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James at 21
To the man who has done more at this many candles than anyone before him, NBA luminaries offer this toast
Friday, December 30, 2005
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter
LeBron James turns 21 years old today.
Pause for a moment to think about it.
Pause, because no one in the 59-year history of the NBA has done more at 21 than he has.
No one.
At 21, James is playing in his third season. He has logged more minutes (7,629), scored more points (4,649), picked off more rebounds (1,187), handed out more assists (1,191) and gotten more fans out of seats with jaw-drop- ping dunks at 21 than anyone who's ever played before him.
That includes Jordan, Bird and Magic a couple of decades ago.
It includes Mikan, Wilt, Kareem and West eons ago.
At 21, Jordan was a junior at North Carolina. One day after his 21st birthday, he celebrated by scoring 32 points in 32 minutes against North Carolina State.
At 21, Bird was in Terre Haute, Ind., preparing for his junior season at Indiana State.
At 49, 13 years removed from a Hall of Fame career with the Boston Celtics, Bird directs the basketball operations of Eastern Conference power Indiana.
Page 2 of 3
"I can't imagine doing at 21 what [James] has done at 21," Bird said in a telephone interview on Thursday. "It's pretty amazing what he's doing at 21.
"He's dominating."
At 21, Magic Johnson was preparing for his second season in the NBA. As a rookie, he averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and played on a Lakers NBA championship team that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Jim Chones.
At 21, James is so good, so talented that we yawn when he scores 31 -- as he did in Tuesday night's 96-91 loss at New Jersey. It's expected. He is so good, so talented that it's when he scores a season-low 14 -- as he did in a 94-89 victory over Indiana one week ago -- that we take notice. It's unexpected.
In fairness to Jordan, Bird and Magic, the influx of high school players into the NBA did not begin in earnest until Kevin Garnett ignited it in 1995.
After Garnett, others -- Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Amare Stoudemire, Jermaine O'Neal, Kwame Brown, Dwight Howard -- followed.
Bryant at 21 is the closest to matching James at 21. But, not very close.
At 21 in August 1999, Bryant had played three seasons with the Lakers, averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 200 games.
At 21, James has played in 186 games -- averaging 25 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He has 43 double doubles and five triple doubles. At 21, Bryant had no double doubles or triple doubles.
"One thing [James] doesn't get credit for," Bird said, "is how quick he is with the ball. He's so quick, you can't get in position to defend him. Michael [Jordan] was the same way when he first came into the league."
Page 3 of 3
Bird said that James reminds him of George McGinnis, a flashy 6-8, 235-pound forward who joined the NBA in the mid-1970s after four seasons in the ABA.
"George was a man-child when he came into the [NBA]," Bird said. "So is [James]."
The bulk of the high school players who go directly to the NBA need years to figure out how to play at the professional level. Example: Jermaine O'Neal.
At 17, he was a first-round pick (17th overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers in 1996. That December, he became the youngest player (18 years, one month, 22 days) to appear in an NBA game, but played little in four seasons at Portland.
Today, at 27, he plays for the Pacers and is one of the league's young stars.
Jerry West was a 13-time NBA All-Star in 14 seasons (1960-74) and is regarded as one of the game's great players. At 21, he was on summer vacation between his junior and senior years at West Virginia. At 67, he is the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, having turned a once-woeful franchise into a solid playoff contender.
"LeBron James is a unique talent," West said on Thursday. "It is hard to believe that someone his age could have a body [6-8, 245 pounds] like he's got.
"His speed and quickness is what is so surprising. But, to me, what makes him so special is his effort. He's competitive as heck."
West said that James has more ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^than a body unseen in 21-year-olds. "He plays the game with a poise and mentality not seen in players his age," West said. "He has a gift, and he is using it."
West said that it is unfair comparing James at 21 to the game's greats. "It's awfully difficult because no one can look into a crystal ball," West said. "Assuming he stays healthy, though, he is going to have a significant place in this game when he's done."
