While waiting, no doubt, for Victor Wembanyama, the first game of an NBA player had never been so awaited. However, there have been great players scrutinized for their first outing in the league, but a perfect alignment of the planets explains this observation concerning LeBron James.
The Internet revolution was becoming more democratic and the basketball player in question was already a marketing phenomenon, with no less than 142 million dollars in advertising contracts on his back, even though he had no professional experience! Moreover, Michael Jordan had just left for good, thus whetting the appetite of the press and the fans to find his successor…
“It was all about LeBron James”
“I had never experienced such an atmosphere around a rookie”, reminds Doug Christie. “Even with Shaquille O’Neal, when we were drafted at the same time, it wasn’t as huge. »
On October 29, 2003, LeBron James played his first regular season game with the Cavaliers. A meeting attended by 340 journalists from all over the world.
But it wasn’t the game between Sacramento and Cleveland that was at the heart of the general interest…
“We had a great team in Sacramento that year”remembers Tony Massenburg. “But that first night at Arco Arena, it was all about LeBron James. »
Was the 18-year-old kid going to be crushed by the pressure or, on the contrary, reassure, even illuminate, the world of the NBA? With 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals, the winger made a worthy copy of his future career…
“He looked like Magic Johnson, but more athletic. It surprised everyone.”
Already, he asserts himself as a leader while he has in front of him sacred customers.
“He was very talkative, directing his teammates a la Magic Johnson. He launched: “Let’s go! Watch that! “It was impressive because, usually, you don’t see that in rookies”says Doug Christie. “Sometimes we are nervous and we try to do a little too much. His maturity and his calm allow him to bring the game to him.observes Peja Stojakovic. “I remember thinking he was playing like a player who already had two, three seasons in his legs”concludes Chris Webber.
Another striking element: his physique. He is not a child in an adult world.
“He looked like Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler, but more powerful. He looked like Magic Johnson, but more athletic. It surprised everyone.”relates Tony Massenburg. “At the start of the game, I posted it. I caught the ball and slammed into him. He didn’t move! »explains Doug Christie.
“A few NBA players literally told me he was going to win ten league titles. How can you say that about a player coming out of high school? »
The Kings fullback will go down in history in this game for a very special reason. “I will always be the one behind LeBron on his first dunk…”
If it is Sacramento which finally wins (106-92), LeBron James swallowed the meeting with his talent and his charisma. As it will for the next nineteen seasons.
“A few NBA players literally told me he was going to win 10 league titles…”is surprised Chris Webber. “How can you say that about a player coming out of high school? »
Admittedly, it was an exaggeration to advance such a prophecy, but with ten Finals appearances, four championship rings on their fingers and as many regular season MVP and Finals MVP trophies under their belt, these players are ultimately not didn’t fall far…
| LeBron James | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2003-04 | KEY | 79 | 40 | 41.7 | 29.0 | 75.4 | 1.3 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 20.9 |
| 2004-05 | KEY | 80 | 42 | 47.2 | 35.1 | 75.0 | 1.4 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 27.2 |
| 2005-06 | KEY | 79 | 43 | 48.0 | 33.5 | 73.8 | 1.0 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 31.4 |
| 2006-07 | KEY | 78 | 41 | 47.6 | 31.9 | 69.8 | 1.1 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 27.3 |
| 2007-08 | KEY | 75 | 40 | 48.4 | 31.5 | 71.2 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 30.0 |
| 2008-09 ★ | KEY | 81 | 38 | 48.9 | 34.4 | 78.0 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 28.4 |
| 2009-10 ★ | KEY | 76 | 39 | 50.3 | 33.3 | 76.7 | 0.9 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 29.7 |
| 2010-11 | MIA | 79 | 39 | 51.1 | 33.0 | 75.9 | 1.0 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 26.7 |
| 2011-12 ★ | MIA | 62 | 38 | 53.1 | 36.2 | 77.1 | 1.5 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 6.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 27.2 |
| 2012-13 ★ | MIA | 76 | 38 | 56.5 | 40.6 | 75.3 | 1.3 | 6.8 | 8.0 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 26.8 |
| 2013-14 | MIA | 77 | 38 | 56.7 | 37.9 | 75.0 | 1.1 | 5.9 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 27.1 |
| 2014-15 | KEY | 69 | 36 | 48.8 | 35.4 | 71.0 | 0.7 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 25.3 |
| 2015-16 | KEY | 76 | 36 | 52.0 | 30.9 | 73.1 | 1.5 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 25.3 |
| 2016-17 | KEY | 74 | 38 | 54.8 | 36.3 | 67.4 | 1.3 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 26.4 |
| 2017-18 | KEY | 82 | 37 | 54.2 | 36.7 | 73.1 | 1.2 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 27.5 |
| 2018-19 | ALL | 55 | 35 | 51.0 | 33.9 | 66.5 | 1.0 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 27.4 |
| 2019-20 | ALL | 67 | 35 | 49.3 | 34.8 | 69.3 | 1.0 | 6.9 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 25.3 |
| 2020-21 | ALL | 45 | 33 | 51.3 | 36.5 | 69.8 | 0.6 | 7.0 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 25.0 |
| 2021-22 | ALL | 56 | 37 | 52.4 | 35.9 | 75.6 | 1.1 | 7.1 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 30.3 |
| 2022-23 | ALL | 4 | 36 | 45.3 | 25.7 | 73.7 | 2.5 | 7.5 | 10.0 | 7.8 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 25.3 |
| Total | 1370 | 38 | 50.5 | 34.5 | 73.4 | 1.2 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 27.1 | |
