Have you ever thought about comparing an NBA basketball player to a character or (class) in a fantasy MMORPG? Probably so because why else would you end up here.
In any case, for those who don’t know, World of Warcraft is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game that has been around since 2004. It was a highly addictive video game that had tons of people spending hours upon hours playing. In the mid-2000s, people were giving up their day jobs to play this game… Some people were playing for up to 16 hours a day…
WoW peaked at 12 million active players in 2010. It is the most successful MMO ever made. Now it’s 2022 and millions are still playing.
This game is filled with different races and classes which determine your specific character and style of play within this fantasy world.
Around its’ peak, a few NBA players were actually playing WoW. On Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye’s podcast “Road Trippin”, they talk with Tim Duncan about playing together til 3-4 AM… on game nights. Channing admits to having a Tauren Hunter named “Dookiedrawers”.
Former NBA player Andrei Kirilenko, the most hardcore WoW player in NBA history ended up bringing the game to life by tattooing a massive dragon with his character on his back.
If LeBron James played WoW, which class would he choose? Which class aligns with his playstyle in the NBA? These questions need to be answered…
Let’s delve right into it!
Giannis Antetukounmpo (The Warrior)
Giannis Antetekounmpo is the definition of a warrior.
He is someone who uses brute force to overpower his opponents. Warriors tend to be larger in size and wield massive weapons in combat. The Warrior dons a heavy set of armor giving them high defense and the opportunity to charge in on the offense as well.
The warrior is also better known for close combat, rather than fighting at a distance.
Giannis has been top 3 in points in the paint for the past 6 seasons.
Giannis mainly relies on his power and strength, but he is able to combine that with the use of tactical moves to score when the time is right.
His signature ability is the overpowering spin-move also known as Whirlwind. Take a look.
There is not much that opponents can do when Giannis uses this ability and 90% of the time, it ends with a score.
Giannis plays with an intensity to want to destroy anyone and everyone on the court. He is an absolute monster and gives it his all on every possession.
Stephen Curry (The Mage)
Steph Curry, the Wild Wizard of the Western Conference.
Mages are known to take down their foes with powerful spells. A true wizard is the master of all the different elements and can cast a wide range of abilities. Mages generally keep their distance when attacking because they are more fragile than other classes. Although they aren’t very defensive, they still have certain ways that they can escape combat or use teammates to better set them up for success (screens).
For Curry, he would be an ideal mage because he deals high damage with three-pointers on a nightly basis and most of his attacks are from way beyond the arc. Could you imagine if they had a 4 point line?
Here’s a compilation of some of Curry’s most critical attacks from incredibly deep range.
Mages are one of the most powerful classes in the game if used correctly. They are both intelligent and quick-witted. They must train themselves not only physically, but mentally to fully hone in on their magical ways.
Playing a mage at the highest level requires tons of skill and only players who have true confidence within themselves can master this class.
LeBron James (The Druid)
The shapeshifter and master of many forms, LeBron James.
A druid works with nature and all its’ surroundings to bring together balance within the world. LeBron has always been known for being a pass-first player, helping to create open shots for his teammates first and foremost, but also has the ability to be aggressive and score when needed.
He has primarily taken on the damage role this season averaging 29.1 PPG at the age of 37.
Druids are known to be able to live for hundreds of years by taking care of their bodies with earthly remedies and through other spiritual ways. It is said that LeBron spends $1.5 million gold each year on his body to stay in peak condition.
LeBron James does it all from scoring, rebounding, and assisting. The druid does the same. Druids can take on their opponents head-on, from a distance, and heal their allies. Druids are the purest all-around class in the game and they can do everything well if played right.
LeBron James could be considered the greatest all-around player of all time. He has the ability to shift into certain forms given the situation.
A master Druid can adapt to any situation and knows how to defeat opponents in any way imaginable.
Joel Embiid (The Paladin)
Next on the list, we have Joel Embiid the Powerful Paladin.
Paladins are similar to warriors, but they have a magical side to them as well. They use the power of light and holiness to take down their enemies. They wield melee weapons and usually attack from close range, but have the ability to holy strike their opponents by spending mana. Paladins are also very defensive, possibly the most defensive character in the game. Paladins wear heavy plated armor.
