Magic Johnson recently appeared On With Mario Interviews, to discuss his latest campaign for RSV infections. Mario Lopez asked Johnson about LeBron James’ recent feat and how he’s different from the other all-time greats.
Lopez asked, “Lebron recently became the first player with forty thousand points, so I know he came straight out of high school and I was trying to do the math. I’m like, would Kareem (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) have gotten that had he not gone? What are your thoughts and where do you put him with the all-time great conversation?”
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Magic Johnson replied, “Oh, it’s that’s easy. He (LeBron James) is definitely one of the all-time greats. I mean, he is right there with Michael Jordan in terms of you know, one of the greatest has ever played, right there with Kareem, one of the greatest has ever played. And what he’s been able to do to be able to play what twenty-one years I think it is, and or twenty years one or the other. But to keep his body in such a great condition and strong and really never had a serious injury.”
LeBron James kept himself injury-free for the majority of his career sounds crazy but that’s what impresses Magic. While still adapting to changing rules and keeping pace with the young guns, Bron achieved his latest feat.
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LeBron James’ longest NBA career
LeBron James has played 21 seasons. The only player to play 22 seasons is Vince Carter. Though he couldn’t win the elusive NBA Championship, Carter appeared 8 times for NBA All-Star. In 1999 he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. He continued his success the following year by winning Olympic gold.
Four other players have completed 21 seasons in the NBA alongside LeBron James. Among them is Kevin Garnett who skipped college basketball and was drafted straight from high school. Winning the NBA championship once in 2008, he was featured in NBA All-Star 15 times. Another name in the list is Dirk Nowitzki, a German international who played for one team only for 21 straight seasons. He represented the Dallas Mavericks and also won the NBA Championship in 2011.
Kevin Willis is another coveted name who started his career with the Atlanta Hawks and ended with the Dallas Mavericks. He played for other teams in between his long career and won the NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003.
The only other star matching Bron’s championship titles in the list is Robert Parish. He has 4 titles and was in the NBA All-Star 9 times.
During the chat with Lopez, Magic pointed out another thing about LeBron that he feels is most important. “Aside from his athletic ability, it’s his durability to me that’s most important. Yes, and then to be able to actually be a pass-first player and to still score forty thousand. Points is amazing.”
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