Who comes to your mind when you’re watching LeBron James play? While various names may cross your thoughts, for many Los Angeles Lakers fans, it’s Magic Johnson. While the Michael Jordan vs LBJ debate is one for the ages, many analysts agree that the King, at his best, does play like an oversized point guard. James’ former teammate Joe Smith declared how the 4x NBA MVP’s playing style is reminiscent of the NBA’s greatest point guard. 

“I grew up as a Magic Johnson fan and he [James] reminds me a lot of Magic and the way he play and made his teammates around him better,” said Smith in an interview with sportswriter Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Smith added how comparisons to Jordan often bring criticism to LeBron for not always looking to take the final shot 0f the game. But the former NBA journeyman finds that making the right pass is most admirable for the team’s best player to do. 

Of course, Magic Johnson might agree with this take. The 5x NBA champion was the president of the franchise when the King joined the Los Angeles Lakers. And like many of us, Johnson is also a big fan of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. 

LeBron James made history with 40,000 points

James’ ability to make his teammates better is something not all NBA greats have. That and his level of consistency are what make the King special and set him apart from the rest. “He’s special because he makes his teammates better and yet still plays at a high level himself,” Magic Johnson once said about LeBron James and his game.

The Chosen One just recently became the first NBA player to amass 40,000 points. Just last year, the 4x NBA champion made history when he broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record of 38,387 points. It was a proud moment for Magic Johnson to witness a Lakers player break his ‘Captain‘s record. Johnson once mentioned that James is one such player who emerges once every two decades.

Even if the King continues to get compared with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, it’s ultimately his unique style that sets him apart from the rest. What are your thoughts on Johnson and Joe Smith’s opinion? Let us know in the comments section below. 

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