Wall Street Journal compares LeBron to Bird

[bdm860]

From today's Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704548604575097493549162302.html#mod=todays_us_personal_journal

Lol, ok not that big of a deal (especially when you read the actual article - just comparing assist numbers), but I know how much some of you like to hate on LeBron, so I figure this article has as little substance as some of the other things we all hate on, so have at it 

LeBron James is probably sick of being called the second coming of Michael Jordan, so here's a new title: the second coming of Larry Bird. If he maintains his current pace, Mr. James will best Mr. Bird as the best-passing big man in NBA history.

Mr. James's assist numbers may be a tad inflated this season thanks to the arrival of the now-injured Shaquille O'Neal, but his teammates in the past haven't been on par with Mr. Bird's. He played alongside two or three future-Hall of Famers in every season with the Boston Celtics.

[lon3lytoaster]

James has always struck me as more Magic than Bird.

[Celtics17]

Lebron is a very unique player and not really one to be compared to others. His scoring ability alone separates him from most anyone else. Combine it with his passing and you have a very unique player. I dont get all the Lebron hating either. Sure, he is a prima donna but so is every other major talent the league has seen. And, very few of them ever compare to Lebron. The guy is the real deal and after he wins a few championships and improves his game a little he will be considered one of the top 5 players to ever play the game.

[slamtheking]

James has always struck me as more Magic than Bird.

agreed.

has the ball most of the time like Magic.  Bird touched the ball a lot on offense but wasn't the one bringing it up or initiating plays unlike Lebron and Magic.

Definitely can't shoot like Bird.  Doesn't pass like him either.  Bird was able to find and make the exceptional pass where he caught the opposition napping.  Lebron, though a very gifted athlete and a good passer in his own right, doesn't make those same types of passes.  His passes are more like a PGs type of passes where he draws attention on a drive and lays it off to someone that becomes open due to a double team.

[2short]

Lebron is an amazing athlete and very good basketball player.  He might get good assist numbers but mr bird & mr magic gave art to the assist.  Lebron passes more like jordan, dominating the ball and giving it up for teammates who have better looks.

[DivingCowens]

Great, now he'll want to change his number to 33. 

[slamtheking]

Great, now he'll want to change his number to 33. 

that would show a sign that he truly begins to understand and appreciate greatness!! 

[Edgar]

ohhhhhhh humanity!!!!!

[Edgar]

Mr. James will best Mr. Bird as the best-passing big man in NBA history.

Mr Magic Johnson is the best passing big man in history

Bird
Full Name: Larry Joe Bird
College: Indiana State
Drafted by: Boston Celtics (1978)
Height: 6-9; Weight: 220 lbs.
Nickname: Larry Legend


Magic
Johnson in 2007
Position(s) Point guard/Power forward
Jersey #(s) 32
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)[1]
Listed weight 255 lb (116 kg)[2]

Is incredible how reporters make up stupid comparissons
only to write an article on make a  point.
or like in this case to OVER HYPE an athlete
simply stupid

p.s. see the range wikipedia puts to magic, froms pg to pf
I absolutely agree with it
if not ask the hook that killed us back in the 80s

[ManUp]

James has always struck me as more Magic than Bird.

My thoughts exactly.

[Who]

LeBron James is going to be better than Larry Bird.

[wdleehi]

He is a better comparision to Magic minus Kareem and Worthy.


Plus, he doesn't have the Magic PG mentality.  



Maybe the Big O is the best comparision.  

[wdleehi]

LeBron James is going to be better than Larry Bird.

I will wait till he gets there before I will except that.

[Greenbean]

I think alot of what I feel has been coverred but basically:

LeBron handles the ball way more than Bird so he has more chances to pile up assists. Bird had soem of the best court vision that I have ever seen. He saw passes no one else saw on a nightly basis.

Lebron has above average vision and good passing skills but he is not quite Bird there.

Comparing him to Magic is probably more accurate except Magic handled the ball like LeBron but had court vision like Bird. Magic to me is the best passer ever and he happened to be 6-9.

[Who]

LeBron is more Jordan than Magic. Too much of a scorer + spends too much time dominating the ball to be mentioned as comparable to Magic.

LeBron has far more in common with Jordan.