jokull1234 | Lakers

255 | 5 hours ago

Man with the greatest athletic genetics of all time vs dude with arthritis in his knees

EastSideChillSaiyan

26 | 5 hours ago

Yea ppl gotta stop using lebron as a baseline example and say that all players should hold up to lebron level standards. I just seen someone else use this against AD

ThaRealSunGod | Lakers

3 | an hour ago

Tbf, otherwise people would pretend lebron isn’t an outlier.

Many want to both hold him to goat standards while also seeing his as just another NBA player.

BackgroundShower4063

16 | 5 hours ago

I’ll be curious to see if Bronny has longevity as well.

angel2timez | CHI

45 | 5 hours ago

It might not be possible for Bronny to play long enough to prove that

chivestheconqueror | Celtics

6 | 4 hours ago

The guys who play 15+ years in the league are generally elite all-around stars who can adapt their game overtime.

langman17 | Nets

2 | an hour ago

Exactly. If Lebron didn’t develop a reliable 3pt shot in the past few years he would’ve been done by now, or not at an all-NBA level anymore at least

Akkepake | Trail Blazers

1 | 37 minutes ago

Westbrook somehow breaks that mold

sbkg11

1 | 35 minutes ago

Take Batum for example

Sportsfan369 | Lakers

3 | an hour ago

Lebron was so proactive in the preventive measures of training instead of solely focusing on strength he also focused on recovery well before he needed it. Now, it’s paying off. I’m no LeBron James but I am the same age and I applied the same methods as he did to working out/training/recovery/eating. The man has the genes but he makes sure he gets everything possible out of his gifts as a basketball player.

Dependent-Effect6077

75 | 5 hours ago

Even when he’s on the court Kawhi just isn’t the top 5 level player he used to be anymore

Since ²²⁄₂₃ Kawhi is averaging 23/6/4 on 61.7% TS with good but no longer DPOY level defense in like 160 games that’s a very good player but hardly a real superstar with how numbers are these days

It felt the same way against Denver in the playoffs for the most part he had one absolutely insane game but his other 6 games were closer to what you’d expect from a top 20ish player than a top 5 player

And given the Clippers’ whole gamble was essentially banking on that he’d be able to peak at that absolute highest level despite his overall availability issues they’re kind of screwed right now

Kindly_Letterhead_98

33 | 5 hours ago

He’s not even top 15 anymore

chivestheconqueror | Celtics

17 | 4 hours ago

You’d be surprised at how often people rank a hypothetical Kawhi as a top 5 player “when fully healthy,” as if he’s still that dude in Toronto if he can just get a couple weeks off and shake the rust off. That ship has sailed.

felya

12 | 4 hours ago

Toronto was almost 7 years ago

ThaRealSunGod | Lakers

2 | an hour ago

Both were second seeded the year after he left.

They are second seed again while clippers might not make the playoffs.

Akkepake | Trail Blazers

2 | 3 hours ago

That one game against the Suns in 22 was the last time he was “top 5 when healthy”. Then he injured after that

Sportsfan369 | Lakers

1 | an hour ago

Him vs Kevin Durant had me going. I thought it was the 2023 finals tho

Akkepake | Trail Blazers

1 | 39 minutes ago

You are right. Westbrook shot insanely bad, but had the game sealing block at the end.

CreamisTasty

4 | 5 hours ago

Uncle Dennis is the GOAT player agent, I guess

determineduncertain

1 | an hour ago

They wanted Raptors level Kawhi to bring them what he did to Toronto. That fell apart quickly (not least of which is the Clippers prioritised star power over the depth that the Raptors had basically perfected in that team). He’s been a former shell of that player and you’re right: he’s good but not what he was.

Broski25of25 | Spain

41 | 5 hours ago

LeBron is known for his longevity and Kawhi is known for his injuries. This should surprise no one.

Sportsfan369 | Lakers

3 | 44 minutes ago

I think it’s because LeBron made a face when young Kawhi was substituted in a game versus Cleveland when he was on the Spurs. Ever since then there’s been LeBron and Kawhi comparisons especially with all the LA stuff.

