LeBron James has partnered with numerous superstars throughout his NBA career.
In Miami, LeBron James teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form the “Big Three,” one of the most famous trios of the past 20 years.
LeBron played with Kyrie Irving and All-Star power forward Kevin Love for the once-title-winning Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron, currently with the Los Angeles Lakers, won a championship with Anthony Davis and is currently playing with Luka Doncic.
While these names represent elite talent worthy of consideration as LeBron’s best teammate, NBA insider Brian Windhorst believes that honor goes to Kyrie Irving.
“In my opinion, LeBron is the best fit and most compatible teammate that Kyrie has ever had,” Windhorst said.
“There were moments where he and Wade were super, and there were moments where he and AD were unmanageable.”
Windhorst’s argument centers on how Irving complements LeBron’s skill set more perfectly than any other superstar partner, especially when it comes to ball-handling versatility.
“The player he played with that was the best fit for his skill set was Kyrie, because you need a player who can handle the ball and is great off the ball as well,” Windhorst explained.
Windhorst specifically emphasized that Irving’s dual ability allows LeBron to conserve energy during games by relinquishing control of the offense at strategic moments.
“One of the things that LeBron perfected during his time with Kyrie was resting during games. He was willing to let Kyrie go first and cook at different times. He just ate first.”
However, Windhorst acknowledged that the hierarchy contributed to the eventual separation.
“It annoyed Kyrie a bit and contributed to his desire to leave the team,” he added.
LeBron and Irving’s partnership resulted in one championship, famously overcoming a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors 4-3 in the 2016 Finals.
Shortly after, the two parted ways, and while LeBron won another championship, Irving still hasn’t won his second ring.
This season, although they are no longer teammates, they are pursuing more championships with their respective teams.