SPANISH HARLEM – Watching the mighty New York Knicks beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday at the garden to me thinking… is LeBron James still the best player in the NBA. The more I thought about it, the more I came to the conclusion that he wasn’t. Once you start asking yourself that type of question, it’s because you already know the answer.
While no one will deny James’ greatness, there are two players who I would rather have on my team over King James…
KEVIN DURANT
Arguably, the best all-around player in the game today. While much of the highlights you see with Durant come on the offensive side, he is a very underrated defensive player as well. Most times he will be the tallest player on the floor, standing 7-feet tall but he is not your normal big man, as a gifted ball handler, he can create his own shot with some of the best in the NBA. He has won one MVP and multiple finals MVP, leading the Golden State Warriors and becoming the most talented player and on a very talented team. While it’s funny that he has been linked to my favorite team, any team would be lucky to have him.
JAMES HARDEN
THE BEARD is an offensive machine, a player that can score from anywhere on the court and is one of the best ball handlers in the game. He has put other players on skates and has made many look foolish to the point that it’s hard not to laugh at times. THE OTHER JAMES has carried the Houston Rockets on his back this year when Chris Paul was out with an injury and literally scored at will to keep the team competitive and in playoff contention. While many critics will say he holds the ball too long, he is also a gifted passer and is capable of a triple-double, as soon as he touches the court. He will probably be a two time MVP when its all said and done, its crazy to that he is still getting better.
LeBron James is still an amazing player and will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. He has been compared to some of the best players to play the game and will leave this game with a great legacy but father time is undefeated and you can’t be the best forever. Eventually, your skills will diminish and while he is still capable of so much, I still believe that Kevin Durant and James Harden are better.
Who do you think is the best basketball player in the world? I would love to hear your thoughts…
