LeBron James: The Best Basketball Player In The NBA?

Jan 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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LeBron James
Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shakes hands with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter of game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Warriors won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

James Is Not The Face Of The NBA Anymore

Kris Grimes

Is LeBron James still the best player in the NBA? Wow, that is a hard question to have to answer. My heart and my passion as a Cleveland Cavaliers fan wants me to say yes. However, my brain and my analytical side knows that it is very arguable whether James is still the best player or not.

If you asked me this question a year ago when James made his return to Cleveland, I would have said yes without a doubt. However, since that time Stephen Curry has come onto the scene. His ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor, dribble around any defender, and the success of the Warriors leads me to believe he is now the best player in the NBA.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers fan in me hates to say that. I still want to believe that LeBron is still the best player in the NBA, but I know that right now he is not. James is not as dominant as he was in his first stint with Cleveland and not as efficient as he was in Miami. His jump shot has seemingly all but left him.

Only Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Kobe Bryant and Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrew Wiggins are as inefficient from beyond five feet from the hoop. Sure, LeBron can still score light it up, but he is just not as dominant without a consistent jump shot.

That said, the Cleveland Cavaliers are not a championship contender without LeBron James. He may not be the best player in the NBA every night, but he has the potential on any given night to be the most dominant.

Just look at his performance in the NBA Finals last June. James almost averaged a triple-double, while leading the injury plagued Cavaliers to within two games of an NBA Championship. So when I ask myself again is LeBron James the best player? No, that is probably Curry but James is still one of the best.

It is for that reason alone, no one will ever doubt whether he is still one of the best players in the NBA.

Next: Leonard May Not Be The Best Now But Very Soon He Should Be

LeBron James is still a force to be reckoned with, even if Curry has taken his crown as the best player in the NBA.