LeBron James NBA's Best Player? LaVar Ball Agrees But For Unusual Reasons

While he is admittedly biased, LaVar Ball believes LeBron James is the best player in the NBA; though his reasoning for it may be questioned.

James joined the Lakers on a four-year deal last month and is expected to bring back the glory days for the 16-time champions who have failed to make the playoffs since 2013. The L.A. franchise are now playoff contenders and recent betting odds have them winning at least 48 games in the regular season that would put them as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.

LaVar, the outspoken patriarch of the Ball family, is understandably excited about the upcoming season as James will play alongside his son Lonzo, and like many, believes the 33-year-old reigns supreme in the league as he was speaking during an appearance on "The Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder Podcast."

"The best playing in the NBA right now? Come on, man. I'm biased. The best in the game right now is LeBron James," Ball said, according to Bleacher Report. "LeBron James is the best on the fact he's stronger than everybody. It's whoever is the biggest and strongest at that time. Like Wilt Chamberlain, he was stronger and faster than everybody. Shaquille O'Neal, same thing."

While James being the best player in the league is a pretty common opinion, not many would agree it's because of his physical gifts alone. The likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan were also considered the best, but were never the biggest or strongest.

In fact, many pegged Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry to be the best player in the league, especially from 2015 to 2016, even though he's a point guard standing at 6 ft 3 inches.

Regardless, despite the disappointment of the NBA Finals, James did have one of his best years for Cleveland even at the age of 33. Having to deal with different starting lineups, roster changes, injuries and the absence of head coach Tyronn Lue, James willed the Cavaliers throughout the regular season and the playoffs in 2017/18.

With an average of 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game, some even felt he should have been named MVP over the eventual winner in Houston's James Harden.

As for now, the Akron native's focus is on his newly opened I Promise school which is geared toward at-risk children in his hometown. In addition to free tuition both to the school and to the University of Akron upon graduation among other things, James has been lauded for his contributions to his community.

Ball believes with the money James has at his disposal, there's nothing better than to use it to give back and help others out.

"That's something good to do on the fact he has so much money. He came up a different way, so he was like, 'I'm going to give back to somebody,'" Ball added. "What else can you do when you have that many millions of dollars? You have to spread it out. You can't die with it, so you might as well create some things to help others."