Nah he was a bully ball player back then too, he was also just the quickest player in the league
Goldenwarrior92
LeBrons first step was fast, but once he is side by side, it is all about his strength and ability to move through players. Any guy fast enough to guard the first step couldn’t handle his strength and vice versa. It has always been his combination of attributes that made him hard to guard.
nhthelegend
Every single player on the court and bench in this clip is retired. LeBron just came off a season averaging 26,8,7 on 54% shooting. Let that sink in.
ItsRebelSheep
Two thoughts. A, this doesn’t mean it isn’t already happening just damn I haven’t seen it but have we already hit the point where people who watched Bron’s early years are gonna bestow highlights like old heads who saw Magic/Bird? B Lebron has always been bully ball. Just look at the highlight, yes he has more of an explosive launch, but if you’re looking at him the guy is still very much using his strength to get by and make that explosion
The_Lonely_Boner
Freak of nature for sure but as quick as Ja Morant is a joke 😂
ridemooses
Quickness, strength, length, and pure athleticism.
planetzzz1
Idc about stats or MVPs or rings. This right here was peak LeBron. First stint Cleveland lebron was the most dominant player ever. The peak of human physicality. It was like watching a cyborg from 2100 play basketball. These kids these days think Anthony Edwards is athletic. 2000s LeBron makes him look like a Walmart shopper. This man could jump lika Ja, sprint like Maxey, bully like Giannis. I feel bad for these lil kids who never witnessed the King in his heyday. I am honored to have been there to bare witness. 03/12/2008 I was there in person when he dropped 40 in New Jersey. It was unbelievable
WakuWaku76ers
What the hell is going on with Drew Gooden’s “hair”??
paddiction
LeBron was always a bully ball player. His signature move was getting you on his hip, after that you were finished
theytracemikey
He was stronger than everybody who was quicker than him & quicker than everybody who was stronger than him. There wasn’t anybody he who was a good match up from day 1 for young bron
roodypoo926
I am old
Redsox19681968
LeBron was God-level in that Detroit series.
jvrm1993
Tayshaun prince cowering out the way of that dunk is never not hilarious
firm-court-6641
What he did with that scrub cavs team on the beginning of his career was amazing.
Arannika
He was SIGNIFICANTLY quicker than anyone his size at that time, before that time, or since. He’s likely in the conversation of the fastest up and down the court top speed guys, if not THE ultimate freight train.
Players like Iverson, Hill, and young Jordan are all by themselves in the “quickest” category, especially in regard to first step
Iverson might have the deadliest combination of first step and handle in the history of the game.
Neader
Why you ruining my night like this
R-O-U-Ssdontexist
I love lebron but i think ja’s quicker
pendletonskyforce
I’m a couple of years younger than him. I bought the SLAM mag with him and Sebastian Telfair on the cover to see what the hype was about.
Messiahhh
Man, some of my first basketball memories was if I saw LeBron anywhere near the paint while sprinting it was 2 points.
RichGans92
He literally put this team on HIS BACK. If it weren’t for the spurs, he prob would have gotten his first ring that year.
durmduke
Greatest *athlete* the game has ever seen and one of the greatest in all of sports
carbine234
Prime Dwade had a faster first step but to be lebron that big is insane and just be as fast as Dwade
big_blue_lake_crew
The true start of his greatness. 18 years later and he’s still dominant. Shits wild
Getyodamnwallet
I don’t think younger fans even watch full games anymore
italvs
The fact that I remember exactly where I was when this takeover happened makes me feel ancient
tvsports2345
I remember watching this game live. He scored every damn time.
Stebsy1234
Young LeBron is the fastest player in a straight line I’ve ever seen. You would blink and he would suddenly be down the other end of the court it was insane.
BraxNetwork
I feel bad they’ll never see young Lebron live like we did, that man was box office every night
mlavan
Did OP not watch the Olympics? He’s still doing this shit today.
Cody9_
ok
3s2ng
This was when he scored 25 straight points, 29 of the Cavs’ last 30, and the go-ahead score with 2.2 seconds left as the **Cavs stun the Pistons in double-overtime**.
Tr0n56
Tayshaun Prince with the business decision lmao
bball_nostradamus
Wym no one? Only his haters don’t know how early lebron operated.
i_like_2_travel
What? Lebron has always been bully ball once he got to the basket he’d out muscle you
NuggsBurgh
My only take away is that I appreciate you calling me young
Reddits_For_NBA
These aren’t first steps. These are two borderline crossovers, and he backed up to take a running start on each of them. They are quite LITERALLY not “first steps”.
These are also what LBJ is best in the world at. Going down hill once he picks up some speed.
LBJ never had a really elite actual first step. That would be Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook (as much as he fumbled it afterward), etc.
jeric13xd
That 07 run by a 21 year old Bron is underrated. People only remember him getting swept in the Finals.
