Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green believes Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has a “next-level basketball IQ.” LeBron is arguably the smartest player in NBA history.
“When I talk about guys who have like a next-level basketball IQ, you talking LeBron James,” Green said on the Pat Bev Podcast with Rone. “The fact that he is that size and that athletic and with that basketball IQ like guys that size and that athletic, most of them are dumb as sh*t.
“They are usually very dumb because they were that size and that athletic. So people just relied on them. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, you are that size and you’re that athletic.’ But eventually, you run into somebody else that size and that athletic. And so the fact that he’s that size and that athletic and like top-three, top-five highest IQs to ever play is insane.”
LeBron is the only player in NBA history to rank top 10 all-time in both points and assists. The King has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers. LeBron is a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. He is the only player in NBA history to win three Finals MVPs with three different teams.
A 19-time All-Star, LeBron is first in NBA history in points, fourth in assists, ninth in steals, fourth in triple-doubles, third in player efficiency rating, sixth in points per game and second in win shares. He is the only player ever with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists.
LeBron signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists last season while shooting 50.0% from the field, 32.1% from beyond the arc and 76.8% from the free-throw line.
LeBron then put up 24.5 points, 9.9 boards and 6.5 assists per game in the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets. The Akron Hammer turns 39 on December 30, 2023.
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