Miami Bron was him at his best as far as figuring the game out completely as well as having most of his athleticism still. He was pretty much a 27-30 ppg scorer when needed with 7 boards 7 assists along with defending EVERY position on the court at times. And he was wet from 3 for a few years too which meant he was all but unguardable cause after that first season he came back with a more than effective post game too.
Several eras in: Which was the best version of Lebron?
- Thread starter Jordan>>LeFrozen
- Start date
Marc Spector
the 4'11 Cuban
i voted return to Cle bron because how complete of a player he was but I understand why 2013 Bron is getting all the votes. Mans was like Itachi Uchiha out there 
Ben.
Heisenbrook
2012 Bron still the most impressive to me but people like 2013 more
murksiderock
Superstar
He was at his athletic and physical peak in Miami. His return to Cleveland he was on a slight athletic decline, but that version of LeBron isn't blowing the '11 Finals. So best version given any all circumstances is Cleveland II, he was on a slight decline and still the best player in basketball when it mattered, still plenty athletic, and his defense didn't really suffer the sharp decline until the last two years there...
It will be more acknowledged one he's gone for good, but his ability to mentally regroup and come back a better player after the '11 flop is never talked about. The only other comparison I've seen that jumps to mind from a superb show of mental fortitude is Comeback Kobe...
The public debacles with the organization, Shaq, and Phil, the falling out of the playoffs and first round losses was losing for a proven winner. One of those 1st Rd losses was in horrific fashion with a 3-1 lead, the narrative he was a quitter, the narrative that he couldn't win without Shaq, he was selfish, all that shyt. Very public and to regroup to that degree and climb back into the winner's circle is a massive accomplishment because there was a ton of pressure on Kobe, and we've seen PLENTY of guys not able to respond to that pressure. Vince Carter could never live up to expectations that were lower than what was expected of Kobe. For many years Dirk was under the gun from a public perspective as being someone not mentally tough enough, and there were years he flamed out that much more was expected...
Comeback Kobe was All-Time shyt, that's a very rare display of picking yourself off the mat at that degree. Similarly, post '11 LeBron I guess could be called Comeback LeBron...
The most humiliating meltdown of any superstar in Finals history. He had been dealing with massive pressure his whole career and I feel like '10 G5 in Boston and the '11 Finals in consecutive years were the low point of that pressure knocking him out. Called a quitter, soft. Would never win at the highest level, complete shift as the NBA villain for leaving Cleveland, hated by fans and opponents alike. Similar position as face of the NBA with a massive amount of scrutiny, this thing coulda gone another way with LeBron. Like with Kobe, we've seen guys careers crumble with even less expectations. For as great of a player as Melo was once upon a time he never fulfilled expectations set lower than what was required from LeBron. James Harden had a lower bar of expectations than expected of LeBron and has repeatedly combusted under postseason pressure...
This thing with LeBron could have gone another way. It didn't, and it's one of those things people will appreciate more when he's outta here. Starting in 2011-12, the run he went on the next 7 years is considered the greatest player of all time by consensus if the '11 Finals and '10 Semis G5 never existed. So great that people grasp for unrealistic feats to disparage him, despite him accomplishing unrealistic feats in that same 7-year window. Kevin Durant hit two series-icing jumpers in his face? Never mind that Kevin Durant will hit that j in that situation with that freedom, on that team, on every single player that's ever played in the history of the NBA. Steph Curry took three chips off of LeBron? Yes, LeBron is the only player in history who is expected to have a winning record versus a dynasty, when literally no one else did, Wilt didn't have a winning record vs Boston, Mike didn't have a winning record vs Boston when they were in their dynasty, Hakeem didn't have a winning record vs the Lakers dynasty, so on and so forth. None of these things are held against them...
Kawhi got a FMVP guarding him? Iggy got a FMVP guarding him? Two role players at the time having good series. All these weird angles to depress what he's actually been on the floor...
The LeBron thing could have gone another way quite easily. He picked himself up off the mat to such a high degree the only thing that can be said is he should somehow have more titles in that stretch despite the disadvantages his teams had vs All-Time teams ('14 Spurs, Dubs dynasty)...
So that's a blend of Miami and Cleveland II LeBron. Cleveland I LeBron was a great player but overall not better than later LeBron. Give me Cleveland II LeBron if I have to pick one but give me the entirety of 2011-12 to 2017-18 LeBron in any scenario vs anybody and I at least think I have a chance going in...
It will be more acknowledged one he's gone for good, but his ability to mentally regroup and come back a better player after the '11 flop is never talked about. The only other comparison I've seen that jumps to mind from a superb show of mental fortitude is Comeback Kobe...
