James s claim to be the first person in history is controversial, but the foundation of the first team building in history is well deserved

On May 20, in the NBA's history scroll, the debate about "the first person in history" never stopped. Michael Jordan's six-champion dynasty, Bill Russell's 11 rings, Jabbar's longevity and data accumulation, and LeBron James' nearly outrageous career length and comprehensiveness all make this debate full of gunpowder. However, if the focus of the discussion is shifted from "personal honor" to "the cornerstone of team building" - that is, the feasibility and success rate of building a championship lineup around a player, James shows a nearly unsolvable persuasion. His basketball IQ, all-round attributes, leadership and adaptability to the team system make it the most ideal core template for team building in the history of modern basketball.

### **Overallness: The ultimate puzzle from No. 1 to No. 5**

James' physical talent and technical comprehensiveness allow him to seamlessly integrate into any tactical system. In the early years of his career, he was both the starting point of the offensive and the finalist. His feat of leading a single-core team to the finals has been talked about. After changing to the Heat, he took the initiative to adjust his playing style, gained weight and became the fourth position of the small ball, forming the "big three" with Wade and Bosh and winning the championship twice. Returning to the Cavaliers in 2016, he connected Irving and Love as an organizational forward, and staged an epic reversal when he was 1-3 behind the Warriors in the finals. During the Lakers' age, at the age of 34, he even transformed into a full-time point guard, leading the team to win the 2020 championship, becoming the first player in NBA history to lead three different teams to the top as a core.

This "plug and play" adaptability stems from James' rare "five-position-take-all" ability. He can organize offenses like a point guard (7.4 assists per game in his career, fourth in history), protect rebounds like a center (7.5 per game), and average 27 points per game with a shooting percentage of more than 50%. This versatility gives the coach a great flexibility in building a lineup – without having to equip him with a specific type of partner, just supplementing functional players around his traits. In contrast, Jordan needs an all-around forward like Pippen to share the organizational pressure, O'Neal needs an outside killer like Kobe or Wade to open up the space, and James can almost independently support the operation of a system.

### **Double improvement of commercial value and team culture**

In addition to the performance on the court, James's other core advantage as the cornerstone of the team building is his unparalleled business influence. From Cleveland to Miami to Los Angeles, he can drive teams’ market value soaring, tickets sold out and sponsors influx. After his return to the Cavaliers in 2014, the team's valuation soared from $515 million to $2.05 billion in 2023; the Lakers also quickly turned from the reconstruction quagmire after joining and became one of the most profitable teams in the league. This "one person is the economic system" effect makes the team management willing to give it all its resources and even tolerate short-term lineup trial and error costs.

More importantly, James' ability to shape team culture. He injects “professional spirit” and “win mentality” into the locker room through personal bootcamps, social media and public speaking. When conflicts broke out in the Cavaliers locker room in 2018, he was able to lead the team to the finals; during the 2020 Lakers rematch, he became the spiritual leader of the entire team, resolving the storm of the strike. This leadership is not only reflected in his peak period, but even at the age of 38, he can still attract superstars like Davis to take the initiative to join - a sharp contrast to Jordan's situation in his later years of wandering around in the Wizards and O'Neal in his later years.

### **Hardcore support for data and cases**

From a data perspective, James' success rate as the cornerstone of the team building is terrifying. In his 20 seasons of his career, his team has reached the playoffs 15 times and the finals 10 times, with a winning rate of 65.4%. By comparison, Jordan entered the Finals six times in 13 full seasons (46%), and Duncan won six times in 19 seasons (31.6%). Although the number of championships (4 seats) is not the largest in history, James proved that the team with him as the core concept is the lower limit of the division finals and the upper limit of the championship - this stability is almost unique in NBA history.

Specific cases are also convincing. In 2007, except for James, only two of the Cavaliers' lineup averaged double-digit points per game, but they still made it to the finals; in 2018, he brought players such as Love and JR Smith to fight "Cosmic Brave" four games; in 2020, the Lakers won the championship with the configuration of "James + Davis + a group of basic-paying veterans". These cases together confirm the fact that James can maximize the value of role players and bring the ordinary lineup to a level beyond expectations. In contrast, other superstars, such as Durant, need the system support of the "Splash Brothers", Curry needs Green's defense and support, while James is more like the "system itself".

### **Controversy and refutation: Age, defense and "nomad" label**

Of course, the controversy about James' "the cornerstone of the first team building" also exists. Critics pointed out: First, his defensive efficiency declined significantly after the age of 35, and it was related to the Lakers' failure to enter the playoffs in 2023; second, his "superstar team" model (such as the Heat Big Three and the Lakers recruiting Davis) relies on management operational capabilities, and not all teams can replicate it; third, the frequent team changes are labeled as "nomads", which contrasts with the loyal narrative of "one person, one city" such as Duncan and Kobe.

But these doubts just contrast the particularity of James' team building logic. His team-changing behavior is essentially an "active adaptation era" - moving south to Miami when the Cavaliers lack helpers, returning to the Cavaliers when the Heat's salary is locked, and pushing for trades to Davis when the Lakers Youth Army is growing slowly. Every choice is accurate to the nodes of the league pattern change to ensure that the team is always in the championship window. This "dynamic team building" thinking is the core characteristic that modern basketball management most desires: a leader who can not only shoulder the current record but also foresee future trends.

### **Conclusion: Redefining the dimension of "cornerstone"**

The debate about the first person in history may never be concluded, but James deserves the title of "the first team building cornerstone in history". He redefined the dimension of the "cornerstone": not only the scoring machine or the defensive gate, but also the designer of the tactical system, the adhesive for the locker room, and the engine of the business empire.