Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Predicting LeBron James' future titles and NBA legacy

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 21 July 2020 06:05

How many championships will Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James finish his career with? Can he catch Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time?

James and the Lakers enter the NBA restart in Orlando, Florida, as one of the top title contenders, though this will be unlike any of James' 13 previous postseason appearances.

The ESPN NBA forecast panel -- which comprises writers, editors and analysts -- made predictions and answered the big questions about what's next as a 35-year-old James gets another chance to add to his legacy. Here are the results.

MORE: Debating what the NBA restart will mean for LeBron


Where will LeBron rank in the restart?

When a panel of six ESPN analysts predicted the top 50 players in the restart, James finished No. 1 ahead of Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. More than 97% of our forecast panel believes James will be at least a top-five player in Orlando, though there's not consensus belief that he will put up the undisputed best performance.

Results: Which is most true?

  • James will be the best player in Orlando: 24.4%

  • James will be a top-five player in Orlando: 73.2%

  • James will excel but not be a top-five player in Orlando: 2.4%

MORE: Expert picks for the major NBA awards

The Lakers winning a championship this year would be ...

Getting through the playoffs in the bubble and capturing a title will present all kinds of challenges, especially considering the Lakers are without some key parts of their rotation. But a majority of our panel doesn't think James winning his fourth ring in this environment would top an iconic Finals run like coming back from a 3-1 deficit to knock off the 73-win Golden State Warriors in 2016.

Results

  • About as impressive as James' previous titles: 63.4%

  • More impressive than James' previous titles: 19.5%

  • Less impressive than James' previous titles: 17.1%

MORE: The 13 most fascinating lineups to watch in Orlando

Fact or fiction: James will be the NBA's best player heading into next season

In the preseason version of NBArank for 2019-20, our panel predicted James would be the third-best player this year (behind Antetokounmpo and Leonard). With Antetokounmpo only improving, James turning 36 in December and plenty of young players on the rise, most of our panel thinks James' reign as the very best player in the league is ending.

Results

  • Fiction: 78%

  • Fact: 22%

MORE: How Frank Vogel won over the Lakers and their superstars

How many more seasons will James play after this one?

James is under contract for next season, with a $41 million player option for 2021-22. Only about 5% of our panel thinks he'll call it quits after that, with more than 73% predicting James has at least four more seasons of NBA basketball on the way.

Results

  • Four: 41.5%

  • Three: 22.0%

  • Five: 19.5%

  • Six or more: 12.2%

  • Two: 4.9%

MORE: Eight X factors in the NBA restart

How many more titles will James win?

The latest version of ESPN's Future Power Rankings -- which predicts team success over the next three seasons -- had the Lakers No. 2 behind the LA Clippers. As long as 2020 free agent Anthony Davis returns in the offseason, as expected, James should continue to have a strong chance to win it all. More than 82% of our panel predicts he'll get at least one more.

Results

  • One: 63.4%

  • Zero: 17.1%

  • Two: 17.1%

  • Three: 2.4%

MORE: NBA confidence index for the top 10 teams

Will James finish his career with the Lakers?

James was the only player in the top five of ESPN's all-time NBA player rankings to suit up for more than two teams. His free-agency decisions consistently have been league-altering events, and nearly 44% of our panel believes he'll be on the move again before he finishes his career.

Results

  • Yes: 56.1%

  • No: 43.9%

MORE: How quickly can NBA players get into game shape?

Where does James rank among the greatest players of all time?

We asked our panel to both rank James among the all-time greats right now and predict where he will finish his career. Only a small portion of voters said he has reached or will reach GOAT status, with the No. 2 player ever being the most popular pick.

Present results

  • No. 2: 43.9%

  • Top five: 34.1%

  • No. 1: 12.2%

  • No. 3: 4.9%

  • Top 10: 4.9%

End of career results

  • No. 2: 43.9%

  • Top five: 34.1%

  • No. 1: 19.5%

  • No. 3: 2.4%

MORE: The near-failure and success of LeBron's Heat

Read 276 times

Soccer

Brawl breaks out after NYCFC win over Toronto

Brawl breaks out after NYCFC win over Toronto

TORONTO -- Rookie Malachi Jones and Andrés Perea scored second-half goals and Matt Freese made nine...

Undefeated Al Hilal win Saudi Pro League title

Undefeated Al Hilal win Saudi Pro League title

Undefeated Al Hilal won a record-extending 19th Saudi Pro League title on Saturday with a 4-1 victor...

Chelsea stage late comeback to beat Forest 3-2

Chelsea stage late comeback to beat Forest 3-2

Late goals from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson lifted Chelsea to a 3-2 Premier League victory a...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Anunoby out for G4; G5 hopes dim, sources say

Anunoby out for G4; G5 hopes dim, sources say

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe New York Knicks ruled OG Anunoby out for Sunday's Game 4 agains...

MSG: Oakley not invited back to Knicks games

MSG: Oakley not invited back to Knicks games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsA spokesperson for Madison Square Garden said Charles Oakley has no...

Baseball

Ohtani removed in 7th after 'his back tightened up'

Ohtani removed in 7th after 'his back tightened up'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN DIEGO -- Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani wa...

Yanks' Cole reaches 89 mph in 3rd bullpen session

Yanks' Cole reaches 89 mph in 3rd bullpen session

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsST. PETERSBURG Fla. -- New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole threw 29 pi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated