LeBron James finds himself at an intriguing juncture in his storied career. As retirement looms on the horizon, it’s a sharp contrast to his early days with the Miami Heat when the NBA legend was just beginning his rise to greatness. Recently, a former Heat teammate made headlines with a bold statement, claiming another player was a better passer than James.
During their time with the Heat, James and his former teammate, Shane Battier, formed a formidable partnership, propelling the team to multiple NBA Finals appearances and helping secure two of James’s four championship titles. In a recent episode of Draymond Green’s podcast, Battier shared his thoughts on a player he believes surpasses James in passing ability.
Battier recounted a humorous anecdote from his time with the Heat, describing LeBron’s unique passing style. On Green’s show, which resurfaced on social media after one year, Battier revealed the name of a player he believes had superior passing skills.
“I used to yell at LeBron and D-Wade, saying, ‘If you want an assist, hit me in the chest!’ but they’d throw it at my ankles. T-Mac [Tracy McGrady] never missed a pass,” Battier shared, discussing both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s passing accuracy from McGrady.
James and Battier teamed up for the Heat from 2011 to 2014, capturing two NBA titles in that span. Battier’s career was nearing its twilight, while LeBron’s star continued to ascend.
During their tenure together, James helped lead the Heat to stellar regular season records, including a remarkable 66-16 run in the 2012-2013 season, which saw him claim the MVP award for the second consecutive year, adding to his previous accolades with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Though Battier wasn’t often in the spotlight, he was a respected leader within the Heat roster, bringing veteran experience and defensive prowess. His contributions, reminiscent of his time with the Houston Rockets, earned him multiple selections to the NBA All-Defensive Teams, underscoring his invaluable role on the court.