2011-12 NBA Season: Where Does LeBron James Now Rank in NBA History?

Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson. Larry Bird.

These are names thrown out when the conversation turns to "The Greatest NBA Players of All Time." The most relevant question today is, "Where does LeBron rank?"

When he first came into the league, LeBron James was considered by many to have had a legitimate chance to become the greatest of all time. He certainly had the physical tools and natural instincts to surpass Jordan.

Flash forward to The Decision, where James shocked the world by copping out and joining Dwyane Wade on the Heat. At that point, the Jordan comparisons were thrown out of the window.

LeBron's competitiveness and maturity were called into question, and in a few short moments, he had taken himself out of the running for "Greatest Ever." 

But, is this unfair? Should LeBron be penalized for putting himself in the position to win?

Perhaps joining the Heat marked a new point in LeBron's career. He had made a conscious decision to sacrifice his personal stats for championships. Maybe that was his way of showing maturity—by making a decision that would showcase his devotion to winning.

Flash forward again. Now, after a Heat loss in the 2011 NBA Finals and LeBron's meltdown in that series, he's not even considered the best player in the league, Kevin Durant told the Los Angeles Times.

For all of the people who rip LeBron, consider this: he is the not the first superstar to choke. Magic Johnson choked, earning him the nickname "Tragic Johnson."

Also, LeBron had legitimate issues with his supporting cast in Cleveland. With him, they consistently and easily made the playoffs. Without him, they only managed 19 wins with largely the same roster.

Third, LeBron is the most naturally gifted player in the NBA. Much like what John Wall said in the same L.A. Times piece, LeBron has shown that he can dominate with solely his overpowering size and athleticism. If anyone could overtake Jordan, based solely on physical gifts, LeBron would be the one.

Finally, he's not the first superstar to leave his franchise. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left the Bucks, yet he is still remembered as an all-time great. Shaq left the Magic, yet he is not the villain LeBron is. 

So LeBron left Cleveland to join Dwyane Wade. History is subjective. What we see as betrayal now may be remembered as a great career move in the future. Maybe future generations will see him as a smart player who knew what he had to do to win. Or maybe he will be seen as a tragic figure who was undeservedly criticized. Just as likely, he could be seen as a traitor. Really, history comes down to perception and context. The actions won't change, but how the actions are viewed in the big scheme of things will change. 

And maybe he won't join the select few that we remember as among the greatest ever. So what? Many superstars have not.

LeBron's resume from his Cleveland seasons alone could probably get him into the Hall of Fame. Maybe he never needed to be known as the greatest ever. 

In the end, it is up to the fans. They decide who can be considered as the greatest player of all time, and whether LeBron can still have his deserved place in NBA history is up to them.