Los Angeles Lakers: The history of LeBron James and NBA superteams

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has squared off with several NBA superteams.

Ever since the then 18-year-old LeBron James was drafted into the NBA out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in 2003, the composition and structure of NBA teams have changed quite a bit. Now at 36 years of age and in his 18th season, looking as good as ever I might add, LeBron‘s career has impacted and evolved how teams are built in a multitude of ways.

Depending on what website you click on, the definition of a “superteam” will vary a bit. However, in basic terms, and agreeing with the consensus, I will define a superteam.

An NBA superteam is a team with three genuine top-tier players in or close to their prime (often referred to as a “big three”), usually all of whom are All-Stars, and at least two of them are probable or solidified Hall of Famers, with the third player somewhere between a possibility and a lock (usually the performance of the superteam determines whether the third man ends up in the HOF).

Whether creating them or causing them, The King has seen multiple eras of modern-day superteams that have coincided with different stages of his illustrious career.

Let’s take a look at this slideshow explaining the long history of the relationship between LeBron James and superteams, as together they continue to transform the configuration of the Association:

LeBron James vs. superteams in the early 2000s:

When LeBron entered the league in 2003, the Lakers were wrapping up the Kobe and Shaq era, the Detroit Pistons got their championship, and as David Robinson’s career came to a close, Gregg Popovich was creating a dynasty with his all-time great big three trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers did not make the playoffs for their first two years together.