The NBA has been home to countless legends who’ve dazzled us on the court. Players in the league are often likened to icons – Michael Jordan was even dubbed “Jesus.” But in a recent chat with NBA analyst Isiah Thomas, he spilled the beans on what he believes truly molds an exceptional NBA player. Interestingly, he outlined the ingredients for shaping a standout player, but surprisingly omitted Jordan, choosing instead to incorporate traits from LeBron James. Let’s delve into Thomas’s perspective on what constitutes a remarkable NBA player.
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Isiah Thomas Shares His Secret Recipe for Crafting the Greatest NBA Player
Legendary NBA icon Isiah Thomas recently revealed his strategy for creating the perfect basketball player. If he could pick any current superstar as the base, it would be LeBron James. However, Thomas suggested adding a dash of Kyrie Irving’s sensational handles and a splash of Stephen Curry’s superhuman shooting ability to complete the concoction.
Speaking in a recent interview, the 12-time NBA All-Star pointed to LeBron as the ideal canvas on which to build. “I would take LeBron James as he is…and add two things – Kyrie Irving’s ball-handling and Stephen Curry’s jump shot to LeBron James. And I’m good,” Thomas declared.
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The choice of James as the foundation makes complete sense. At 37 years old, he continues to dominate, leading the league in scoring while remaining an elite playmaker and defender. However, Thomas astutely highlighted two skills where others hold an edge over LeBron.
Kyrie’s dribbling is unmatched. His array of lightning-quick crossovers, spins, and hesitations leave hapless defenders in the dust. Adding Kyrie’s pizzazz with the ball in his hands would make LeBron even more unguardable off the dribble.
As great as LeBron is, no one shoots like the Baby-Faced Assassin. Curry’s picture-perfect form allows him to launch bombs from anywhere inside the half-court. His shooting forces defenses to play up on him 30 feet from the basket, creating space for drives or openings for teammates. James’ three-point percentage has declined to 35.5% this season, so acquiring Curry’s stroke would significantly bolster his perimeter potency.
Isiah Thomas constructed the formula for the consummate contemporary player. Start with the time-tested excellence of LeBron James, mix in some of Kyrie’s creativity, and top it off with Steph’s limitless range. The end result would be a virtually unstoppable force gliding across the hardwood.
