In the world of basketball debates, LeBron James’s legacy is always under the microscope, with fans and former players dissecting every part of his game. Just when the G.O.A.T. conversation seemed to hit a boiling point, a bold new claim stirred the pot again.
A seven-time All-Star just challenged the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, suggesting James would struggle in a one-on-one matchup.
Tracy McGrady Makes a Bold Claim About LeBron James
Tracy McGrady’s recent appearance on the “Makeshift” podcast made waves across the basketball world. The 45-year-old started off by praising James for his incredible longevity in the league.
“I think LeBron has been amazing for 22 freaking years. And he’s been the best basketball player for, you know, God knows how long,” McGrady said on the podcast.
But while he praised James, the former Orlando Magic star also added a controversial take.
“But if you put him in one-on-one? I think he’ll get crushed. Yeah, I think he’ll get crushed — amongst guys that are actually in the NBA. And I’m sure LeBron would tell you that. Because his game is naturally built for five-on-five. He’s not a one-on-one basketball player,” McGrady added.
McGrady’s love for one-on-one hoops isn’t random. He founded the Ones Basketball League (OBL), a platform designed to showcase elite isolation basketball talent. The OBL is all about one-on-one matchups, highlighting individual skill, footwork, and scoring in a way traditional five-on-five play doesn’t.
Still, saying LeBron would get “crushed” one-on-one raises eyebrows. James has shown time and again that he thrives in isolation. One standout example came in the 2018 playoffs, when he hit a buzzer-beater against the Toronto Raptors to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 series lead.
McGrady’s claim also overlooks James’s current efficiency. At 40 years old, he’s still shooting 51% from the field and 37.4% from deep — numbers that show he can still break down defenders one-on-one.
The G.O.A.T. debate will always rage on, but one thing seems clear: James isn’t getting crushed in any one-on-one matchup. That said, there was a time when one of his teammates revealed that James actually doesn’t care for one-on-one play.
When James’ Lakers Teammate Revealed His Thoughts on 1-on-1 Play
James’ résumé speaks for itself: four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and countless All-Star nods. But an interesting detail about his approach to the game came from one of his younger teammates last year.
In 2024, Lakers guard Austin Reaves appeared in a golf challenge on the YouTube channel “BustaJack Golf.” The video featured a friendly competition to see if Reaves could beat Stephen Curry on the course.
During the challenge, Reaves shared something surprising about James — he doesn’t like one-on-one basketball.
“Nah, he don’t play one-on-one. He said one-on-one’s not real basketball, which I kind of agree with,” Reaves said in the video when asked if he had ever gone head-to-head with LeBron.
Right now, James is averaging 24.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. He’s helped the Lakers to a 46-29 record, keeping them in the playoff hunt and proving — once again — that his focus remains on team success.