One of Steve Kerr's most fascinating coaching moves in the 2024 Olympics was utilizing Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James as his primary point guard throughout the entire tournament.
Many expected King James to figure heavily in the ball-handling chores for Team USA . However, only a few thought he would be the main point guard that featured one of the greatest PGs, if not the greatest, to ever play the game - Stephen Curry.
James playing PG, however, brought out the best in his game and won him Olympic MVP honors. That led Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers to a very intriguing question.
"I've said this probably during LeBron's entire career," said Rivers on The Bill Simmons Podcast. "If LeBron could just be a point guard, how good he would be?"
Kerr utilized James as a point guard
LeBron has always been known as a pass-first guy, and he has often been criticized for passing up the big shot in favor of making the right play. But in the 2024 Olympics, Kerr gave him the keys to the Team USA car and let him run the show.
"In the Olympics, he basically was just the point guard," added Rivers. "That was his position. He played point guard for most of the Olympics, and his passing and basketball IQ, it just set up everything for everyone. He was amazing."
James ended up leading Team USA in assists at 8.5 dimes per contest. He also finished the tournament ranked second behind Nikola Jokic in total assists at 52 versus 51. However, considering that the Joker played ten more minutes per game and is also ten years younger than Bron, his passing was second to none in the Olympics.
Related: "You could just feel it, the lack of respect" - Alonzo Mourning on the tense environment in the gold medal game against France in the 2000 Olympics
Kemp says LeBron is more Magic than Jordan
LBJ playing point is nothing new, however. Many have always said that his game is more like Magic Johnson 's than it is Michael Jordan's. Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was one of the most recent to insist that King James should be compared to Magic, not Mike .
"I don't think LeBron should be compared to Michael Jordan. I think LeBron should be compared to Magic Johnson," Kemp said on All the Smoke. "I think whoever started that s**t got it wrong. LeBron is no Michael Jordan. Kobe is more Michael Jordan, and LeBron is more Magic Johnson. I don't see how you compare those two."
LeBron is indeed more Magic than MJ. Put him on an All-Star team, and you will appreciate how great he really is as a basketball player. But it only works that way sometimes, as James doesn't have weapons like Steph, KD, Book, Tatum, and Ant-Man on his NBA teams. That's why Bron is the NBA's all-time leading scorer—he's had to do much more.
Related: LeBron James is done with the Olympics: ‘I can’t see myself playing in 2028’
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