RWTW27

32 | 5 hours ago

“money does grow on tree” -kawhi leonard

SlightCartoonist8144

5 | 3 hours ago

Tree man get old

Weak_Search4653

15 | 5 hours ago

Kahwi and DWade are pretty damn similar in that both are MVP level players that were 2-way players

Won finals mvp and in their prime probably a top 3 player in contention to win regular season MVP

But degenerative knee issues are sapping away at their prime

Kindly_Letterhead_98

12 | 5 hours ago

At least wade showed heart and tried to play through injuries and carry a squad and was also underpaid lol

Intelligent-Web-8017

-11 | 4 hours ago

wade isn’t on same level as kahwi and never as good of a player maybe in his prime he had a chance. kahwi had bad longevity but in his peak he was prob one of the best players in the league if not the best who won without any other super star while dwade need shaq and lebron. don’t ever disrespect kahwi again

Kindly_Letterhead_98

7 | 3 hours ago

Wade is better than Kawhi lol

Intelligent-Web-8017

0 | 3 hours ago

def not as a player kahwi is so much better he just didnt have a prime lebron to play with. wade had a superstar and good team every single time he won and he flew off hard after 2011ish. hes a good player but def not better than king kahwi.

adamant_onion | Lakers

0 | an hour ago

Yeah he didn’t have a prime lebron just 3 HOF players and a HOF if not the greatest coach of all time

Ur Whack lmfao

Wade > Kawhi in literally every aspect except load managing

Intelligent-Web-8017

2 | an hour ago

raptors 2019 and all the hof he played with were end of their career and washed jsut good chemistry. miami cosch was good bro

kahwi better defense better mid range better offense better efficiency. he beat everyone in 2019 he was the most dangerous player. dwade had 4-5 good years before his knees fell apart. obv with prime legoat u will win

Akkepake | Trail Blazers

1 | 27 minutes ago

Best version of Kawhi > Wade. DPOY and FMVP. The ability to defend 1-5 and the ability to guard the greatest player ever while having insane offense is almost unmatched

ER-Sputter | Heat

3 | 4 hours ago

Disrespectful to D Wade tbh

brnccnt7

5 | 4 hours ago

How so? Kawhi is arguably better in their primes, Kawhi was a much better defensive player and a much more complete offensive player, more efficient from everywhere, not to mention bigger, stronger, bigger hands, etc

ThaRealSunGod | Lakers

0 | an hour ago

Idk if Kawhi is better in prime.

His first FMVP year he wasn’t the best player flat out. He defended lebron and won.

Kawhi was dropped into a great system.

D wade wasn’t drafted onto a dynasty. Kawhi was drafted to a dynasty that went to a game 7 finals the previous year.

Akkepake | Trail Blazers

1 | 25 minutes ago

Lebron > any of Kawhi’s teammates and Wade regressed heavily after 2011

ER-Sputter | Heat

-1 | 3 hours ago

Arguably better is crazy. Prime Wade is highly considered to be a top 3-5 shooting guard. Prime kawhi doesn’t crack top 5 at his position. I’m taking Wade 10 times out of 9 prime for prime

brnccnt7

9 | 3 hours ago

The top 10 Small Forward list is deeper than the top 10 Shooting Guard list…

You’re crazy if you don’t think Kawhi is a top 5 SF all time. He’s definitely better than anyone not named LeBron, KD or Bird. Pippen can be argued yes. But only LeBron, KD, Bird and Kawhi are SF’s to lead their teams to championships, Pippen could never do it without MJ. And the rest of the guys on that list were always secondary guys or never won a ring (Baylor).

There are 4 players ever to win a DPOY, Finals MVP and multiple All-Stars: MJ, Hakeem, Kawhi & Giannis

Kawhi is much more valuable in any situation and in any era. He is superior physically, much more efficient, can score from anywhere unlike Wade, and is a much better defender. Kawhi’s been 1st team All-NBA more, has more than twice Wade’s All-Defense selections.

shanmustafa

11 | 5 hours ago

do people actually blame kawhi? he’s got legit chronic knee issues

tore knee ligaments multiple times now

blue-zenith

7 | 5 hours ago

But people totally blame AD. Very fair.

