Drafted 1st overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the legendary 2003 NBA draft, LeBron dominated the league since he stepped foot on the hardwood, elevating himself to the coveted superstar status in just his sophomore season. Despite 4 MVPs (Most Valuable Player award), 4 championships, and countless accolades and played minutes, James still dominates the league as someone in their late 20s–he’s averaging 30.2 points every night at 38 years old!
Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron James first-overall in 2003 – Leo Sepkowitz, Bleacher Report.
Clearly, LeBron’s longevity is unprecedented; NBA fans may never get to see a father of three dominate the court like LeBron. Understandably, he’s considered an all-time great and often gets deserved comparison to Michael Jordan in the GOAT (greatest of all time) debate. However, LeBron’s long-lasting greatness often blinds NBA fans from other durable greats, raising the following question: has there ever been a player as durable as LeBron James?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem’s iconic skyhook move – Bob Garcia IV, Sportscasting.
Before LeBron, the word “longevity” was synonymous with Kareem. Currently, Kareem holds the all-time regular season scoring (although LeBron’s going to surpass it soon). He played for 21 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, racking up 6 MVPs, 6 rings, 19 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA selections–quite a decorated career indeed!
Averaging 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game, Kareem’s longevity is undeniably impressive. He averaged over 20 points per game for 18 consecutive seasons, and this sustained excellence is astonishing given the lack of medical advancements and athletic training programs during his dominance. Although Kareem’s career numbers in his later years sustained at a high-level because of teammates like Hall of Fame guards Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson, his earlier seasons with the Bucks show his single-handed, one-man show dominance abilities; thus, his prowess, rather than teammate support, was the main factor in his longevity.
Moses Malone
Moses Malone with the Sixers – Sports Illustrated
While you may have heard of Kareem, Moses Malone is a rather unknown name among casual NBA fans. Malone entered the
NBA in 1976 as a Houston Rocket and elevated himself among the league’s best by 1979. Malone played the highly bruising center position just like Kareem and even swept him in the 1983 Finals. Like Kareem, Malone played over 21 years of basketball despite the lack of modern-day medical technology and training programs.
Malone wasn’t just a stat-sheet stuffer–25.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals & blocks every night in his prime! Along with the aforementioned 1983 championship, Malone won 3 MVPs, 6 rebounding titles, and 12 All-Star nominations. While Malone’s accolades don’t match Kareem’s accolades, he was helmed the “durability king” before Kareem; however, Malone’s numbers to end his career were rather normal: just a measly 4.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 83 games. Nonetheless, his 13 consecutive near 20 points per night seasons speaks to his sustainability, and his accolades only highlight how his sustainability helped out with team success.
Any other players?
Players like the late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, John Stockton, and Dirk Nowitzki also fit the durability. They fit the same sustainability as Malone and Kareem. They’re all considered among the NBA’s greatest players ever. But, we didn’t mention them…
Malone and Kareem deserve recognition because they achieved this durability playing a physically imposing center position in an era of no medical advancement. Medical advancement must be factored when appreciating these greats because the NBA community is simply numb to durability. These two stars–especially Moses Malone–are rarely recognized for this fact; even when they are, they are simply thrashed with the “easy era.”
To be frank, there’s never been a like LeBron James, and there may never be another player like him again. LeBron only needs less than 160 points to claim Kareem’s scoring title, and his continued superstar-level excellence is unfathomable. Future generations may simply forget about older NBA legends like Kareem and Moses. While we should appreciate current legends in the game, let’s not forget the league’s pioneers who made the league as enjoyable and as popular as it is today.
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