Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

LeBron James thinks the Sixers 'got a good one' in Michael Carter-Williams

Michael Carter-Williams' strong NBA debut against Miami, and his high level of play since has impressed a lot of people, including apparently, the NBA's reigning MVP.

"They got a good one," LeBron James stated, in regards to the Sixers' likely Rookie of the Year.

Putting up 22 points, 12 assists, 9 steals, and flirting with a triple-double in a debut against the league's top team is a pretty strong statement, and one that James obviously took heed to.

"He has been playing great basketball, obviously he has his ups and downs like any ol' rookie, but he has been playing pretty steady basketball for his team," James added, per a report from Dei Lynam.

Not a bad endorsement from the world's best baller, whose rookie stats were actually very similar to the numbers Carter-Williams has put up so far this season:

James (2003-04): 39.5 mpg, 20.9 ppg, 5.9 apg, 5.5 rpg, 3.5 topg, .488 ts%.

Carter-Williams (2013-14): 35.0 mpg, 17.6 ppg, 7.0 apg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 topg, .496 ts%.

James has the edge in minutes and points per, but Carter-Williams is averaging more assists and rebounds, averaging fewer turnovers, and actually shooting at a higher true shooting percentage than LeBron did during his rookie campaign.

Carter-Williams is not the same type of player as James, but it is clear that they are both very versatile.

The admiration of MC-W's abilities stretches to the sideline, as Heat head coach Eric Spolestea also acknowledged Carter-Williams' multi-tooled talent.

"He is that long, multi-skilled point guard," Spoelstra stated.

"There are very few of those types of point guards with that skill set. I mean he almost had a quadruple-double in our game. It tells you the ability he has on the court to impact the game in a lot of different areas."

The Sixers still need to do quite a bit of work to build back into a contender, but the future of the franchise is bright at the point guard position.