Happy 40th Birthday to Golden State’s biggest opp: LeBron James

King James is still going strong, two decades in the game.

On Christmas Day 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers eked out a tough road victory over the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry, face of the Bay Area’s franchise, went off for 38 points and 6 assists in what was arguably his greatest Christmas day performance of his storied career.

But he took the L that day to LeBron James, the man many argue is the greatest to ever touch a basketball. King James scored 31 points and added 10 assists, in a dominant tour-de-force that kept the Warriors on their heels the whole game. Bron shot 12-of-22 from the field, and knocked down half of his four triples, showing the efficient scoring that has marked his career.

By the way, that man just turned 40 today. How is he still this good, folks?!

The first time I heard about LeBron James, I was a sophomore in high school working on my own hoop dreams in the Bay. I remember the seniors on our team talking in hushed, excited tones about a high school senior from Akron who was 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, with athleticism like Tracy McGrady. They said he could ball handle, pass, play defense, and even had a jumpshot. I was like damn what college is he going to? They turned to me and let me know he was going straight to the league. He was THAT good.

And that’s the thing about Bron: his name has been an instant lightning rod for conversation for the last 20 years for folks who watch the game. After the Shaq and Kobe beef tore up the Lakers dynasty back in 2003, Bron’s career became the de facto go through for basketball arguments.

Here are 20 topics that I came up with just now in my head that have sent the entire NBA fandom world into years and years of heated debates.

1. Is LeBron James the GOAT, or does his Finals record make that impossible?
2. Did “The Decision” change player empowerment forever—or just break Cleveland’s heart?
3. Is LeBron’s versatility underrated, or are we too obsessed with triple-doubles?
4. Superteams: Did LeBron start the trend, or was Boston’s Big 3 the real culprit?
5. Does LeBron’s alleged lack of a killer instinct hurt his legacy—or make him the ultimate team player?
6. How much does LeBron’s longevity matter in the GOAT debate compared to MJ’s peak?
7. Is LeBron’s Finals competition the toughest in NBA history—or just an excuse for his record?
8. Did LeBron really carry that 2007 Cavs team to the Finals, or was the East just that weak?
9. Is LeBron better as a scorer or a passer—and does his unselfishness hold him back?
10. Should LeBron have stayed in Miami longer, or was going back to Cleveland the right move?
11. Was the 2016 Cavs’ NBA Finals comeback all LeBron—or did Kyrie deserve just as much credit?
12. Is LeBron’s defensive decline excusable because of his offensive workload?
13. How many MVPs should LeBron have won if voter fatigue didn’t exist?
14. Is LeBron’s off-court impact—his school, activism, and media ventures—just as important as his on-court legacy?
15. Does LeBron’s leadership style work, or is it too passive compared to guys like Kobe and MJ?
16. Did LeBron’s move to the Lakers tarnish his legacy—or just prove he’s bigger than basketball?
17. Is LeBron’s style of play positionless basketball at its best—or a sign of the NBA losing its identity?
18. Does LeBron have the greatest basketball IQ ever, or is he just a physical freak with a great memory?
19. How does LeBron’s All-Star teammate count compare to MJ’s and Kobe’s, and does it matter?
20. Will LeBron’s biggest legacy be on the court—or will it be his dream to play with Bronny in the NBA?

But one thing that is undebatable is that the Golden State Warriors built a dynasty off of beating King James in the NBA Finals. Happy birthday LeBron, and thank you for all those wonderful epic championship clashes! Here’s a video I made to talk about his rivalry with the Dubs back when he was in Cleveland.