shanmustafa

3 | 5 hours ago

but people DO blame kawhi like they do AD, probably even more so

it would be unfair if I, someone is not blaming kawhi was then blaming AD for it, which i’m not

brnccnt7

3 | 4 hours ago

True, they blame Embiid too as if its his fault his body is cooked

Same with PG

lot of injury shaming in this subreddit

MatchAffectionate951

3 | 3 hours ago

It’s one of the most brain dead things ever

As if these players willingly get injured

cchesters

1 | 42 minutes ago

If you look at, say, Zion, he refused to take his conditioning seriously enough when injured to reduce the risk of either aggravating the injury when coming back or suffering a related but different injury altogether.

Same with AD, he was criticised for coming into this season out of shape even after Luka was publicly slated by Nico Harrison for apparently being out of shape himself, likewise with Harden a few seasons back.

One of the big things LeBron has done over his career is maintaining his body conditioning even when injured, so when he does come back he’s in good shape, and not at as much risk of being re-injured.

Thats the difference.

Niceguydan8

5 | 5 hours ago

This issue is ankle/leg related, not knee related.

shanmustafa

8 | 5 hours ago

maybe this year in addition, but overall he’s got chronic knee issues

Niceguydan8

11 | 5 hours ago

Y’all are being weird about stuff that is totally nothing.

Kawhi has a minutes restriction. The guy with a minutes restriction plays less than the guy without one. What a revelation.

ThaRealSunGod | Lakers

2 | an hour ago

Lebron definitely has a minutes restriction.

He’s 40 coming off sciatica in his 3rd game.

He’s playing his fewest minutes in over a decade.

Kindly_Letterhead_98

-3 | 5 hours ago

LeBron’s just more committed to playing basketball, nothing wrong with pointing it out

Niceguydan8

7 | 5 hours ago

He absolutely is, I 100% agree.

But again, pointing that out in the context of one guy being on a minutes restriction and one not doesn’t make any sense. It’s just low effort bait.

Kindly_Letterhead_98

-7 | 5 hours ago

If Kawhi had LeBron’s injury he would be on minutes restriction till the all star break!

mas9055 | Spurs

3 | 2 hours ago

your post history is weird as hell you’re obsessed

MatchAffectionate951

3 | 3 hours ago

Kawhi came in the nba with no jumper and no skills

And is leaving it a superstar with one of the best jumpers ever .

He’s rehabbed and came back from like 30 different injuries at this point.

Be quiet about “dedication” to the sport as if u know what that is

mas9055 | Spurs

1 | 2 hours ago

horseshit post bub

Shadoken-TYPE0 | Raptors

9 | 5 hours ago

Lebron is just a different beast

TheRealBrownPudding | Clippers

8 | 5 hours ago

Kawhi a ghost on the court anyways

lakers082433 | Lakers

12 | 5 hours ago

I mean he did have 3 fouls in the second but this sub is still funny man 😂

norestfortheweakened

1 | an hour ago

And it’s the coach’s decision. These guys want a guy with degenerative knees to play 48 minutes in a blow out?

brnccnt7

1 | 4 hours ago

Glad a Lakers fan was the one to point this out

You think 90% of these guys even watched the game? They just read the thread topic

No context to know that Kawhi got in foul trouble in the 2nd and sat for awhile, and it was a blowout mid 4th, so why would he have more minutes lol

Not to mention this is like his second game back from injury, so they probably were going to have him on a minutes restriction regardless

Also comparing him to the most durable superstar ever is kind of wild

MatchAffectionate951

5 | 3 hours ago

I don’t wanna hear Kawhi slander when it comes to injuries.

He’s came back from repeated injures on like 15 different occasions at this point

And hasn’t looked washed over a decent stretch of games once . He always rounds into form.

Ppl who never played sports or gotten injured clowning him but his dedication to coming back when he could of easily threw in the towel

brnccnt7

2 | 3 hours ago

Facts

I remember fans and media trashing Derrick Rose too when he was in and out

Like bruh these guys live for this, they’d definitely be playing every game if they could

mas9055 | Spurs

2 | 2 hours ago

there’s a lot to hate on kawhi for but even late last season he looked absolutely dominant

Akkepake | Trail Blazers

1 | 35 minutes ago

Many regular people get injured once and never return to their previous athletic level. I know it’s not our livelyhood, but coming back after countless injuries still requires an insane amount of mental toughness

ThePatsquatch

5 | 5 hours ago

71 players in the NBA had not yet been born when LeBron played his first game.

