LeBron James and Nikola Jokic took center stage after the two locked horns in the Western Conference Finals. Jokic dominated the series with consistent triple-double displays. Although LeBron and the Lakers were swept by Denver, James exhibited composure with decent performances including a 40-point showdown. Naturally, the matchup also gave way to comparisons between James and Jokic. Now, an NBA veteran has traced a similarity between the two stars while also making a claim about the legendary Celtic, Larry Bird.

The ex-NBA star is well aware of what LeBron James and Nikola Jokic can bring to the table for a basketball team. After explaining his take on the two superstars’ gameplay, the NBA veteran went on to choose between LeBron James and Larry Bird.

NBA veteran says LeBron is like Jokic and makes a claim about Larry Bird

In his recent VladTV interview, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas picked his best player from certain hypothetical one-on-one matchups. According to the former Wizard, prime Michael Jordan will outplay both Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant in their primes. Soon, the interviewer asked Gil to pick between Michael Jordan and LeBron James in a one-on-one matchup. Again, Arenas picked Jordan. Then, the host asked him if he thought MJ was better than LBJ altogether.

The 3x-NBA All-Star explained that James is a team player. His prowess as a team player overshadows his one-on-one abilities. “The game is different for different players. Jordan, and Kobe, they’re one-on-one juggernauts. You can’t compare him with LeBron. LeBron is not a one-on-one player. He is like Jokic. He is a team guy. He is a five-on-five type of player.” Then the host brought Larry Bird into the conversation.

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He asked Arenas to pick between Jokic and Larry Bird. The former player sided with Larry Bird. “Larry Bird would probably beat LeBron one-on-one… Because one-on-one, it takes away from everything LeBron has right. His physical strength, his speed, and all that power he has going well. In one-on-one, you are talking about one two dribbles. That’s not his game. That’s Larry’s whole game,”  added Gil.

Gilbert Arenas did not stop with the bold take about Larry Bird.

How LeBron James will become the ‘number one one-on-one player’

Arenas touched up on a hypothetical scenario that will make James the best one-on-player. “If you start at half court and we have as many drills as we want, then it changes. Then LeBron just excels to probably you know number one one-on-one player of all time. But it’s usually, you know spots, one dribble, two dribble pull up two dribble get to the rim. That’s not his game, he said.

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The NBA veteran might have sidelined LeBron James as a one-on-one player. But Gil is very much aware of the wonder James works as a team player. He believes that players like LeBron and Jokic put their genius to work when fellow teammates are around. Even while making many bold claims in one go, Arenas upheld the fact that “the game is different for different players.”

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