It's Time For LeBron To Hand The Crown Off To Giannis

For years, people have been trying to remove LeBron James as the league’s best player. Ever since he uttered the words, “not five, not six, not seven...” people have stormed the castle as they tried to find a possible suitor. The Anthony Davis believers have fallen quiet, as the extremely talented center has only carried his team to over 40 wins once in his career. Numerous stars looked like potential candidates, but simply haven’t been able to reach LeBron’s greatness. Some argue Kevin Durant did it last year, but those are just his burner accounts fighting the good fight for him.

Time and time again, the castle still stands. Now, it feels like a foreign invader finally has the tools and the opportunity to stake his claim as the best player in the league. All hail your new king, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It is the easiest thing in the world to hand the title over to the hottest player in the NBA that season and claim he is better than LeBron. For years, anybody under the age of 30 who happens to outplay James seems like the prince who was promised as every LeBron hater scurries out from under their rocks to rejoin the fray, but this is different. Antetokounmpo is somehow reaching new heights while we still cannot fathom just how far his potential can truly get him.

As you could have expected, it is not easy to dethrone a king. There are three different battles that are all involved in removing the crown that has essentially been glued to his head for over a decade now. He has to be better than the player he is, the player he was, while proving he is still not the player he can be.

As for this season, it is easy to give the nod to Antetokounmpo. Everyone has been booking tickets to Athens, taking pictures while titling them “visiting Giannis’ hometown," changing the date to 2015, and pretending like they’ve been believers before it was cool. No matter when you first hopped aboard Air Greece to get on the bandwagon, this short sample size is what is getting everyone excited about him overthrowing the current king. Even though LeBron is having a hell of a season himself with less help than originally expected, it is clear Giannis is having a better year as of now.

With more points, rebounds, steals and a higher field goal percentage, it is easy to give him the nod. Yes, his higher usage rate affects his stats, but that still should not be a reason to overlook the information that is clearly in front of you. This could be taken as a shot against LeBron, but is, in fact, the opposite.

What makes this comparison easier is their current situations. Both have some talent around them, but not enough to even make a dent in their workload. They have each become the entire focus of their offense and have even taken over point guard duties.

Giannis’ ability to take over that kind of role for his team gives many the idea that he may be better than LeBron now, but still may not have what it takes to continue to grow and do this over an extensive career. It is fair to think he may not have what it takes to reach those heights, as few in NBA history ever have.

Still, it is getting to the point where that argument is losing weight with each and every season. Since his rookie year, his points, assists, steals, rebounds, free throw attempts, field goal percentage and three-point percentage have all gone up. For those who get their jollies off advanced stats, his BPM, PER, True Shooting percentage, and Win Shares per 48 have all gone up as well. He’s even taking down some of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s records with the tear he is on.

There is nothing that shows people he will slow down, as the man just dominates at a different level each season. If that isn’t enough, the man is still just 25-years-old. You know what LeBron James was doing at that age? If you guessed “not as much as Giannis,” please feel to come down and collect your prize.

Heading into his fifth year, Giannis simply looks better than LeBron did at that point. Based on his current stats and how it compares to LeBron as an up-and-coming superstar in the league, that is two victories over the King.

The last battle is what he can be. Just looking at his trajectory, it is clear there are planets in the solar system Giannis can reach that we have yet to touch. He is a 6-foot-11 monster who can defend every position, with a wingspan that can wrap around a commercial airplane and the handles of a point guard. Antetokounmpo is constantly surprising people each and every night by doing something that humans should not be able to do, and he is doing it all without an outside game. He has taken just nine threes the entire season, and is still putting up gaudy numbers. Imagine what he can do if he extends his range?

There is no speculation anymore. We do not have to sit around wondering how old we will be and what kind of music will be sweeping the nation when LeBron finally falls. That answer is whatever age you currently are, and Bodak Yellow by Cardi B. It is hard to ignore all three phases of victory any longer. Giannis has to be considered the best in the business.