All Time Greats Playing Through Injury/Discomfort

[IllegalD]

For people saying we are being "unfair" or "too hard" on LeBron.

LeBron is the greatest physical specimen the NBA has seen, is he not? At worst he's Top 4 greatest physical specimen in NBA History, along with Wilt, Dwight, prime Shaq, Karl Malone. But LeBron is as freakishly athletic and physically indestructible as the league has ever seen. He's never even had a serious injury or surgery. Even Jordan broke his foot early in his career.

Here are lesser physical specimens than LeBron playing through pain/injury/physical discomfort:

Michael Jordan's Flu Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEwEsdKrNcM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIzrYcgfOH4


Isiah Thomas' Ankle Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c17tGKO40rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQRYE-p1muA


Dirk's Flu Game (plus torn index finger):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPQkmD6RpF8


Kobe's Ankle Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4FEFygK1ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP7NA-4oi1I


Larry Bird's Comeback vs Pacers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zKZQ8VWT9Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQpWgcUaeh4


Willis Reed Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6FcXCQRYPM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyGNITggLFs


Kobe Shoot's FTs w/ Torn Achilles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NqRrONH5KY


The Heat Game, Lakers vs Celtics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHsmmGo-yFc


Rondo's Elbow Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNpHqqbZHXw


Look. If LeBron couldn't play through cramps he couldn't play through cramps. It is what it is. But I hate how ESPN and everyone builds LeBron up to be this "indestructible physical freak of nature", and holds him up to these legendary standards, but then goes into full-on damage control mode when LeBron shows his weaknesses.

[LAZERUSS]

For people saying we are being "unfair" or "too hard" on LeBron.

LeBron is the greatest physical specimen the NBA has seen, is he not? At worst he's Top 4 greatest physical specimen in NBA History, along with Wilt, Dwight, prime Shaq, Karl Malone. But LeBron is as freakishly athletic and physically indestructible as the league has ever seen. He's never even had a serious injury or surgery. Even Jordan broke his foot early in his career.

Here are lesser physical specimens than LeBron playing through pain/injury/physical discomfort:

Michael Jordan's Flu Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEwEsdKrNcM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIzrYcgfOH4


Isiah Thomas' Ankle Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c17tGKO40rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQRYE-p1muA


Dirk's Flu Game (plus torn index finger):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPQkmD6RpF8


Kobe's Ankle Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4FEFygK1ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP7NA-4oi1I


Larry Bird's Comeback vs Pacers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zKZQ8VWT9Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQpWgcUaeh4


Willis Reed Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6FcXCQRYPM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyGNITggLFs


Kobe Shoot's FTs w/ Torn Achilles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NqRrONH5KY


The Heat Game, Lakers vs Celtics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHsmmGo-yFc


Rondo's Elbow Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNpHqqbZHXw


Look. If LeBron couldn't play through cramps he couldn't play through cramps. It is what it is. But I hate how ESPN and everyone builds LeBron up to be this "indestructible physical freak of nature", and holds him up to these legendary standards, but then goes into full-on damage control mode when LeBron shows his weaknesses.

Willis Reed in game seven of the '70 Finals? Really? He played half the game, scored FOUR points, on 2-5 FG/FGA, had THREE rebounds, and was badly outplayed by a Wilt, who, himself, was playing only four months after MAJOR KNEE SURGERY.

Reed's '70 game seven is the most over-rated game in Finals history. BTW, his teammate Walt Frazier scored 36 points, and dominated Jerry West in that same game.

How about Wilt in game five of the '72 Finals? He was playing with one wrist sprained, and the other, FRACTURED. And all he did in that game was play 47 minutes, score 24 points, on 10-14 FG/FGA, grab 29 rebounds (the entire Knick team had 39), and block 8 shots (with two questionable goal-tends)?

[edrick]

People are still comparing a full leg cramp, which prevents you from moving your leg, to the flu and other shit? It's not about playing with "discomfort", it has nothing to do with pain tolerance. No human being could play through a full leg cramp, it's just not happening, your body does not allow you to.

