The Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans executed a blockbuster trade on Saturday that now positions Anthony Davis and LeBron James alongside each other in the Lakers front-court. While the Lakers paid a steep price to acquire Davis, the 26-year-old All-NBA performer instantly helps LeBron transform Los Angeles into a championship contender next season. But where exactly does AD rank among the greatest teammates of King James’ career? We explored that very question in the following slides.
No. 10 – Mo Williams
Mo Williams teamed up with LeBron James as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2008-10. During that time, Williams earned a trip to the 2009 All-Star game alongside LeBron. That season, Mo averaged 18 points, four assists and three rebounds in support of King James while appearing in 81 regular season contests. He’d help LeBron lead Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Finals that year as well before being eliminated by Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
No. 9 – Anderson Varejao
Anderson “Wild Thing” Varejao was a longtime teammate of LeBron James who provided defense, rebounding and unlimited energy in support of the King. Accompanying James during both of his tours of duty in Cleveland, Andy first helped LeBron advance to the 2007 NBA Finals by providing an enthusiastic presence in the paint throughout the postseason. He’d then come off the bench to help LeBron and the Cavaliers advance to the NBA Finals in 2015 before ending his tenure with James and Cleveland the following year.
No. 8 – J.R. Smith
After joining LeBron James in Cleveland midway through the 2014-15 season, J.R. Smith would prove to be an integral piece of the Cavaliers championship run the following year. While starting at shooting guard for the Cavs, Smith provided a defensive presence for Cleveland alongside LeBron while also connecting on 40% of his three-point attempts. During the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, J.R. scored in double figures five times while knocking down 5-of-10 triples on his way to 20 points in a pivotal Game 3 victory.
No. 7 – Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Zydrunas Ilgauskas was the first All-Star player that LeBron James ever played with in his NBA career. “Big Z” earned All-Star honors the year before LeBron arrived in Cleveland as well as while playing alongside the young King in 2005. The player who has his No. 11 retired by the Cavaliers averaged 14 points and eight rebounds while battling through injuries during 12 seasons in Cleveland. Showing his loyalty to LeBron, he’d also play the final year of his career in Miami as a member of the Heat when James first arrived in South Beach.
No. 6 – Ray Allen
Ray Allen was not at the peak of his Hall of Fame career when he teamed up with LeBron James as a member of the Miami Heat, but he would prove critical in helping shape the championship legacy of King James. During his two seasons with Miami from 2012-14, Allen averaged 10 points per game and shot 40% from three-point range while proving to be a consistent weapon off the bench. He also connected on a legendary shot in the 2013 NBA Finals that saved the series for Miami and propelled LeBron to his second championship.
No. 5 – Kevin Love
When the Cavaliers traded Andrew Wiggins to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Love in 2014, Cleveland officially had a “Big Three” that could contend for a championship. The deal paired Love alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and he did his best to open the paint by stretching the floor as a threat from long-range. Love averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds during his first two seasons with LeBron before becoming an All-Star in 2017 and 2018. He was also a critical piece to the Cavs championship run in 2016 and came up with a crucial defensive stand against Stephen Curry in the waning moments of Game 7 that’s since been memorialized as “The Stop.”
No. 4 – Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh sacrificed more than any other superstar to help LeBron James win multiple championships with the Miami Heat. The 11-time NBA All-Star averaged 20 points and nine rebounds playing primarily on the interior with the Toronto Raptors before changing his game and opening up the key as a stretch four when he arrived in Miami. He averaged 18 and seven with the Heat while helping LeBron and Dwyane Wade win two rings and advance to four-straight NBA Finals. As an All-Star during every season he played with James in Miami, there’s an argument to be made that Bosh should be ranked even higher on this list.
No. 3 – Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving scored 26 points during Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the 73-win Golden State Warriors while connecting on a dagger three that would decide the contest. He also scored 30 points during Game 3 of that series, 34 points in Game 4 and offered a staggering 41-point effort during Game 5 to keep the series alive. He was an All-Star twice in the three years he played with LeBron in Cleveland and would’ve made a third All-Star appearance in 2016 had he not missed significant time during the regular season due to an injury he suffered in the 2015 NBA Finals. While running with King James from 2014-17, he averaged 22, 20 and 25 points per game while dishing out five assists on a nightly basis. Had he not requested a trade in the summer of 2017 there is no telling how many more titles Cleveland could have potentially contended for.
No. 2 – Anthony Davis
At 26-years-old, Anthony Davis has already been named an All-NBA First Team player three times in his young career. The six-time All-Star, three-time blocks leader and three-time All-Defensive Team performer expects to impact the game for his Los Angeles Lakers on both ends of the floor alongside LeBron James. By the time they’re finished playing together in Los Angeles, AD could potentially go down as LeBron’s greatest teammate of all-time. But in order to do that, he’s going to have to come up big when the lights are brightest for the Lakers. As it stands right now, Davis projects to rank as the second greatest teammate of James career. But another championship or two could certainly change that projection.
No. 1 – Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade was an NBA Finals MVP before LeBron James arrived on the shores of South Beach. Alongside LeBron in Miami, he then helped lead the Heat to four-straight Finals appearances while winning two more rings–the first and second of James’ career. During the four years he spent as LeBron’s teammate from 2010-14, Wade averaged 26, 22, 21 and 19 points. He was an All-Star every season he played with LeBron in Miami before joining him for a brief time later in his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Until Anthony Davis helps King James win at least one championship, D-Wade will always hold the top spot on this list.
