Commentary

Debate: Should LeBron play PG?

He could be the next Magic Johnson, but should James run the point for the Heat?

Updated: September 9, 2010, 12:14 PM ET

By Chris Broussard and Ric Bucher | ESPN The Magazine

The only thing Ric Bucher and Chris Broussard like to do more than report on the NBA is argue about the NBA. So we decided to combine those two skills in our weekly One-on-One series, in which they'll debate the hottest topics in the Association.

Question: Should LeBron James play PG for the Miami Heat?

Chris Broussard: This is a season in which everything will be new for LeBron James, and that should include his position. LeBron played PG until he was 15 years old, and it's his nature to spread the ball around, so starting him there will not only benefit him but the Miami Heat overall.

Ric Bucher: By "starting" I'm going to assume you mean playing the point 80-90 percent of the time at both ends of the floor, not just initiating their offense. Having him defend point guards would not be wise. He's struggled in limited attempts against the best point guards; it takes him out of rebounding range and reduces his impact as a shot-blocker. And on this Heat team, that means sacrificing essentially the only shot-blocker they have.

To see why Chris Broussard believes LeBron should run the point for the Heat, and why Ric Bucher thinks he couldn't be more wrong for the part, you must be an ESPN Insider.