A debate is always riling up between who the best Laker’s defender is. I we could named more than one players we would have mentioned Anthony Davis, Michael Cooper and Kobe Bryant. But, we had to narrow it down to only one player and LeBron James it is!.
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Early Life
James was born on December 30, 1984, to Gloria Marie James and Anthony McClelland. His father had a criminal record, so he was not involved in his son’s life.
James’s mother struggled to make ends meet. So, she eventually gave James away to the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach. He introduced James to basketball. James grew a keen interest in basketball from fifth grade.
Professional Career
LeBron James played for several teams in his entire career. He was always looking for ways to improve himself. Even in his rookie year while playing for Cleveland Cavaliers, James won NBA Rookie of the Year. He played for the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers as well.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)
James by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft. At the end of his first season, he was the first Cavalier to win the Year Awards NBA Rookie.
During 2004-2008, James was slowly stepping into the world of stardom. His performance got recognition. At the 2006 All-Star Game, James led the East to victory with 29 points and was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. He had an average of 31.4 points, seven rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.
In February of the 2007–08 season, James was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time. The Cavaliers suffered its worst loss in franchise history in the 2009-2010 season. The Cavaliers were officially eliminated from the postseason in Game 6.
Miami Heat (2010-2014)
After leaving the Cavaliers, James became an unrestricted free agent. He officially signed with the Heat on July 10, 2010.
James had to face a lot of negative criticism in booing for his decision to become a member of the Miami heat. Despite all of the negativity, James scored an average of 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and seven assists per game on 51 percent shooting.
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games. This felt like a huge setback to James. So, in the next season, he came back stronger and was eventually named MVP for the third time. The Heat won back-to-back championships 2011–2013 season.
Return to the Cavaliers (2014–2018)
James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014. His fans well-received this return. During the 2015–16 season, Cleveland finished the year with 57 wins and the East’s best record.
According to James, the 2016–17 season was the strangest years of his career due to the Cavaliers’ unexpected losses.
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)
James left the Cavaliers and signed a deal with the Lakers. In the 2018–19 season, James led the team to victory by winning against the Heat. In that season, he suffered from his first severe injury in his entire career.
James transformed his playing style during the 2019-2020 season and focused more on his defensive tactics. His improved skills led the Lakers into victory against the Heat, and he won his fourth NBA championship.
Notable Awards and Achievements
James has been winning awards immediately after joining the NBA. He was voted Rookie of the Year in his debut season. He also won 4 MVP awards and has earned All-Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014.
Conclusion
LeBron James’s outstanding performance as a defender has made us bound to choose him as the best defender. He has won uncountable awards and set records that are yet to be broken.