Joel is the most dominant player in the game and you could say the same about a Paladin. 1v1, there is not much you can do versus a paladin because they are so powerful. Sometimes it takes two or three people to take them down. Paladins not only have extremely high damage and burst, but they have high defense and a wide range of abilities that can keep them alive.
Paladin’s have the most powerful ability of all – “Bubble“. Although this ability has a very long cooldown, If Joel decides to cast it, it’s over for the enemy. This gives him at least 10 seconds of pure immunity to all attacks and he is free to do whatever he wants offensively.
Watch here in this duel as Joel goes head to head with Jarret Allen. Joel misses the free throw, casts Bubble, and completely disregards the defense of one of the best rim protectors in the game, sending him to the spirit world.
JOEL EMBIID DUNK OF THE YEAR, NO QUESTIONS ASKED | @Wendys pic.twitter.com/KkcY6abCMu
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 13, 2022
Joel has the pure heart of a Paladin for everything that he has had to endure in Philadelphia.
It all started with building patience through “the process” movement. He stayed strong through many difficult years and built himself into what he is today. In addition to that, Joel has had to deal with disappointment through tough playoff losses which have increased his other character stats – such as willpower, spirit, durability, and recovery. These upgrades have resulted in Joel being less injury-prone, allowing him to play more games throughout the season.
After years and years of trials, Joel Embiid has the chance to come for redemption this season and take home the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Trae Young (The Hunter)
Trae Young has all of the traits of a Hunter.
Hunters are known for most using their long-ranged weapons to snipe down their enemies from an extremely far distance. They usually fight solo, rather than in packs and go on quests by themselves. They are one of the best solo classes in the game because they fight alongside companions which allows them to do damage freely.
Trae Young is everything to the Hawks. He can single handily take out entire teams by himself on a given night, dropping 40 points and 10 dimes with ease.
He uses his companions to take aggro off of himself through them setting him high on-ball screens. These screens leave Trae free to fire from long range, or occasionally take it inside for the smooth floater. Trae also feeds his companions inside with lobs and bounce passes, which result in his high assist stat.
Trae Young’s most powerful ability is definitely “Sniper Shot“. This ability deals a TON of damage and has the furthest range in the game. On top of that, it gives Trae a buff that makes his shot much more lethal for a few minutes (catches fire) or in Trae’s case, it transforms him into Ice Cold Trae.
Here’s Trae using sniper shot at the beginning of the game and then proceeding to knock down three more 3 pointers in a row.
Kyrie Irving (The Monk)
Kyrie Irving is a Monk from a faraway land.
Monks are a hand-to-hand combat class that focuses on harnessing their chi and landing brutal shots on their enemies. This means a lot of their abilities must be calculated and require a lot of skill to land precisely. It takes trial and error along with years and years of training to become a master monk.
They often partake in advanced training methods that increase their mental and physical capabilities. They practice meditation and yoga to balance both their mind and body.
Monks are often misunderstood. Many people question the Monk’s way of thought only because of their unconventional ways.
Monks think of the world in a more spiritual sense. They feel a true connection between themselves and the world and are on the search to find true meaning. Some may call this achieving “Nirvana” or enlightenment.
Kyrie Irving is a special individual and whether or not you love him or hate him, he is perhaps the greatest ball-handler of all time. Along with much, much more.
Jimmy Butler (The Shaman)
Leader of the Heat Tribe, Jimmy Butler.
Shamans are spiritual guides that work alongside the many elements of the World. The four essential elements of life are Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. The Shaman understands how to control these different elements and uses them to his advantage. A shaman is a versatile class that can adapt to many situations.
The shaman is very powerful at a close range and can pummel enemies down with vicious element-infused strikes, he can heal himself if he falls to injury, and he can also occasionally strike enemies down from a distance with a lightning bolt.
Shamans wear mail-plated armor, so they have a high defensive rating. Jimmy is known as one of the best defenders in the league.
Jimmy Butler is also one of the best in the league when it comes to driving to the bucket and finishing strong inside. He focuses a lot of his attacks from the inside of the paint, but Jimmy will knock down a midrange or three-pointer here and there.
Jimmy can catch fire quickly and once he has activated bloodlust, watch out.
That’s all for now, maybe I’ll do some more players in the future!
Shoutout to TierZoo, he is the inspiration for this post! If you haven’t seen his videos yet go check ’em out.