[IllegalD]

Willis Reed in game seven of the '70 Finals? Really? He played half the game, scored FOUR points, on 2-5 FG/FGA, had THREE rebounds, and was badly outplayed by a Wilt, who, himself, was playing only four months after MAJOR KNEE SURGERY.

Reed's '70 game seven is the most over-rated game in Finals history. BTW, his teammate Walt Frazier scored 36 points, and dominated Jerry West in that same game.

How about Wilt in game five of the '72 Finals? He was playing with one wrist sprained, and the other, FRACTURED. And all he did in that game was play 47 minutes, score 24 points, on 10-14 FG/FGA, grab 29 rebounds (the entire Knick team had 39), and block 8 shots (with two questionable goal-tends)?

Jesus christ dude, relax. Don't turn this into a Wilt thing. I'm just providing examples of players who went out on the court hurt. Maybe Reed didn't fill up the statline but his presence alone and his willingness to walk out onto the court hurt provided the inspiration/jolt his teem needed.

I don't know anything about that Wilt game, but if you can provide links and/or video I'll gladly add it to the list.

[Derka]

The efforts people around here go through to hate on a basketball player.

[atljonesbro]

OP is so dumb. How do you expect LeBron to go out the and stand in one place for 4 minutes and play 4 v 5? Lol at comparing other uncomforts to not even being able to move. Sure LeBron, go out there and be a hero and throw the game because you cant move.

[LAZERUSS]

Jesus christ dude, relax. Don't turn this into a Wilt thing. I'm just providing examples of players who went out on the court hurt. Maybe Reed didn't fill up the statline but his presence alone and his willingness to walk out onto the court hurt provided the inspiration/jolt his teem needed.

I don't know anything about that Wilt game, but if you can provide links and/or video I'll gladly add it to the list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain

[QUOTE]In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks; the Knicks were shorthanded after losing Willis Reed to injury, and so, undersized 6'8" Jerry Lucas had the task to defend against the 7'1" Chamberlain.[93] However, prolific outside shooter Lucas helped New York to win Game 1, hitting 9 of his 11 shots in the first half alone; in Game 2, which the Lakers won 106

[imdaman99]

Greg Popovich is not Scott Brooks. I remember 2 years ago when bran got lady cramps, Scott Brooks left Sefolosha and likely had Perkins in the game for bran to defend on 1 end of the court. Meanwhile Popovich would make sure the entire team would make bran work on defense which would make him a negative on that side of the court

[kennethgriffin]

didnt kobe play 3 or 4 straight years from 2008 till 2012 with an injury

he broke his hand, dislocated 2 fingers, tore one of them, broke another, theyre bent in opposite directions now.

kobe had to change the way he shot the ball because of it. he used to roll it off his middle finger. but had to change it or something cause he couldnt feel his ring or pinky fingers anymore and balance the ball

[PHILA]

Also Barkley with a bad elbow in the Finals, injured late in 3rd quarter of Game 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGBMfsGDrRs&t=6m25s



KAJ with bad ankle in 1980 Finals, Game 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZmnYxD4iWs&t=1m20s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u73tMFfCW5E

[kennethgriffin]

Also Barkley with a bad elbow in the Finals, injured late in 3rd quarter of Game 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGBMfsGDrRs&t=6m25s



KAJ with bad ankle in 1980 Finals, Game 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZmnYxD4iWs&t=1m20s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u73tMFfCW5E

lol barkley played injured his whole career

dude carried around a broken digestive system and swollen titties

[BBallZen83]

When you have severe leg cramping, it's not something you can "will" yourself to play through you idiots. Your leg seizes and you can't walk. It is what it is. Hate on him for anything else.

[AintNoSunshine]

Finals 2012 Cramp Game

Finals 2013 Headband Game

Let's not pretend we don't know how much discomfort Lebron was playing without his headband Probably more uncomfortable than any injury

[kennethgriffin]

When you have severe leg cramping, it's not something you can "will" yourself to play through you idiots. Your leg seizes and you can't walk. It is what it is. Hate on him for anything else.

i love it

[ballup]

Rondo an all tine great. I can get behind that.