Iman Shumpert Compares LeBron James To...ChatGPT?

By this point, analysts have virtually exhausted the list of superlatives to describe LeBron James’ greatness. Leave it up to a former LBJ teammate to come up with a fresh way of encapsulating the genius that is the King.

Appearing on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, Iman Shumpert had an interesting analogy for the former Cleveland Cavaliers main man. “This is the best way I can describe shorty: He is Chat GPT,” Shumpert said. “He knows the coaches, the assistant coaches, the player development…I don’t have the mental capacity for that type of s***.”

Shumpert, who won an NBA title with James in 2016, talked about getting accustomed to the stream of hoops consciousness flowing from his highly decorated teammate. “It took me about a month to get used to him saying, ‘X1, X2, X3, X4. I’m like, bro, stop!”

This anecdote from Shumpert echoes many other stories that highlight James’ immense basketball IQ. Players and coaches alike have shared in the past that they saw James calling out opposing teams’ sets as they were unfolding. On a less flattering note, pundits have also chastised the four-time NBA champion for abruptly scrapping plays drawn up by his own head coaches.

Though James’ intellect has rubbed some members of the NBA community the wrong way, Shumpert expressed admiration for how the crew in Cleveland “went to school” under their leader’s tutelage. “He got straight to the point and made it efficient. Make sure we win. If we don’t win, we fail. That’s how Bron felt about it.”

There are many holes in the claims about James being the greatest NBA player of all time, but there are just as many arguments in favor of his case for GOAT. Whether it was in Cleveland, Miami, or Los Angeles, James has constantly staked his claim as the most intelligent player on the roster. He has played with several gifted passers and shot-makers, but his uncanny court vision and foresight have always been the x-factor fuelling his otherworldly athleticism.

It’s not laughable hyperbole, then, to claim that James has more than a computer in his brain. As Shumpert would put it, there has always been a sophisticated AI programmed in LBJ.