Carmelo Anthony And Paul George Select All-Time 'Phone Booth' Scoring Teams, No Room For LeBron James

On the 'Podcast P with Paul George,' Carmelo Anthony and Paul George took on the task of selecting their all-time 'phone booth' scoring teams. This exercise, meant to highlight the most unstoppable scorers in tight, contested situations, saw both NBA stars curating a list of players known for their scoring prowess. Interestingly, neither included LeBron James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs.

Carmelo Anthony's initial team featured Allen Iverson , Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony himself, Dirk Nowitzki , and Elgin Baylor. However, showing respect to past legends, Anthony later adjusted his lineup. He replaced himself at the small forward position with Baylor and added Moses Malone at center, forming a formidable unit of pure scorers who thrived in challenging scoring situations.

Paul George's selected team comprised Kyrie Irving , Kobe Bryant , Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce , and Al Jefferson. Each of these players is known for their unique scoring abilities, with Irving's mesmerizing handles and shooting, Bryant's killer instinct, Durant's versatile scoring, Pierce's clutch performances, and Jefferson's post prowess.

Despite the immense talent listed by both Anthony and George, the absence of LeBron James stood out. LeBron, with a career scoring average of 27.1 points per game, surpasses both Anthony (22.5) and George (20.6). Additionally, among the ten players chosen by Anthony and George, only Michael Jordan (30.1), Elgin Baylor (27.4), and Kevin Durant (27.3) boast higher career scoring averages than LeBron.

James' exclusion is intriguing, given his scoring consistency and ability to perform under pressure. LeBron's scoring arsenal, combining power, finesse, and basketball IQ, has made him one of the most feared scorers in the history of the sport. His capability to drive to the basket, shoot from distance, and make clutch plays makes his omission from a list focused on scoring even more notable.

(Discussion starts at 1:00:50)

The selections by Anthony and George reflect personal preferences and highlight players they likely admire for their specific scoring styles. However, the exclusion of LeBron James, despite his statistical superiority and legendary scoring performances, raises questions and adds a layer of debate to their 'phone booth' scoring teams.

The choices underline the subjective nature of such lists, where personal experiences and stylistic preferences often influence decisions.

LeBron James Still Doesn't Get The Respect He Deserves As A Scorer

LeBron James, despite his unparalleled achievements, continues to be underappreciated as a scorer. He holds the record as the NBA's all-time leading scorer in both the regular season (40,474 points) and the playoffs (8,162 points).

His career scoring average of 27.1 points per game ranks seventh all-time, trailing only Michael Jordan , Wilt Chamberlain , Luka Doncic , Joel Embiid , Elgin Baylor , and Kevin Durant . However, it's plausible that as Doncic and Embiid age, their averages might decline, further solidifying LeBron's position.

LeBron is the only player in NBA history to surpass 40,000 points in the regular season and 9,000 points in the playoffs. No other player has even reached 39,000 regular-season points or 6,000 playoff points, underscoring the magnitude of his scoring prowess. Yet, the narrative around him often overlooks these monumental feats.

One of the most remarkable aspects of LeBron's scoring ability is his consistency. He has averaged more than 25 points per game for 20 straight seasons, a record unmatched in NBA history. Kevin Durant, another elite scorer, ranks second with 15 such seasons. This level of sustained excellence is a testament to LeBron's adaptability, skill, and relentless work ethic.

Despite these achievements, LeBron is often more celebrated for his all-around game—his passing, rebounding, and basketball IQ—than for his scoring. This perception likely stems from his versatility and the fact that he is not a pure shooter in the traditional sense. Unlike players like Jordan or Durant, whose scoring is often characterized by a silky smooth shooting stroke, LeBron's scoring comes from a combination of power, finesse, and sheer determination.

LeBron's scoring also tends to be overshadowed by his playmaking abilities. As one of the best passers in NBA history, his inclination to involve teammates and make the right basketball play sometimes leads to criticism that he is not a "killer" scorer in the mold of Kobe Bryant or Jordan. However, this critique fails to recognize the broader context of his game and his ability to dominate offensively when needed.

While LeBron James may not always receive the respect he deserves as a scorer, the numbers and records speak volumes about his place among the greatest scorers in basketball history. His unique combination of scoring, playmaking, and leadership has redefined what it means to be an all-time great.

Related: The Current NBA Players Who Are In The Top 100 On The All-Time Scoring List

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