LeBron James (Image Source: Getty Images)

During a recent visit to the ‘Ur. Perspectives’ podcast, former professional basketball player Lanny Smith talked candidly about his incredible seventh-grade encounter with an early LeBron James. Looking back on his first game against LeBron in the AAU Nationals, Smith gave insight into what it was like to play against a future basketball superstar before he was well-known.

Even though LeBron James’s game was fundamentally different from the beginning, Smith found it humorous to hear the comparisons to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as he saw LeBron’s early career develop.

Smith said, “First time playing against LeBron was in the seventh grade at AAU Nationals. I got that game on tape. So it’s always been funny to me when I’ve heard the outside noise on LeBron early in his career, everybody was wanting him to be like Kobe and be like Jordan.”

He added, “I was like, y’all don’t understand, this dude was a point guard. That’s who I was matched up against. But he was a point guard who could jump out the gym. So on the tape, you see him diming out, but then you also see him getting all this over the rim in the seventh grade, right? Funny story, we checking in the hotel for AAU Nationals. LeBron and his team is standing outside the hotel, and Bron had grown five or six inches. Big Perk, like, yo, is that the same n***a?”

He claimed that James was a relatively obscure celebrity when he was a high school student. However, they already knew of his skill from their time together at the Amateur Athletic Union Basketball Nationals.

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Lanny Smith Explains How LeBron James Was Destined To Be A Big Superstar In The NBA

LeBron’s game was characterized by his extraordinary court vision, ball-handling prowess, and playmaking ability. However, his athleticism was what made him stand out. Smith related a great story about how LeBron’s growth surge at the AAU Nationals tournament affected everyone, even his teammate Kendrick Perkins.

That’s when Smith and his colleagues recognized how big of a player LeBron James might be. At 6’6″ or 6’7″, LeBron displayed his top vision, handling, and playmaking talents, which he had already demonstrated at 6’2″ or 6’3″. LeBron’s physique, skill set, and stature combined to prove he was destined for greatness.

LeBron James had expressed that he hoped to play on the same court as his son, Bronny James. The basketball player is getting closer to fulfilling that desire now. From 2024 to 2025, the father and son are expected to play together for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former NBA Champion Has The Entire Internet Scratching Their Heads After He Makes An Interesting Comment About Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards (Image Credits: Getty Images)
The Minnesota Timberwolves star, Anthony Edwards, has made controversial comments about Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, sparking widespread discussion. Many NBA players, fans, and analysts have already shared their opinions about Edwards’ strong statements regarding the players and competition Jordan faced during his professional career. In addition to criticism from other players, a former NBA player has also slammed Edwards for his statement.

During a recent appearance on The Sheed & Tyler Show, American basketball coach Rasheed Wallace responded to Anthony Edwards, stating that Edwards is not even better than Derrick McKey.

 

“At this point in [Anthony Edwards’] career, he’s not better than a Derrick McKey, he’s not better than a Grant Hill, he’s not better than a Scottie Pippen. I’m talking both sides of the ball. Derrick McKey was a defender, and he would give you a solid 14, 16, 18, and he was a solid defender. [Ant] Is improving, but he’s not that defender yet.” Wallace said.

Wallace’s statement sparked debate among basketball fans, who began expressing their opinions in the comment section of the post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

One fan hilariously supported Edwards, saying, “Anthony Edwards is now in his Legend Killer arc after triggering all these old heads with his comment that only MJ was skilled back then.”

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Meanwhile, another fan said, “Nobody cares about Rasheed Wallace in 2024. These oldheads are salty.”

Another fan criticized Wallace, “I had a chance to watch Rasheed play. Great player but slightly overrated due to the fact that he was also a fan favorite. Now he’s just grabbing at straws to get any attention he can. Obviously a terrible take here.”

Anthony Edwards’ Bold Take On Michael Jordan

During an August interview with the Wall Street Journal, Edwards mentioned that Jordan was the only player in his time with extraordinary skills. Edwards suggested that Jordan didn’t face tough competition because of his skills. He also mentioned that the remarkable abilities Jordan showcased during his professional career are now common among NBA players.

I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it. They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then. (Jordan) was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe, they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill. Anthony Edwards said.

Several NBA players and former legends have already weighed in on Edwards’ remark. It will be fascinating to see how many reactions the Timberwolves star gets.