WrongnessMaximus2-0
He has done something that few athletes are able to do. He’s adjusted his game to the skills that he has at his current age. Young LeBron was an unstoppable combination of strength and speed. Just ungodly good.
mrjshah
God mode LeBron was born on this day
LogicalyetUnpopular
Not bully ball, but LeBron played bulldozer ball. He just bulldozes over people using his athletic gifts.
40 Comments
Nah he was a bully ball player back then too, he was also just the quickest player in the league
LeBrons first step was fast, but once he is side by side, it is all about his strength and ability to move through players. Any guy fast enough to guard the first step couldn’t handle his strength and vice versa. It has always been his combination of attributes that made him hard to guard.
Every single player on the court and bench in this clip is retired. LeBron just came off a season averaging 26,8,7 on 54% shooting. Let that sink in.
Two thoughts. A, this doesn’t mean it isn’t already happening just damn I haven’t seen it but have we already hit the point where people who watched Bron’s early years are gonna bestow highlights like old heads who saw Magic/Bird? B Lebron has always been bully ball. Just look at the highlight, yes he has more of an explosive launch, but if you’re looking at him the guy is still very much using his strength to get by and make that explosion
Freak of nature for sure but as quick as Ja Morant is a joke 😂
Quickness, strength, length, and pure athleticism.
Idc about stats or MVPs or rings. This right here was peak LeBron. First stint Cleveland lebron was the most dominant player ever. The peak of human physicality. It was like watching a cyborg from 2100 play basketball. These kids these days think Anthony Edwards is athletic. 2000s LeBron makes him look like a Walmart shopper. This man could jump lika Ja, sprint like Maxey, bully like Giannis. I feel bad for these lil kids who never witnessed the King in his heyday. I am honored to have been there to bare witness. 03/12/2008 I was there in person when he dropped 40 in New Jersey. It was unbelievable
What the hell is going on with Drew Gooden’s “hair”??
LeBron was always a bully ball player. His signature move was getting you on his hip, after that you were finished
He was stronger than everybody who was quicker than him & quicker than everybody who was stronger than him. There wasn’t anybody he who was a good match up from day 1 for young bron
I am old
LeBron was God-level in that Detroit series.
Tayshaun prince cowering out the way of that dunk is never not hilarious
What he did with that scrub cavs team on the beginning of his career was amazing.
He was SIGNIFICANTLY quicker than anyone his size at that time, before that time, or since. He’s likely in the conversation of the fastest up and down the court top speed guys, if not THE ultimate freight train.
Players like Iverson, Hill, and young Jordan are all by themselves in the “quickest” category, especially in regard to first step
Iverson might have the deadliest combination of first step and handle in the history of the game.
Why you ruining my night like this
I love lebron but i think ja’s quicker
I’m a couple of years younger than him. I bought the SLAM mag with him and Sebastian Telfair on the cover to see what the hype was about.
Man, some of my first basketball memories was if I saw LeBron anywhere near the paint while sprinting it was 2 points.
He literally put this team on HIS BACK.
If it weren’t for the spurs, he prob would have gotten his first ring that year.
Greatest *athlete* the game has ever seen and one of the greatest in all of sports
Prime Dwade had a faster first step but to be lebron that big is insane and just be as fast as Dwade
The true start of his greatness. 18 years later and he’s still dominant. Shits wild
I don’t think younger fans even watch full games anymore
The fact that I remember exactly where I was when this takeover happened makes me feel ancient
I remember watching this game live. He scored every damn time.
Young LeBron is the fastest player in a straight line I’ve ever seen. You would blink and he would suddenly be down the other end of the court it was insane.
I feel bad they’ll never see young Lebron live like we did, that man was box office every night
Did OP not watch the Olympics? He’s still doing this shit today.
ok
This was when he scored 25 straight points, 29 of the Cavs’ last 30, and the go-ahead score with 2.2 seconds left as the **Cavs stun the Pistons in double-overtime**.
Tayshaun Prince with the business decision lmao
Wym no one? Only his haters don’t know how early lebron operated.
What? Lebron has always been bully ball once he got to the basket he’d out muscle you
My only take away is that I appreciate you calling me young
These aren’t first steps. These are two borderline crossovers, and he backed up to take a running start on each of them. They are quite LITERALLY not “first steps”.
These are also what LBJ is best in the world at. Going down hill once he picks up some speed.
LBJ never had a really elite actual first step. That would be Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook (as much as he fumbled it afterward), etc.
That 07 run by a 21 year old Bron is underrated. People only remember him getting swept in the Finals.
He has done something that few athletes are able to do. He’s adjusted his game to the skills that he has at his current age. Young LeBron was an unstoppable combination of strength and speed. Just ungodly good.
God mode LeBron was born on this day
Not bully ball, but LeBron played bulldozer ball. He just bulldozes over people using his athletic gifts.