LeBron James: Let's Chat About the "Pass-First" Thing Again

By Blaze Hunter, NPPA & 9thwunder Magazine

SQUUAAADD!! Whats good basketball fans and LeBron Loyalists! Heck even the LeBron haters. Grab your favorite jersey because we're diving into one of the classic debates surrounding the King himself, LeBron James. Love him or loathe him, LeBron is a name that pops up in every basketball convo—and there's a particular question that just keeps coming back:

Is LeBron James actually a "pass-first" kind of player?

The Assist Dilemma

So here's what's up, I saw a YouTube video where this guy was trying to debunk the notion of LeBron calling himself a pass first player. People are arguing against LeBron being all about the passes base it mainly on his assist numbers. They point out that despite his sick stats, there are way more made shots than assists. But, let's break it down for a sec: assists only count when your teammate actually hits the shot. If they miss it? No assist for LeBron, even though he set it up perfectly. Kinda feels like an oversight, right?

Crunching the Stats

When you dig a little deeper, LeBron's playing style is way more about sharing that rock than most people think. Get this: He’s taken about 28,000 shots throughout his career, which sounds like a ton. But hold on—he’s dished out around 100,000 passes. Yup, you read that right. That's a whopping 72,000 more passes than shots.

This stat alone flips the script. If you're all about counting assists or points, you're totally missing out on what really matters: LeBron's game is all about spreading the love and creating chances, even if they don't end up on the scoreboard.

Pass-First or Pass-More?

LeBron is like the chess grandmaster of the court. He just sees the game differently, spotting the open player and making moves that boost the whole team. Alright, he’s the NBA's top scorer too, but the fact remains—he's dishing out those passes like nobody else.

This doesn't squarely put him in the "pass-first" box, but it sure marks him as a "pass-more" kind of player. He's not in it for the stat-padding; he's making the right play, whether it's sinking a shot or dropping a dime.

Let’s Shift the Lens

Trying to box LeBron into "pass-first" or "score-first" just misses the point. What’s clear from the numbers is that his game is way more nuanced. LeBron is a basketball genius, adapting on the fly, driving for a dunk, or sending that slick pass to a buddy in the corner like a boss.

The bottom line? LeBron James's love for the pass shows he sees the game from a team-first perspective. That’s his secret sauce, guys. Maybe, instead of pigeonholing him, let's just tip our hats to LeBron as one of the most flexible, game-changing players of all time.

So, What’s the Big Takeaway?

The stats are right there—LeBron's thrown far more passes than shots. That's pure dedication to team play, telling us a lot about his unselfish style. Whether you see him as pass-first, pass-more, or simply a basketball icon, one thing’s for sure: LeBron’s redefined NBA superstardom. Heck the Black Mamba himself called him a pass first player.

What do you think? Does knowing about those 100,000 passes change how you view LeBron's style? Hit me up with your thoughts—I’d love to keep the conversation rolling!