NotManyBuses | Charlotte Bobcats

3 | 5 hours ago

Kawhi’s body has failed him for quite awhile

Relevant_Ad_1225 | Rockets

3 | 5 hours ago

OMG he also played more minutes than Cam Christie who is 20. How amazing!

BackgroundShower4063

2 | 5 hours ago

All I know is time machines don’t exist and the Clippers are screwed this season.

AnonymousEddy

1 | 5 hours ago

I think kawai is doing this for gambling reasons. Maybe not for him personally but there must’ve been too much money on kawhii prop bets that they had to stop him from producing.

Either way gambling is ruining the integrity of this league and I will no longer watch these games

Kentopolis | Mavericks

2 | 4 hours ago

He had early foul trouble. Box score doesn’t say it all.

Low_Beyond8134 | Lakers

1 | 5 hours ago

Why didn’t Kawhi close

badadobo | Lakers

7 | 5 hours ago

Because a minute more and his knees crumble to dust.

mas9055 | Spurs

1 | 2 hours ago

maybe because they were down 20

HenrikCrown | Pelicans

1 | 5 hours ago

Random note on Kawhi: Is it just me or does he look a little gaunt around the face? Ozempic?

brnccnt7

1 | 3 hours ago

I noticed that too, there’s a video at the start of the season where he’s doing interviews sitting down front row seat of the court, and he looks very skinny in the face

Way different than he looked last year

Not sure but I wouldn’t doubt he’s trying everything he can to get healthier

Aggrokid

1 | 4 hours ago

Kawhi got the baby lungs too, just needs more games to get back to form.

Seaweed-Weak

1 | 4 hours ago

Kawhi is hurt…

1PennyHardaway | Penny Hardaway

1 | 4 hours ago

Which means…nothing.

triassic_broth

1 | 4 hours ago

Kawhi is much more fragile.

Espio1912

1 | 3 hours ago

I’m 52yo and he also played more minutes than me.

Ayo_Trill

1 | 3 hours ago

Oh brother here we go.

Pyju

1 | 3 hours ago

There’s probably like twenty 20-year olds in the league that LeBron played more minutes than.

mrpooks

1 | 32 minutes ago

look i understand the Clippers are trying to keep Kawhi healthy for the playoffs (again) but when a 41 year old coming off injury is playing more minutes than you… that’s not a good look. especially when LeBron’s putting up 25/6/6 in those 32 minutes like it’s nothing. Kawhi’s load management strategy has gone from “smart injury prevention” to “will he even be available when it matteres”

rocket_beer | Celtics

1 | 30 minutes ago

PEDs

This has always been the answer with LeBron

Alternative_Ad_5510

1 | 5 hours ago

Its long been confirmed. Kawhi is a bitch ass, charmin soft fraud.

Ferngulley26

6 | 5 hours ago

I mean, he does have real medical issues

mas9055 | Spurs

2 | 2 hours ago

you wouldn’t walk again if you had the injuries he had, bitchass

Alternative_Ad_5510

0 | 2 hours ago

LMAO even his fans are soft as hell. Here’s a tissue for you to cry in, and for me to blow my load while reading your Karen response.

facundo-campazzo | West

0 | 5 hours ago

Don’t mention Kawhi’s name with LeBron’s name in the same zip code.

FallenCrownz

0 | 5 hours ago

fuck man, I feel so bad for the Clippers fans it’s crazy. they and the Mavs were my teams in the west when they had Luka but Nico ruined them and the clippers are falling apart at the seams well the fucking Lakers just keep getting away with it.

I will never ever route for the Lakers.

unless they play the Celtics.

BizzyHaze | Lakers

0 | 4 hours ago

Kawhi is washed man. Not even a top 2 player on the clippers

LeBron who’s 41 years old and 7 years older than Kawhi played more minutes (32) than Kawhi who played (27) minutes in today’s match up.