall of Fame, which awaits James, but at just 28 years old, he still has plenty of unfinished business.
But is he the best small forward of all time? Here's a side-by-side look at how James and Bird stack up.
<offer></offer>
<!-- begin inline 1 -->
LeBron James
PPG: 27.6
RPG: 7.3
APG: 6.9
BPG: 0.8
SPG: 1.7
NBA titles: 1
MVPs: 4
Finals MVPs: 1
Scoring titles: 1
All-Star: 9
Larry Bird
PPG: 24.3
RPG: 10.0
APG: 6.3
BPG: 0.8
SPG: 1.7
NBA titles: 3
MVPs: 3
Finals MVPs: 2
Scoring titles: 0
All-Star: 12
<!------------------------------------------END VITALS------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN SHOOTING------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: STILL WORKING
Shooting is an area of James' game that has long lagged behind the rest of his skill set. Although he's worked tirelessly on his pull-up jumper and catch-and-shoot game, he could be generously described as an "adequate" shooter. He can effectively create his own shot in a variety of situations, but he's more comfortable going to the basket or pulling up behind the arc. In fact, he was the only player this season to shoot higher than 40 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent in transition. His jumper still needs an upgrade, but when it comes to the 3-ball, the competition with Bird is much closer than you would think. James has 1,020 career 3-point field goals; Bird had just 649. Bird holds a slight advantage in career 3-point field goal percentage (.376 to .337), but James has much more effectively used the shot as a weapon. James also is improving his shot much later in his career: In 2012-13, he shot a career-best .406 percent from behind the arc (his 10th season in the league).
BIRD: FEATHERY RELEASE
Planning a defense to stop Bird's jumper was a top priority. At 6-foot-9, he could easily shoot over most defenders and needed just a sliver of daylight to get off his feathery release. Bird's 3-point shooting abilities have reached almost folk-hero status, but in truth Bird ranks just 110th on the all-time 3-point percentage list, and just 146th on the all-time 3-point field goal list. Because there are no stats for Bird's accuracy from specific areas of the floor, there's no way to definitively prove Bird was a better overall shooter. However, because James hovers around "average" from key shooting spots inside the arc (35.4 percent from 10-14 feet and 36.7 from 15-19 feet, according to NBA.com's Stats Cube) and trails in 3-point percentage, Bird gets the category. Worth noting: James has a higher career 2-point field goal percentage than Bird (52.6 to 50.9).
<!------------------------------------------END SHOOTING------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN ATHLETICISM------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: HISTORIC ATHLETE
James is arguably the best athlete in the game's history. His blend of size, strength and speed has never been seen on an NBA floor. In an all-out sprint in the open court, there are few players who can keep up with him. His explosive leaping ability allows him to get his head equal with the rim, and his strength allows him to hold off players with a 20-pound size advantage. But it's James' hidden talents such as coordination, agility and balance that make him the force that he is.
BIRD: RUGGED TOUGHNESS
Bird didn't have much foot speed, but he ran hard and often led the break while imploring teammates to keep up with him. And he was no weakling. Though he weighed roughly 220 pounds for most of his career, he was deceptively strong and loved the physical aspect of the game, rarely shying away from contact -- a way to prove he belonged. Despite memories of a broken-down Bird toward the end of his career, he was quite durable during the majority of his career. He played in 74 or more games in his first nine seasons, appearing in the full 82 games four times (that's four times more than James).
<!------------------------------------------END ATHLETICISM------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN DEFENSE------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: IMPROVED D
James has evolved into one of the best defenders of his generation. Capable of guarding four positions effectively (with the 5 being his only less-than-stellar position defense), he's the game's most versatile stopper. From his excellent lateral quickness that can contain speedy point guards, to his breathtaking full-court speed to set up chase-down blocks, James affects every aspect of an opponent's offense. His latest trick is hawking seemingly open passing lanes and breaking on passes like a cornerback to get the steal. James has made NBA first-team All-Defense five times (one of just four shooting forwards in history to do so), and no player has received more All-Defensive first-place votes in the past four seasons than James.
BIRD: SAVVY DEFENDER
Lost among the MVPs and championships is the fact that Bird made All-Defense three times, earning second-team honors from 1982 to 1984. Bird excelled under the basket, where he invited contact and knew how to lean on bigger opponents to knock them off balance. On the defensive boards, Bird's expertise in getting position, as well as hustling into gaps to chase down loose balls, helps give him a convincing rebounding edge over James. History likely won't remember his defensive contributions, but Bird was no easy mark (he and James have identical career steal and block averages: 1.7 and 0.8, respectively) but he comes up well short here.
