They came into the league just one year apart, both directly from high school as No. 1 picks in the NBA draft, two vastly different, wonderfully-talented players expected to turn very bad teams into very good ones.
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked forward LeBron James in 2003. The Orlando Magic took center Dwight Howard in 2004. Each now is on the cusp of taking his team to the NBA Finals with a chance to win the first championship in franchise history.
Only one can make it there, settling the debate -- temporarily -- over which team was luckier to get their pick, which player is better suited to dominate the league, and at which position is it more important to have a franchise player.
But who would you take if they went back and combined those two drafts -- did it all over again -- knowing then what you know now? If you were starting a franchise, who would you take to anchor it?
LeBron James, the reigning Most Valuable Player and basketball's most complete and exciting player since Michael Jordan? Or Dwight Howard, the best big man who is just beginning to blossom into a hybrid version of Shaquille O'Neal?
The answer should come definitively when they meet in the Eastern Conference finals, the first of many likely meetings as they compete to see who dominates the East in the coming years. Both are just 24 years old, primed for extended runs at the title.
Do you want the best center in the game? Or the best perimeter player?
"Lebron is the better all-around player, there is no question about that," former Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus told FanHouse Monday. "And I love LeBron. He's going to be one of the best to ever play the game. It's just a tough question, though, [over who to take]. If you look at history. I would have to take Dwight."
Part of Theus' reasoning is what he has seen in recent years. Between 1999 and 2007, either center Shaquille O'Neal or center Tim Duncan (even if he calls himself a power forward) has been a vital part on eight of the nine championship teams.
Conversely, the center-less Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan dominated the '90s with six NBA titles.
"I still believe the game is played from the inside, out," said Theus, the former player who was a successful college coach before he returned to the NBA. "If you're going to win championships, you have to have great defense, and it's tough to argue with Howard on that one."
Howard won his first Defensive Player of the Year award and his second rebounding title this season. He became just the fifth NBA player ever to lead the league in both rebounding and blocked shots in the same season.
Another reason to take Howard is that the great centers, or a center with his potential, only come into the league once every decade. Most teams never get a chance to take a center with those unique skills.
As good as James is, Kobe Bryant is just as explosive. Dwyane Wade is unbelievably good on the perimeter. Carmelo Anthony is getting there, too.
"I would take the more complete player," said John Gabriel, New York Knicks director of professional and free-agent scouting, and former NBA Executive of the Year. "I'd take the one whose skill set fits better in today's climate, and with the way the rules stand today."
Gabriel would not name James directly, worried about any future free-agent implications, but his preference for James was clear. NBA rules today encourage a more free-flowing game, giving an advantage to the great perimeter player. Officials still allow the front-court players to wrestle and bang around the basket -- which negates some of Howard's athleticism -- but they don't allow any contact or hand checking on the perimeter, giving James a free pass with his strength.
James led the NBA in scoring (30 ppg) last season, but he adjusted his game to get his teammates more involved in the offense, which is how the Cavs won an NBA-best 66 games.
He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists on his way to the MVP Award. He is the only player in the league today who has shown the potential to average a triple-double over the course of a season, something that hasn't been done since Oscar Robertson in 1962.
"I think you'll find the answer to the question split down the middle," Gabriel said. "The one guy [James] is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime player. They both are. But what are the chances of being in the position to take a center like that? "
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-19-2009 @ 2:59AM
Mr.G said...
The thing that you're forgeting to mention here,is that LeBron is also on the All Defensive First Team,and just as deserving as Howard for Defensive Player of the Year Award.Add that to James' offensive stats,and then factor in that James is not a liability at the free throw line like Howard is,and I'll take James any day of the week.
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5-19-2009 @ 5:57AM
orlfrd said...
What your really forgetting to mention is how many commercials Lebron James Stars in. There is no way the league will let him lose. The Officials will make sure the Cavs win, (No Matter What).
Kobe could have been the poster child and had the free walk if it weren't for the whole rape thing. I think the League was hoping that would just go away, but it never did.
How else can you explain Lebron being allowed to travel on every drive to the basket and never get called for it. It's so obvious, it's over the top.
I think it's embarassing for the League. I guess they don't think any of the Fans have Eyes.
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5-19-2009 @ 8:00AM
steve said...
You are off-topic and all over the place.
No one was talking about Kobe, why did you bring him up?
You're obviously just a hater who has no idea when you are supposed to capitalize letters.
5-19-2009 @ 12:57PM
nabpdcop said...
GET OFF THE GOD DAMM RAPE S**T ALREADY, it's done OK. GET OFF IT.
5-19-2009 @ 3:18PM
lopjackie21 said...
GO KOBE....GO LAKERRRRRRRRS....!
Ahahahahahahaha!
5-19-2009 @ 6:26AM
pezzep24 said...
lebron is the bomb. he can shoot pass dunk and is the best closer on the planet
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5-19-2009 @ 5:25PM
s500l said...
Kobe might be the best currently but he still is a RAPIST and overall the best player in my eyes needs to be a decent human being i vote Lebron
5-19-2009 @ 6:54AM
demzrdopes said...
Howard is a great defensive player, but his post moves on offense are pathetic. All he can really do is dunk, we'll see what big Z can do with him..
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5-19-2009 @ 11:35AM
goofyfootsurf said...
you mean what he will do to Z
5-22-2009 @ 3:07PM
Gloria said...
I believe that yesterday, we told you that no one was really interested in your redneck, bigoted, hateful comments and we still aren't. You are still a jerk!
5-19-2009 @ 10:12AM
mike said...
LeBron, a great talent; best closer in the game? I don't think so. When L.A. played Cleveland earlier in the season, it was Kobe that closed the game with a series of fade away jump shots and moves not King James. The NBA has propelled Cleveland and Le Bron into this unbeatable force in the east. I pray for a L.A./ Cleveland match up. Kobe will shut up all the naysayers and get his 4th NBA ring.
