“I’ve heard players say, including myself, ‘I fear [Michael Jordan].’ I’ve heard players in [Mario Chalmers’] generation say they feared Kobe. I’ve never really heard any player say they feared LeBron.” Shaquille O’Neal once clarified the difference between three superstars who are part of the GOAT debate. For years, many have called MJ and Kobe as 1 and 1 A, meaning both are cut from the same cloth. But what makes LeBron James different?
His former Heat teammate, who Shaq mentioned in his quote, recently spoke on a podcast. “I think the biggest thing with Bron is he doesn’t want to not be liked, you know what I’m saying. Like, ‘I don’t care if you dislike me, but I don’t want you to not like me.’ Like, ‘I’m a good person at heart. I don’t care like I let y’all into my family; I’m letting y’all see my everyday routine.‘” Mario Chalmers, who spent 8 seasons with the Miami franchise, spoke about the personality difference of the Lakers superstar.
The 2x NBA champion explained that players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant had no interest if people liked them. The former player also name-dropped former teammate Dwyane Wade, who had a similar mindset. “Jordan’s not doing that, D-Wade’s not doing that, Kobe definitely ain’t doing that. So that turns them more into a killer in other people’s eyes.”
As Chalmers mentioned, it’s a perception battle that doesn’t define their legacy or their on-court abilities. “But if you line them all up still just as good just is talented. So it’s a mentality more than a game; the skill set, I should say.” In light of the former Heat star’s comment, let’s look at how LeBron James viewed this.
LeBron James and his “kill” difference
His recollection of the difference in mentality is not recent. In fact, the 4x NBA champion spoke to SLAM in 2013 and detailed the contrasting personalities of him, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. Interestingly, after a decade, it’s still valid. The Lakers superstar explained he doesn’t approach the game the same way as MJ or Black Mamba.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 20: (L-R) LeBron James and Michael Jordan attend the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
“There are different ways to kill, and I don’t think people understand that. Everybody wants everybody to kill the same way. Everybody wants everybody to kill like MJ or kill like Kobe.” In that interview, LeBron James explained how his method works just fine. He would further add how Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Tim Duncan, amongst others, don’t get the killer tag. Yet there is no question that these players had immense success on the court. The Akron native then would question the perception regarding his display.
“Right now, if I block Kevin Durant on the floor, or I block Carmelo Anthony and we laugh about it? Ahh, I’m going to get killed [laughing]. I’m telling you. But there are different ways of killing.” This statement from LeBron also proves Mario Chalmers’ point about the perception regarding the killer mentality. Even if people still doubt that ability, then King James’ recent record of being the only player in the NBA history to score 50,000 combined points in regular season and playoffs.
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