<!------------------------------------------END DEFENSE------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN BALLHANDLING------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: MAGIC MAN
When it comes to big men who can handle the ball, James is a direct descendant of Magic Johnson. Only James' arsenal is far more stocked than Johnson's ever was. In 10 seasons, James has developed numerous ways to use the dribble. His explosive first step complements his airtight handle, allowing immediate access to his preferred spots on the floor. But perhaps his best quality is being able to handle the ball at speed. His ability to run full tilt with the basketball can have a huge impact on a game's tempo and can reveal any cracks in an opponent's transition defense.
BIRD: ECONOMY OF MOVES
Despite a complete lack of flash, Bird was an excellent ball handler. You won't find any crossovers, in-and-outs or hesitation dribbles, but Bird used the bounce for a singular purpose: to put himself in a better position to score or set up a teammate. A primarily upright ball handler, Bird kept the ball close and tended to dribble in front of his body as opposed to the side, like most of today's dribblers. Bird's approach was economical -- he only dribbled when he had to and didn't put the ball on the deck until he made his move. Part of his strength as a ball handler was taking few risks with his dribble, and treating the ball like a precious commodity.
<!------------------------------------------END BALLHANDLING------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN PASSING------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: VARIETY OF PASSES
James makes plays that leave the most skilled passers of his generation marveling. There's the 75-foot alley-oop, the one-handed touch skip pass and the two-handed, over-the-head soccer-style outlet bullet. His playmaking skills are so advanced that James spends much of his time at point guard when he's on the floor. James ranks No. 46 on the all-time assist list with 5,302, and likely will pass Bird's 5,695 assists mark by next season. If James maintains his current pace for five more years, it would put him in the all-time top 10, with several good years still ahead.
BIRD: GREAT COURT VISION
Save for Magic Johnson, Bird's court vision was unparalleled for a player of his size during his generation. Since he moved well without the ball and could see several steps ahead, he was a huge threat to pass after getting the ball as a cutter either down the lane or on the baseline. Bird often would deliver a touch pass directly back to the original passer, who would find himself wide open. Bird's arsenal included all manner of no-look passes, Pete Maravich-like tap passes and two-handed bounce passes to evade double-teams.
<!------------------------------------------END PASSING------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN INTANGIBLES------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: A MOTIVATOR
James has transformed himself into one of the NBA's best in-game leaders, coaxing performances out of teammates with both positive reinforcement and fiery halftime speeches. Due to a few lackluster performances in big playoff games, James earned a reputation for disappearing in the clutch. But his shooting percentage on clutch, game-winning or go-ahead field goal attempts with less than 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter or overtime is the highest of any player since he entered the league, according to Stats Cube. Furthermore, of all active NBA players, only Kobe Bryant has more "clutch-time" points than James.
BIRD: HIGH HOOPS IQ
Like James, Bird's unusually high basketball I.Q. informed his on-court decisions and study habits. It also allowed him to make up for some of his physical limitations. Bird generally couldn't beat defenders off the dribble, so he perfected a series of ball fakes that were irresistible to defenders, which put them off balance and gave him the slight advantage he needed. Bird had a unique understanding of angles, figuring out where he could put passes that were just out of reach of a defender's arms. Bird also excelled in psychological warfare, getting inside his opponent's head by predicting his next shots and making good on it.
<!------------------------------------------END INTANGIBLES------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN WINNER------------------------------------------------>
LEBRON JAMES
James' victory shouldn't be interpreted as a slight to Bird. It's more of a commentary on the never-before-seen confluence of size, strength, speed, intelligence and work ethic James possesses.
Now in his 10th season, James continues to string together head-scratching numbers. He's the first player ever to shoot at least 56 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.
And at just 28, there's little reason to believe James couldn't finish his career with an NBA-record seven MVPs. Plus, he's on pace to finish in the top 10 in both scoring and assists. Among small forwards, he could finish as the all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage.
But James' place in history ultimately will be determined by the number of championship trophies he brings home.
Two of the NBA's greatest small forwards do battle in our side-by-side analysis
By Chris Palmer | ESPN The Magazine
ESPN INSIDER
LeBron James has become the measuring stick of his generation. And as he climbs a half-dozen all-time lists, the inevitability of comparing him to the game's greats grows by the season. Michael Jordan seems to be the obvious comparison. But no matter how tempting that may be, it's a bit premature.
