Are you nikkas high? Lebron is DEFINITELY a lockdown defender but he's typically also tasked with being the best scorer, rebounder, playmaker, and ball handler for his squad so he typically doesn't have the energy to do that and always shut people down. Not only that, lockdown doesn't mean you can't get scored on, you just are an amazing defensive presence.
You VERY rarely see first Option players always play lockdown defense for every possession because it's such a drain.
Lebron has shut down the likes of Kyrie, Rose, Parker, Paul George, Pierce, Rondo, etc.
If you tell Lebron that we don't need you to score and put all your energy into shutting a player down, he's terrifying.
Stop bringing up 80 stats, the pace was a lot faster, teams shot worst overall so more rebounds to go around, and defenses were very basic compared to now. Adjust for pace and Lebron, Durant, and Prime Kobe would have comparable statistics across the board to Bird and Magic.
LeBron?
It took KD only 1 summer to work on his handles and he had "lockdown" LeBron on skates the whole game. Dropped 23 on his head with his weak hesitation dribble and spin move. Stop it.
