# Does Lebron James look even worse if Carmelo Anthony joins Heat? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 13, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681 "2014-06-13T03:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/163 "2014-06-20T20:07:36Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > To be clear, are you referring to a person who makes their living as a writer or broadcaster of the sport, or are you referring to an anonymous yahoo who posts in the comment section of an article? > **[10 Greatest NBA Players of All Time](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1795233-10-greatest-nba-players-of-all-time)** > > The NBA has a rich history, dating back nearly 68 years, full of decorated organizations and players. During that time, we've seen our fair share of greats come and go, but which ... > **[Reno Gazette-Journal | Reno news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and...](https://www.rgj.com/)** > > Reno Gazette-Journal | Reno news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds [http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/11/best-all-around-nba-players/lebron-james](http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/11/best-all-around-nba-players/lebron-james) [http://www.nba.com/magic/cohen-8ball\_ranking-top-20-players-nba-history\_062413](http://www.nba.com/magic/cohen-8ball_ranking-top-20-players-nba-history_062413) I’m not saying I agree with these ratings, and I’m not sure where I’d put LBJ on my personal list, but to say that MJ and LBJ are #1 and #2 on everyone’s list who knows basketball is overreaching. He’s the best player today, IMO, but that’s as far as I’d go right now. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/164 "2014-06-20T20:29:41Z")
Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/165 "2014-06-20T20:37:10Z")
_Right now_, I would be hard pressed to do a top-10 list that had LeBron over Duncan. After LBJ’s career is done (or even before), I can see this changing, sure… but I can’t rank him over Duncan, not with TD being 2-1 against LeBron in the Finals (and their respective overall Finals records being 5-1 and 2-3.) It’s reminiscent of the Wilt/Russell debate. But then, I live in SA so there’s that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/166 "2014-06-21T18:09:08Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > That’s because those folks either don’t really understand the game of basketball, or they are making the mistake of allowing their personal feelings to factor in the equation. > To be clear, are you referring to a person who makes their living as a writer or broadcaster of the sport, or are you referring to an anonymous yahoo who posts in the comment section of an article? This sounds to me like you’re saying it’s impossible to make a good faith, informed argument that anyone other than Michael Jordan ranks ahead of LeBron James on the all-time “list.” I’m not anything even remotely resembling a “hater;” I think The Decision was stupid and ill-advised but LeBron is the best player in the NBA now and will settle in comfortably in the Top 5 ever when his career is over. But I’m pretty sure there are multiple players with an argument for being considered over LeBron all time: just as a starting point, Russell, Chamberlain, and Abdul-Jabbar in addition to Magic Johnson (not Bird, though; I think at this point on my own personal list LeBron sits ahead of Bird and trailing Magic by about half a heartbeat. He will almost certainly pass Magic unless he’s hit by a train or decides to become a wide receiver for the Dolphins, but I do not believe he’s surpassed any of the three centers just yet). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681.md?page=8)