When you think of a great athlete, one of the first names that comes to mind is LeBron James. Standing at 6’9”, over 250 pounds, and moving around smoothly with elite strength, speed, balance, and competitive instinct, James almost seems to be lab-grown. Basketball was his rise to fame, skipping college and having arguably the most decorated career in NBA history across his 23 seasons of basketball. However, with all of LeBron’s ability, a question rises: If LeBron and anyone else in the world played the world’s 101 most common sports, could anyone win a majority of them?
Let me start by saying there is absolutely 0 disrespect meant for LeBron in this writing. This is just to cause thought to the fact that some may be better than him all around, an argument only trying to prove a point and show another perspective
The real flaw with this argument that many would be quick to point out is LeBron’s increasing age. However, I’m not talking about a 41-year-old slightly broken-down LeBron. Throughout this argument, I am picturing prime LeBron, 2015-16 season with his unbelievably dominant playoff stretch, back when he was absolutely untouchable.
When the argument is first presented, it doesn’t even look close. How could anyone possibly match that fame paired with athleticism and such good mental ability? Along with this, an athlete who was dominant in football all throughout high school until he was convinced to quit to avoid injury for basketball, and one who is now an avid golfer as well as capable in volleyball due to practicing with his daughter.. He is by far stronger, larger, faster and more explosive than almost all athletes in the world. Sports like basketball, obviously, along with volleyball, football, rugby, and handball would be overwhelming. His sheer size changes the playing field. Paired with his speed and coordination, it takes a high level pro to beat him at any of them. LeBron most likely dominates these sports just by his physical capability.
LeBron would also be a force in sports like baseball, softball, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, all sorts of sprinting, and many strength-based events like crossfit, tug-of-war, wrestling variations and more. Sports like these, which require quick reactions, body control, and physical dominance, would also favor a specimen like LeBron.
But the deeper you go down the list of 101 most common sports, the more that LeBron no longer seems to be the “Best Athlete” there is.
To take down a power like LeBron, you cannot be a specialist, but rather a more broadly skilled athlete with fewer weaknesses. Even though he is a freak athlete, this athleticism will only carry him so far when size and strength stop being driving forces.
Moving into racket sports like tennis, ping pong, badminton, squash, pickleball, racketball and others, LeBron remains competitive due to his sheer athleticism. However, a somewhat experienced racket sport athlete with the technique and touch required would take an edge. A well rounded athlete with strong hand eye coordination along with experience and the smooth mechanics that would come with it would allow them to outlast LeBron’s natural advantages.
The same type of situation arises in sports like golf, bowling, billiards, darts, archery, cornhole, and even shooting. LeBron’s frame stops becoming a helping factor, but almost an impairment towards the end goal. These types of sports are not won by physical dominance and intimidation, but rather balance and tiny details. A well-rounded athlete who has been around many different types of sports and knows the games would have a better chance then LeBron relying on all of his power alone.
Those sports are more of a middle ground, where the game could go either way with a little bit of luck. However, lots of sports have the frame of LeBron working against him.
Once you get into sports like gymnastics, diving, figure skating, skateboarding, snowboarding, climbing, parkour, and others, flexibility and body rotation take precedence over strength and size. Being 6’9” is no longer an advantage once you have to step on a balance beam or scale a climbing wall. The well-rounded athlete who is 6’ and mobile for his size easily outperforms him just due to the demands of the sport.
Endurance events also add to the mix. Marathon, triathlon, cycling, mountain biking, rowing, canoeing, and others are focused on efficiency over time. LeBron is designed to explode and put in a large amount of force quickly, not to sustain hours of output. In this situation, an athlete with lighter mechanics, simpler movements and stronger endurance, like the well-rounded athlete, takes the win here.
Swimming events are also much out of the comfort zone of LeBron. His tall height helps him, but the water wouldn’t be friendly to large muscles without great technique. The well-rounded athlete with some basic swimming fundamentals beats a superior land athlete like LeBron who may not be quite as comfortable underwater as a more experienced water dweller. This same principle will apply in sports like surfing, sailing, skiing and others where being familiar with the sport is better than being an athlete.
Combat sports are things that people would think LeBron would excel at. However, it favors the well-rounded athlete more than people know. Boxing, judo, karate, jiu-jitsu, and fencing are not only about strength. Here, despite his massive size, it would not be a guaranteed victory. Technique and fundamentals, a theme in many of the less common sports, take precedent over raw size and ability.
Getting into sports like chess and e-sports, things that are sometimes debated to be sports, LeBron loses all edge. Although he is incredibly smart and mentally capable, things like these require specialized decision making that LeBron has most likely not had the time to develop across these games, especially compared to someone who has spent time on it.
This is where the big part of the argument shifts.
As was established, the athlete who beats LeBron in the majority of the games is not a superhero, an alien figure who masters everything possible. It is someone who has less weaknesses across the board than LeBron.
This other athlete may not dominate any singular sport, or be known for one, like LeBron is. They will never become the face of the league in any sport, or sign a large 8 figure contract. But, this athlete is good enough at everything, and not bad enough at anything. Capable in all sports due to small amounts of practice that give a massive edge compared to a specialist.
LeBron wins big where his strengths matter most. LeBron blows every single person out of the water in basketball, and does the same to people who are not specialists in certain other sports.
The well rounded athlete wins where the strengths matter the least. This athlete takes full advantage of LeBron’s strengths and shifts them into weaknesses in the sports he can.
Due to the fact that there are more sports in the world built around precision, flexibility, endurance and technical aspects within the sport, and less around size, strength and explosiveness, the odds shift fully to the all-around competitor.
That is what makes this part of the argument so interesting.
Although this argument could never be tested, the person who would surely be able to beat LeBron in the majority of sports would not be better at being LeBron than LeBron could be. They would be someone better at everything that basketball never required LeBron to become.
