LeBron has never been a lockdown defender
Ask all-star Paul Pierce who was guarding him when he averaged 13ppg on 34% shooting in the 2010 ECSF, miles worse than the rest of his playoff series that year.
Ask MVP-level Rose who was locking him down in the 4th quarters of the 2011 ECSF.
Ask prime 2012 Carmelo who his toughest defender was in the playoffs.
Ask Tony Parker who locked him down in the 2013 Finals.
LeBron has as many examples of locking down all-star caliber players in the playoffs as anyone else in this conversation.
The closest I’ve seen on the perimeter was Kobe during the 1999/2000 season. He never defended that well again, and was living off his rep for the rest of his career.
LeBron was never that level.
Here are the top perimeter players Kobe faced in the 2000 postseason:
2000 WCSF: Penny Hardaway 21ppg on 49/29/74 splits (averaged 17ppg regular season)
2000 WCF: Steve Smith 18ppg on 47/60/90 splits (averaged 15ppg regular season)
2000 Finals: Miller 24ppg on 41/38/98 splits and Rose 23ppg on 47/50/83 splits (both averaged 18ppg regular season)
If Kobe in 2000 was the greatest lockdown defender you've seen, then who the fukk was he locking down?
and the Spurs almost won an NBA finals because LeBron isn’t an elite shooter.
Could also be framed as "And the Heat, Cavs, and Lakers all won NBA Finals on LeBron's shooting." Bron has a better history of clutch shooting games in pressure playoffs (facing elimination) than Kobe does. Hell, his overall shooting in the playoffs and in the Finals is better than Kobe's too.
He has become one over the years, but his defense has been trash since.
Trash since when? Bron's defense was elite in 2016 and 2020 while taking them to a title both times.