NBA Legend Oscar Robertson Hails Lakers' LeBron James His Favorite Player | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Oscar Robertson was the original tall NBA point guard, using his 6'5" frame and playmaking skills to become the first player in league history to average a triple-double for a full season.

Robertson was also an early adopter of player empowerment, with his class action lawsuit allowing high school players to directly enter the NBA draft rather than having to go to college.

LeBron James is a direct descendent of Robertson's style of play and lawsuit, coming into the NBA straight out of high school and transforming the game in his image. Given the similarities, it's no surprise that Robertson highlighted James as his favorite NBA player.

"My favorite player — LeBron goes from Cleveland to Miami, back to Cleveland and then L.A," Robertson told David Aldridge of The Athletic. "Do you think LeBron was the only one involved in that? Don't you think the ownership of the Miami Heat was involved in that? But when they have it in the press, it's almost like LeBron is a dog, he's a traitor. Look at what he's done for franchises over the years. … Free agency has made guys like movie stars."

Robertson was making a larger point about the shift in power dynamics across the NBA. He noted that while some players are making upwards of $50 million per season, owners acorss the NBA are seeing record prices for franchise sales. Mark Cuban recently sold a majority stake of the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion, a number that pales in comparison to what even the top players bring home.

James officially became a billionaire in 2022, becoming the first active NBA player to earn that honor. The Lakers star, who is the league's all-time leading scorer and passed Robertson on the all-time assists list in 2022, is also the face of player empowerment for his era. His decision to "take his talents to South Beach" set off a domino effect that's still ongoing throughout the league.

The idea that these two would find kinship is unsurprising.