LeBron James paired up with iconic players in his first All-Star game. James, who was drafted in 2003, had his first All-Star game in 2005. James was still a sophomore. However, he was playing with veterans of the league, such as Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Shaq, Paul Pierce, and Ben Wallace.
Lebron James had always adored Iverson and his scoring ability. However, before this All-Star game, Iverson joked about how James wanted to play all the minutes, and also joked about his youth. Iverson hinted at how young players just chase trophies in the NBA.
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“All these first-timers, they gettin? all the time. So [James] got to play 40 minutes, 42 minutes. But you might get the trophy, so that?s cool? said Iverson. He hilariously continued the conversation by saying ?He want to [win MVP]. He ain?t nothin? but 16 years old.?
Lebron James’ first All-Star game?
The entire NBA community always knew that Lebron was special, and had superstar potential. Right after winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2004, James took on the challenge of being an All-Star in his second season.
Lebron James was averaging amazing numbers in the 2005 season. He averaged 25.4 points, 7.7 assists, and 7.1 rebounds before the All-star game. He was carrying the entire Cavaliers team on his shoulders and his aim was to make them a playoff contender.
On the other hand, Iverson was already a seasoned veteran by this time. ‘The Answer’ averaged 29.8 points, 7.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds before the break. Eventually, at the end of the season, he won a scoring title for his exceptional scoring display.
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Iverson made fun of Lebron James for being the youngest player
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The future Sixers Hall of Famer, Iverson, thought it best to remind James of his place before the warmups. He joked about how James is playing the role of a giddy kid on the hunt for a prize. Since it was Lebron’s first All-Star appearance, Iverson knew that James was gonna get major minutes.
Even after these jokes, Iverson went on to score a double-double in the game. He displayed an extremely effective offensive and defensive display. Iverson’s contribution grabbed him the MVP award for the All-Star game.
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This event showed the competitive drive that made 6-foot player so great. The Answer was not gonna allow The King to seize the mantle just yet.
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