The public debacles with the organization, Shaq, and Phil, the falling out of the playoffs and first round losses was losing for a proven winner. One of those 1st Rd losses was in horrific fashion with a 3-1 lead, the narrative he was a quitter, the narrative that he couldn't win without Shaq, he was selfish, all that shyt. Very public and to regroup to that degree and climb back into the winner's circle is a massive accomplishment because there was a ton of pressure on Kobe, and we've seen PLENTY of guys not able to respond to that pressure. Vince Carter could never live up to expectations that were lower than what was expected of Kobe. For many years Dirk was under the gun from a public perspective as being someone not mentally tough enough, and there were years he flamed out that much more was expected...
Comeback Kobe was All-Time shyt, that's a very rare display of picking yourself off the mat at that degree. Similarly, post '11 LeBron I guess could be called Comeback LeBron...
The most humiliating meltdown of any superstar in Finals history. He had been dealing with massive pressure his whole career and I feel like '10 G5 in Boston and the '11 Finals in consecutive years were the low point of that pressure knocking him out. Called a quitter, soft. Would never win at the highest level, complete shift as the NBA villain for leaving Cleveland, hated by fans and opponents alike. Similar position as face of the NBA with a massive amount of scrutiny, this thing coulda gone another way with LeBron. Like with Kobe, we've seen guys careers crumble with even less expectations. For as great of a player as Melo was once upon a time he never fulfilled expectations set lower than what was required from LeBron. James Harden had a lower bar of expectations than expected of LeBron and has repeatedly combusted under postseason pressure...
This thing with LeBron could have gone another way. It didn't, and it's one of those things people will appreciate more when he's outta here. Starting in 2011-12, the run he went on the next 7 years is considered the greatest player of all time by consensus if the '11 Finals and '10 Semis G5 never existed. So great that people grasp for unrealistic feats to disparage him, despite him accomplishing unrealistic feats in that same 7-year window. Kevin Durant hit two series-icing jumpers in his face? Never mind that Kevin Durant will hit that j in that situation with that freedom, on that team, on every single player that's ever played in the history of the NBA. Steph Curry took three chips off of LeBron? Yes, LeBron is the only player in history who is expected to have a winning record versus a dynasty, when literally no one else did, Wilt didn't have a winning record vs Boston, Mike didn't have a winning record vs Boston when they were in their dynasty, Hakeem didn't have a winning record vs the Lakers dynasty, so on and so forth. None of these things are held against them...
Kawhi got a FMVP guarding him? Iggy got a FMVP guarding him? Two role players at the time having good series. All these weird angles to depress what he's actually been on the floor...
The LeBron thing could have gone another way quite easily. He picked himself up off the mat to such a high degree the only thing that can be said is he should somehow have more titles in that stretch despite the disadvantages his teams had vs All-Time teams ('14 Spurs, Dubs dynasty)...
So that's a blend of Miami and Cleveland II LeBron. Cleveland I LeBron was a great player but overall not better than later LeBron. Give me Cleveland II LeBron if I have to pick one but give me the entirety of 2011-12 to 2017-18 LeBron in any scenario vs anybody and I at least think I have a chance going in...
fifth column
Superstar
Breh, you and your “what if’s”
More like the full length dissertations.Breh, you and your “what if’s”
bigmac
Superstar
Cleveland P2. That Boston Game 7 4th Qtr 
The Finals
The Finals
FunkDoc1112
Heavily Armed
Miami
LeBane
LeBane
This coming at you in the paint
murksiderock
Superstar
Breh, you and your “what if’s”
Even ignoring the only if I mentioned I think my point stands, from '11 to now. He's handled everything that is within his control and people have expectations he should somehow have a better record in The Finals like the teams he's lost to in that round haven't legit been All-Time great basketball teams. No other player in the history of the sport gets that held against them when they've run into dynasties...
ISO
Pass me the rock nikka
‘09 LeBron was him at his best and most entertaining and athletic, freight train Bron with the ignorant shot selection. It was also the year he got lasik and improved his jumpshooting.
It was his most dominant season he won MVP and finished number two in the DPoY race and played to a 31.7 PER during the season (only behind Michael and Wilt for single season) and a 37.4 PER in the postseason (record for anyone whose played rounds) . Led a Cavs team to 66 wins with Mo Williams as his second option.
No one could fukk with him he was a one man team.
It was his most dominant season he won MVP and finished number two in the DPoY race and played to a 31.7 PER during the season (only behind Michael and Wilt for single season) and a 37.4 PER in the postseason (record for anyone whose played rounds) . Led a Cavs team to 66 wins with Mo Williams as his second option.
No one could fukk with him he was a one man team.
Let me add late 90’s to late 00’s Timmy D in there. He’d be like 4th but right there