It can be a punishing experience to reach the top position in an NBA team. It’s a very demanding ambition, and very few players reach that level of greatness early in their career. LeBron James is one such exception who made it big and made it quick.

Bron joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 as an 18-year-old. The boy from Akron wasted no time in making his presence felt. He played 79 games in his rookie year and averaged a crazy 20.9 points, 5.5 rebs, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. This performance gave him much more than the Rookie of the Year award; it also gave him respect in the Cavs squad.

What’s the secret to climbing the ladder quickly?

LeBron James’ former Cavs teammate, Larry Hughes, recently gave an interview where he broke down how the vets around Bron accepted his growing dominance. He revealed, “I think conversation man. We all wanna get out there and show what we can do. If it’s our job to average 20, we all wanna average 20. But in reality, there’s a pecking order in which things are done, how things are filtered, and how the order of operation is run. You have to acknowledge and understand that’s how things are gonna be. You can still be great within that function.” 

Hughes later revealed how tough it was to climb up in the NBA. The 41-year-old noted, “Don’t mistake that there’s not a pecking order within an NBA roster. We know there’s a guy who comes first and things kind of filter down. That’s how you maneuver, but that’s how you become successful as well because everybody has to buy-in. You don’t have to like it, but you have to buy into that process, making whoever is supposed to shine, making sure they shine.”

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Lastly, Hughes accepted that LeBron also had to fight his battles to cement his position alongside names like Eric Snow and others, and the Akron Hammer’s figures have always spoken for themselves.

How good was LeBron James against other rookies?

To put Bron’s achievements into perspective, the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded an average of 6.8 points in his rookie year. In fact, he touched 20+ only in his 4th year in the league. Today, he has defeated Anthony Davis to become the DPOY and Bron to clinch back-to-back MVPs.

None of this is to say that other players have never accomplished what Bron did. The Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic had an average of 21.2 points in his first year in the league. So, it really demands one to stand out in order to become the best in the team. 

Only the gems in the game win the respect of their veterans early in their careers. It is no wonder that the legends who manage to do so, usually go on to win multiple NBA rings.