Why Jeremy Lin is the Best Thing to Happen to LeBron James

Jeremy Lin and the "Linsanity" craze has temporarily pushed LeBron James out of the spotlight.

Lin's narrative is incredibly unique—his story is something that will likely be made into a movie one day and his improbable rise in the New York limelight is not something that happens frequently in the NBA.

Lin has dominated headlines, been the focal point of almost every story and has made most casual fans turn their cheek toward LeBron.

And it's a good thing for James that this has happened.

James is having an absolutely remarkable season. He's been a joy to watch, an unbelievable player and has really transformed his game in order to elevate it to a place it's never been before.

Since entering the league, we've used the word "dominant" to describe his play, but we have never seen a season like the one he is turning in for the 2011-12 campaign in Miami.

James is averaging 27.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists on a ridiculous 55.0 percent shooting—those numbers are downright incredible no matter how one slices him. But they don't tell the entire story of just how good James has been and why he is the unquestioned MVP for the first half of the season.

James' 32.68 PER (Player Efficiency Rating) is remarkable; Dwyane Wade ranks second with a mark of 28.46. The gap between James and Wade is stunning, but let's put it into perspective.

If the season were to end today, James would have the highest PER of all time, according to Basketball-Reference.

That's better than Michael Jordan and better than Wilt Chamberlain. LeBron would be in a place by himself in basketball history that illustrates just how amazing his effort has been this season.

That's really saying something.

But we haven't even talked about how good his team is playing.

Miami's 26-7 record has the Heat sitting atop the NBA. A popular pick for the top spot in power rankings on a consistent basis, this club isn't just beating its opponents—it has been utterly destroying them.

Currently ranking first in offensive efficiency and fifth in defensive efficiency, James is leading the charge for a club that has separated itself from any other in the league at this time.

It's not just about how productive James has been, but more about what he's been able to accomplish in fewer minutes.

Averaging a career-low in minutes per game (36:36), James is turning in the most impressive regular season of his career.

In other words, James is averaging just over three full quarters of action and is blowing everybody out of the water in the process.

James hasn't scored fewer than 16 points in a game all season. He has netted 30 or more points in 14 contests and has shot at least 60 percent from the floor a ridiculous 12 times.

Still not impressed? James has scored 883 points on just 580 shots this season and is third in the league behind Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant in total points. Bryant has 927 points on 768 shots, while Durant has 887 points on 624 shots.

James' 218 assists place him ninth in the league and ahead of point guards like Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.

While the entire universe gives its full-fledged attention to Lin and the intriguing element he's injected into New York's season, James is quietly going about his business in a way he never has before.

No matter what your opinion of James is, there is no denying what he's been able to do so far this season. He is the most physically gifted basketball player currently in the game, and he is exerting his dominance on a nightly basis against the opposition.

Enjoy this, because we may not see another season like it for a long, long time.