A much more logical debate measures James against arguably the greatest small forward ever: Larry Bird.
Both players have compiled fantasy-like résumés and had a hand in revolutionizing the game by pushing the boundaries of what a small forward is capable of. Despite their stylistic differences, James and Bird have eerily similar philosophical approaches, work ethic and competitive natures.
Bird already is in the Hall of Fame, which awaits James, but at just 28 years old, he still has plenty of unfinished business.
But is he the best small forward of all time? Here's a side-by-side look at how James and Bird stack up.
<offer></offer>
<!-- begin inline 1 -->
PPG: 27.6
RPG: 7.3
APG: 6.9
BPG: 0.8
SPG: 1.7
NBA titles: 1
MVPs: 4
Finals MVPs: 1
Scoring titles: 1
All-Star: 9
PPG: 24.3
RPG: 10.0
APG: 6.3
BPG: 0.8
SPG: 1.7
NBA titles: 3
MVPs: 3
Finals MVPs: 2
Scoring titles: 0
All-Star: 12
<!------------------------------------------END VITALS------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN SHOOTING------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: STILL WORKING
Shooting is an area of James' game that has long lagged behind the rest of his skill set. Although he's worked tirelessly on his pull-up jumper and catch-and-shoot game, he could be generously described as an "adequate" shooter. He can effectively create his own shot in a variety of situations, but he's more comfortable going to the basket or pulling up behind the arc. In fact, he was the only player this season to shoot higher than 40 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent in transition. His jumper still needs an upgrade, but when it comes to the 3-ball, the competition with Bird is much closer than you would think. James has 1,020 career 3-point field goals; Bird had just 649. Bird holds a slight advantage in career 3-point field goal percentage (.376 to .337), but James has much more effectively used the shot as a weapon. James also is improving his shot much later in his career: In 2012-13, he shot a career-best .406 percent from behind the arc (his 10th season in the league).
BIRD: FEATHERY RELEASE
Planning a defense to stop Bird's jumper was a top priority. At 6-foot-9, he could easily shoot over most defenders and needed just a sliver of daylight to get off his feathery release. Bird's 3-point shooting abilities have reached almost folk-hero status, but in truth Bird ranks just 110th on the all-time 3-point percentage list, and just 146th on the all-time 3-point field goal list. Because there are no stats for Bird's accuracy from specific areas of the floor, there's no way to definitively prove Bird was a better overall shooter. However, because James hovers around "average" from key shooting spots inside the arc (35.4 percent from 10-14 feet and 36.7 from 15-19 feet, according to NBA.com's Stats Cube) and trails in 3-point percentage, Bird gets the category. Worth noting: James has a higher career 2-point field goal percentage than Bird (52.6 to 50.9).
<!------------------------------------------END SHOOTING------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN ATHLETICISM------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: HISTORIC ATHLETE
James is arguably the best athlete in the game's history. His blend of size, strength and speed has never been seen on an NBA floor. In an all-out sprint in the open court, there are few players who can keep up with him. His explosive leaping ability allows him to get his head equal with the rim, and his strength allows him to hold off players with a 20-pound size advantage. But it's James' hidden talents such as coordination, agility and balance that make him the force that he is.
BIRD: RUGGED TOUGHNESS
Bird didn't have much foot speed, but he ran hard and often led the break while imploring teammates to keep up with him. And he was no weakling. Though he weighed roughly 220 pounds for most of his career, he was deceptively strong and loved the physical aspect of the game, rarely shying away from contact -- a way to prove he belonged. Despite memories of a broken-down Bird toward the end of his career, he was quite durable during the majority of his career. He played in 74 or more games in his first nine seasons, appearing in the full 82 games four times (that's four times more than James).
<!------------------------------------------END ATHLETICISM------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN DEFENSE------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: IMPROVED D
James has evolved into one of the best defenders of his generation. Capable of guarding four positions effectively (with the 5 being his only less-than-stellar position defense), he's the game's most versatile stopper. From his excellent lateral quickness that can contain speedy point guards, to his breathtaking full-court speed to set up chase-down blocks, James affects every aspect of an opponent's offense. His latest trick is hawking seemingly open passing lanes and breaking on passes like a cornerback to get the steal. James has made NBA first-team All-Defense five times (one of just four shooting forwards in history to do so), and no player has received more All-Defensive first-place votes in the past four seasons than James.