West paused for a moment. "I wish he was playing in Memphis," he said.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
bgraeff@plaind.com, 216-999-4479
To the man who has done more at this many candles than anyone before him, NBA luminaries offer this toast
Friday, December 30, 2005
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter
LeBron James turns 21 years old today.
Pause for a moment to think about it.
Pause, because no one in the 59-year history of the NBA has done more at 21 than he has.
No one.
At 21, James is playing in his third season. He has logged more minutes (7,629), scored more points (4,649), picked off more rebounds (1,187), handed out more assists (1,191) and gotten more fans out of seats with jaw-drop- ping dunks at 21 than anyone who's ever played before him.
That includes Jordan, Bird and Magic a couple of decades ago.
It includes Mikan, Wilt, Kareem and West eons ago.
At 21, Jordan was a junior at North Carolina. One day after his 21st birthday, he celebrated by scoring 32 points in 32 minutes against North Carolina State.
At 21, Bird was in Terre Haute, Ind., preparing for his junior season at Indiana State.
At 49, 13 years removed from a Hall of Fame career with the Boston Celtics, Bird directs the basketball operations of Eastern Conference power Indiana.
Page 2 of 3
"I can't imagine doing at 21 what [James] has done at 21," Bird said in a telephone interview on Thursday. "It's pretty amazing what he's doing at 21.
"He's dominating."
At 21, Magic Johnson was preparing for his second season in the NBA. As a rookie, he averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and played on a Lakers NBA championship team that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Jim Chones.
At 21, James is so good, so talented that we yawn when he scores 31 -- as he did in Tuesday night's 96-91 loss at New Jersey. It's expected. He is so good, so talented that it's when he scores a season-low 14 -- as he did in a 94-89 victory over Indiana one week ago -- that we take notice. It's unexpected.
In fairness to Jordan, Bird and Magic, the influx of high school players into the NBA did not begin in earnest until Kevin Garnett ignited it in 1995.
After Garnett, others -- Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Amare Stoudemire, Jermaine O'Neal, Kwame Brown, Dwight Howard -- followed.
Bryant at 21 is the closest to matching James at 21. But, not very close.
At 21 in August 1999, Bryant had played three seasons with the Lakers, averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 200 games.
At 21, James has played in 186 games -- averaging 25 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He has 43 double doubles and five triple doubles. At 21, Bryant had no double doubles or triple doubles.
"One thing [James] doesn't get credit for," Bird said, "is how quick he is with the ball. He's so quick, you can't get in position to defend him. Michael [Jordan] was the same way when he first came into the league."
Page 3 of 3
Bird said that James reminds him of George McGinnis, a flashy 6-8, 235-pound forward who joined the NBA in the mid-1970s after four seasons in the ABA.
"George was a man-child when he came into the [NBA]," Bird said. "So is [James]."
The bulk of the high school players who go directly to the NBA need years to figure out how to play at the professional level. Example: Jermaine O'Neal.
At 17, he was a first-round pick (17th overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers in 1996. That December, he became the youngest player (18 years, one month, 22 days) to appear in an NBA game, but played little in four seasons at Portland.
Today, at 27, he plays for the Pacers and is one of the league's young stars.
Jerry West was a 13-time NBA All-Star in 14 seasons (1960-74) and is regarded as one of the game's great players. At 21, he was on summer vacation between his junior and senior years at West Virginia. At 67, he is the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, having turned a once-woeful franchise into a solid playoff contender.
"LeBron James is a unique talent," West said on Thursday. "It is hard to believe that someone his age could have a body [6-8, 245 pounds] like he's got.
"His speed and quickness is what is so surprising. But, to me, what makes him so special is his effort. He's competitive as heck."
West said that James has more ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^than a body unseen in 21-year-olds. "He plays the game with a poise and mentality not seen in players his age," West said. "He has a gift, and he is using it."
West said that it is unfair comparing James at 21 to the game's greats. "It's awfully difficult because no one can look into a crystal ball," West said. "Assuming he stays healthy, though, he is going to have a significant place in this game when he's done."
West paused for a moment. "I wish he was playing in Memphis," he said.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
bgraeff@plaind.com, 216-999-4479