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5-19-2009 @ 10:19AM
dxxy4u said...
They cam into the league one year apart? I've been hearing about Lebron forever. I've just heard about Howard in the playoffs. I kept saying, "who is this Howard they keep referring to"? And you ask the question who is more dominate? I've just learned about Howard last week.
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5-19-2009 @ 10:24AM
dxxy4u said...
And you said that LeBron and Howard came into the League one year apart? I've heard and watched LaBron forever. Now tell me who is this Howard guy? I've just heard of him last week in the playoffs. And you have the nerve to ask which player is more Dominate? Give me a break.
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5-19-2009 @ 10:52AM
Lee-Rusty said...
Lots of BS comments here, lol. All I can say is magic has one 8 out of the past 11 games against cleveland. They have one 2 out of the past 3 games with cleveland. Matching Howard up to Lebron stops lebron. There is a huge size differential and Howard is more athletic in terms of defense than lebron is. Therefore, he will stop lebron just as he did in the 8 games won out of 11. Think about it statisticly. If Magic have won 8 out of 11, 2 out of 3, what makes you all think cleveland is going to win best out of seven? Tkae in fact that the magic do have the best 3 point shot record in the history of NBA and that if LEbron is stopped which in most cases he always is by Howard, then thats like missing 30 points within one game. Factor in all the three point advantges we will have and you will see wins just as the magic successfuly completed beating cleveland by 30 points right before the playoffs started. It will be a good game. But, there is too much blabbin! I feel this will be no different than the boston round. Back and forth.
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5-19-2009 @ 10:56AM
Lee-Rusty said...
You are seriously bias! First of all, Howard and Lebrob are not comparable. They play the game the complete opposite. Howard is the superstar when it comes to defense. He won the as best defense player two years in a row. Whats more valuable may I ask? A better defense or a better offense? All I can say usually the better defense is what takes championships home! That goes with all sports!
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5-19-2009 @ 10:58AM
cantstopdrinkin said...
- What was Howard able to do before he got all his shooters? Nothing. He is a player that relys on having shooters and other pretty good players on his team. He doesnt have the offense to dominate and singlehandely propel his team. Lebron does. He proved it by taking a team of scrubs to the Finals a couple years ago. The only thing making Howard great right now is his sheer size and athleticism. Those 2 things help in making Lebron great but its also his floor vision, driving ability/finishing ability, speed, touch around the basket, and his improving shot , amoung others. Again the only way this would be an arguement is if Howard had the inside game of say Kareem or Wilt (who i think is the perfect comparision of what Howard is without the great offensive game).
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5-19-2009 @ 11:01AM
Giles said...
Dxxy4u apparently gets news about dixie stars a bit late. Howard has been on the US Olympic team, and starting on the east all star team, he`s new, but not that new. It would have been more accurate to say James might be the best since Bryant, not Jordan, since Bryant came after Jordan, before James, and having had longer has clearly done much more than James. Regardless of whether James has the potential to be better or not. And closing is usually hyped as perimeter shooting, which is inconsistent still for James. Bryant is at least as good on perimeter offense as Reggie Miller was, and better on interior offense and on defense. As for a literal match up, Howard vs. James, highly unlikely, though Battie and Howard used to start together, so Gortat or Battie could start for tactical reasons instead of Redick for example if coach felt so inclined, which would increase the possibility of the Defensive player of the year testing his skills on the perimeter against James, who is a newcomer on defense and who`s rebounding, while adequate for a small forward, is hardly dominating. And yeah, so far, Howard is still hung up on pouting and shouting he wants the ball, instead of moving to get open to get it, so sure, James is clearly the better straight out of high school player, by at least his year more nba developement, so far. And I love his grumpy old man in his commercials. That character should be coaching in the nba, but not with the Knicks, err, um, Cavaliers! He`d HATE that overhyped "pretty boy" they`ve got, and, if his back held up, might out play him, too!
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5-19-2009 @ 11:17AM
flaco6145 said...
Lebron is a very explosive player...but his jumpshot is not consistent. i would say Kobe is better around the perimeter. I gotta go with Howard...he's a beast down low. Creates all kinds of havoc for teams.
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5-19-2009 @ 11:35AM
Michael gifford said...
regular season is over..what happened then doesn't matter. however...the Magic just got tested very well by Boston, and handled one of the quicker/tougher to stop PG's in the league in Rondo...they know how to handle Mo...They handled Perkins and Davis, they know how to handle big guys and Turkgolu is a tough match up for Ilgauskus...both can shoot perimeter so there's really no edge there...Varejao can do okay on Howard but won't really stop him...The biggest question is will the other Magic players scoring be able to compensate for one of the leagues 2 toughest matchups Lebron...we'll see. He's hard to stop and it will definitely "take a village" to handle him...should be exciting series...
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5-19-2009 @ 11:43AM
I see you Padin said...
I don't understand people. The only people who would choose Howard are individuals who are Magic fans or Lebron haters. That is a fact. Kobe lovers are bringing him into the argument when that isn't the question. Lebron is at the level of Micheal Jordan. The way he plays and his athletic ability are second to none. This is like asking if you want M.J. or Shaq. Everyone who is honest chooses M.J. and Lebron. I love Shaq and I love Howard, but I can be honest. Kobe lovers need to accept that if the top players from the final four teams were put into the same draft Lebron would go #1 every time and Howard #2. Melo would get chosen over Kobe by a portion of teams too. The Lakers and Phil Jackson would choose to have Lebron over Kobe. These are facts, and everyone knows it. Just be honest please. Unless you are a complete idiot and than you can have your Kobe and Howard. Two great players but not a Lebron.
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