BIRD: SAVVY DEFENDER
Lost among the MVPs and championships is the fact that Bird made All-Defense three times, earning second-team honors from 1982 to 1984. Bird excelled under the basket, where he invited contact and knew how to lean on bigger opponents to knock them off balance. On the defensive boards, Bird's expertise in getting position, as well as hustling into gaps to chase down loose balls, helps give him a convincing rebounding edge over James. History likely won't remember his defensive contributions, but Bird was no easy mark (he and James have identical career steal and block averages: 1.7 and 0.8, respectively) but he comes up well short here.
<!------------------------------------------END DEFENSE------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN BALLHANDLING------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: MAGIC MAN
When it comes to big men who can handle the ball, James is a direct descendant of Magic Johnson. Only James' arsenal is far more stocked than Johnson's ever was. In 10 seasons, James has developed numerous ways to use the dribble. His explosive first step complements his airtight handle, allowing immediate access to his preferred spots on the floor. But perhaps his best quality is being able to handle the ball at speed. His ability to run full tilt with the basketball can have a huge impact on a game's tempo and can reveal any cracks in an opponent's transition defense.
BIRD: ECONOMY OF MOVES
Despite a complete lack of flash, Bird was an excellent ball handler. You won't find any crossovers, in-and-outs or hesitation dribbles, but Bird used the bounce for a singular purpose: to put himself in a better position to score or set up a teammate. A primarily upright ball handler, Bird kept the ball close and tended to dribble in front of his body as opposed to the side, like most of today's dribblers. Bird's approach was economical -- he only dribbled when he had to and didn't put the ball on the deck until he made his move. Part of his strength as a ball handler was taking few risks with his dribble, and treating the ball like a precious commodity.
<!------------------------------------------END BALLHANDLING------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN PASSING------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: VARIETY OF PASSES
James makes plays that leave the most skilled passers of his generation marveling. There's the 75-foot alley-oop, the one-handed touch skip pass and the two-handed, over-the-head soccer-style outlet bullet. His playmaking skills are so advanced that James spends much of his time at point guard when he's on the floor. James ranks No. 46 on the all-time assist list with 5,302, and likely will pass Bird's 5,695 assists mark by next season. If James maintains his current pace for five more years, it would put him in the all-time top 10, with several good years still ahead.
BIRD: GREAT COURT VISION
Save for Magic Johnson, Bird's court vision was unparalleled for a player of his size during his generation. Since he moved well without the ball and could see several steps ahead, he was a huge threat to pass after getting the ball as a cutter either down the lane or on the baseline. Bird often would deliver a touch pass directly back to the original passer, who would find himself wide open. Bird's arsenal included all manner of no-look passes, Pete Maravich-like tap passes and two-handed bounce passes to evade double-teams.
<!------------------------------------------END PASSING------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN INTANGIBLES------------------------------------------------>
JAMES: A MOTIVATOR
James has transformed himself into one of the NBA's best in-game leaders, coaxing performances out of teammates with both positive reinforcement and fiery halftime speeches. Due to a few lackluster performances in big playoff games, James earned a reputation for disappearing in the clutch. But his shooting percentage on clutch, game-winning or go-ahead field goal attempts with less than 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter or overtime is the highest of any player since he entered the league, according to Stats Cube. Furthermore, of all active NBA players, only Kobe Bryant has more "clutch-time" points than James.
BIRD: HIGH HOOPS IQ
Like James, Bird's unusually high basketball I.Q. informed his on-court decisions and study habits. It also allowed him to make up for some of his physical limitations. Bird generally couldn't beat defenders off the dribble, so he perfected a series of ball fakes that were irresistible to defenders, which put them off balance and gave him the slight advantage he needed. Bird had a unique understanding of angles, figuring out where he could put passes that were just out of reach of a defender's arms. Bird also excelled in psychological warfare, getting inside his opponent's head by predicting his next shots and making good on it.
<!------------------------------------------END INTANGIBLES------------------------------------------------><!------------------------------------------BEGIN WINNER------------------------------------------------>
LEBRON JAMES
James' victory shouldn't be interpreted as a slight to Bird. It's more of a commentary on the never-before-seen confluence of size, strength, speed, intelligence and work ethic James possesses.
Now in his 10th season, James continues to string together head-scratching numbers. He's the first player ever to shoot at least 56 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.
And at just 28, there's little reason to believe James couldn't finish his career with an NBA-record seven MVPs. Plus, he's on pace to finish in the top 10 in both scoring and assists. Among small forwards, he could finish as the all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage.
But James' place in history ultimately will be determined by the number of championship trophies he brings home.
