[quote:post_uid0="DMW"]I would take Lebron James on my team over Carmelo without having to think twice about it. He HAS lived up to expectations and Carmelo's great, but he's nowhere near the athelte Lebron is. I don't know what you have against him Spinoff, because watching them both play it seems pretty clear that Lebron is better now and will be better throughout the rest of his career. And yes, no one deserves those kind of endorsements.[/quote:post_uid0]
Stats say a lot more than just watching somebody play. Lebron is just the next Vince Carter. He can do nice dunks so people think he is so great.
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2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Points
Player G FG FT PPG PTS
1. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 20 128 96 18.8 375
2. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 20 128 56 16.5 329
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Total Rebounds
Player G OFF DEF RPG REB
2. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 20 46 91 6.9 137
2. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 20 34 103 6.9 137
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Field Goals Percentage
Player FGM FGA FG%
9. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 128 321 .399
10. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 128 322 .398
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Three-Point Field Goals Percentage
Player 3FGM 3FGA 3FG%
3. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 23 68 .338
5. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 17 54 .315
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Free Throws Percentage
Player FTM FTA FT%
8. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 96 127 .756
13. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 56 80 .700
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Assists
Player G APG AST
1. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 20 6.4 127
6. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 20 3.1 62
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Steals
Player G SPG STL
1. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 20 1.30 26
3. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 20 1.25 25
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Blocks
Player G AVG BLK
2. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 20 1.00 20
5. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 20 .65 13
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Minutes Played
Player G MPG MIN
1. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 20 40.0 799
2. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 20 35.3 705
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Double-doubles
Player DD
1. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 5
5. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 2
2003-04 Regular Season Rookie Leaders: Turnovers
Player G TPG TO
1. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) 20 3.70 74
2. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) 20 2.95 59
Now despite being rookies these two are the team leaders in points and are being depended on to help two teams that have struggled in past seasons (both were 17-65 last season). That is a lot of pressure for a rookie but so far Anthony has been able to help Denver. In the Central Division Cleveland is tied with Chicago for last place. In the Midwest Division Denver is tied for first. And if Denver wins 5 more games they will already have a better season than last year
