LeBron James has supported natural talents more than other concerns, claiming that “special” NBA players will always go up to the top.
The NBA Draft takes just over a month, with future picks across the nation finding their destinations and embarking on their adventures in the league.
Recent NBA Draft Lottery results mean the Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flag, a potential contender for next season, is set at the number one pick, rather than the rebuilding team of the Utah Jazz or Washington Wizard teams.
Flag is enough to thrive where he lands, and in the eyes of superstar LeBron James, the elite talent always thrives.
James discussed the various paths that top talent could take in his recent mind, during his game podcast with co-host Steve Nash.
LeBron James touched on a variety of topics during his recent podcast, and discussions about playmakers led him to speak in sparkling language about Gilbert Arena.
James explained that he was filled with praise for the natural talent that Gilbert Arena had and his own former LA Lakers teammate Russell Westbrook.
He explained: “When you look at people like Russell Westbrook and those who were coming out of the bench with Gilbert Arenas, University, UCLA, Arizona, and Gill, before Russell had the chance, Darren Collison was the starting point guard for UCLA.
“But when you talk about something that cannot be denied, when they are in court or when you see it, it was something we were talking about, what its impact.
“Gil had an IT factor. He had a belief in himself. He had an IT factor. Every time he touched the court, she was something special about this guy. This guy is something special.
“Every time Russ steps onto the court, this guy is special, we have never seen anything like this.
“That’s the beauty of the game. Like those, I don’t want to say diamonds in rough, but when I see Gill, I think he was the second pick in Golden State.”
Gilbert Arenas was a highly praised college player since his time in Arizona, but a combination of injuries and character concerns left him dropping out of the first round.
The Warriors drafted the arena on their 31st pick in 2001, initially signing a two-year contract. And after acquiring the most improved player of his second season, he signed a lucrative contract with the Washington Wizard.
Arena spent seven seasons with the Wizard, including the infamous late in the Stint before the spell and the Grizzly spell.
Currently a media personality, Arena played 552 NBA regular season games, averaging an impressive 20.7 points per game, and averaged 31 postseason games at 17.1 ppg.
LeBron James’ point was right that the talent he was not able to contain by his low draft picks thrived when he reached court in the NBA, and the other players he referenced were still strong.
Russell Westbrook was drafted in 2008 and played in the final against LeBron James in 2012 before working with him in a 2021, ultimately annoying two-year stint with the Lakers.
Former MVP Westbrook is one of the only two players in NBA history, averaged triple doubles over the season and became the first to do it before current Nugget teammate Nikola Jokic coincided with the feat.