During ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Finals, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal was asked which player he would select first overall if every star in league history were available. Speaking to Melissa Rohlin of The California Post, O’Neal first chose himself, but when pressed to exclude his own name, he chose LeBron James ahead of Kobe Bryant.
“I’d probably go with Bron,” O’Neal told the outlet. “Bron had it when he came in. It took Kobe two or three years to get it.”
O’Neal’s comment did not settle the ongoing Michael Jordan–LeBron James greatest-of-all-time debate, yet it underscored his respect for James’s résumé.
James’s Immediate Impact Highlighted
James entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and became an instant contributor, finishing in the top 10 of MVP voting as a rookie and earning his first All-Star selection in his second season. According to O’Neal, that early dominance is what separates James from Bryant when choosing a franchise cornerstone.
Longevity Continues to Earn Recognition
Now in his 23rd NBA season, James remains an elite performer and recently appeared on the cover of Time magazine’s inaugural sports issue, which profiles the 100 most influential figures in athletics. In a social-media post after the cover reveal, he said he felt “grateful and blessed” for the honor.
Source: Lakers Nation
