Welcome to "The People vs. LeBron James." First witness for the defense is Bob Ryan.

Me: "Bob Ryan."

Lawyer: "Your NBA credentials?"

Me: "Watching and covering the NBA since 1964."

Lawyer: "It is your position that Mr. LeBron James has not yet gotten his proper due as an all-time great player?"

Me: "Correct, counselor."

Lawyer: "Even though he is coming off yet another MVP award in the just-concluded NBA Finals?"

Me: "I believe so."

Lawyer: "Would you care to elaborate?"

Me: "For one thing, it has actually been suggested by somewhat reputable people that Kyrie Irving, not LeBron, should have been the MVP of the series. While it is true that Irving broke the final tie of Game 7 with a magnificent 3-pointer while being closely guarded, and that he had a number of other key shots during the series, his overall contributions do not come close — let me repeat that, do not come close — to those of LeBron. LeBron James just had a series in which he led both teams in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks. Is it necessary to point out that this achievement is without precedent in the 70-year history of the Finals?"

Lawyer: "You never know. To some, it may be."


Me: "Sadly, yes. But that speaks to the problem."

Lawyer: "Which is?"

Me: "Which is that some people simply don't like him and allow their antipathy to cloud their basketball judgment."

Lawyer: "Why would someone not like LeBron James?"

Me: "The way he left Cleveland for Miami a number of years ago still rankles people. First of all, the act of leaving, period, annoyed some people, and not just fans in Cleveland. Then he did so in a regrettable television show that is not-so-fondly remembered by one and all as 'The Decision.' He followed that up by starring in an embarrassing gathering in Miami during which he said he was there to win a lot more championships than just one or two. But I maintain that he has made the proper apologies and that people should just get over it."


Lawyer: "Anything else?"

Me: "Some do not like the idea that he worked to join forces with established stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a potent trio. They say, 'Well, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird never did any such thing.' Magic and Larry remained with their franchises through thick and thin. Michael did end his career in Washington, but there was never any remote chance he was winning anything meaningful there. That wasn't the point. Yes, it's true that Magic and Larry never did what LeBron did, but it's also true it was a far different NBA landscape and neither had a comparable opportunity to do so."

Lawyer: "Anything else?"

Me: "He's just not Michael Jordan. He's been fighting a ghost his entire career."

Lawyer: "Isn't there some question about getting rid of a coach?"

Me: "There appears to be some truth in that, yes. But as they say, 'How'd that work out?' By the way, Magic did the same thing 35 years ago and that worked out just, fine, too."

Lawyer: "All right, Mr. Ryan. How good is LeBron James? Where do you rank him in the all-time pantheon of NBA greats?"

Me: "Let's just say that on a theoretical Mount Olympus of NBA immortals, LeBron dwells in more than a nice little condo. He's got a spectacular gated mansion that would even have impressed Aaron Spelling in his real estate prime. I believe that, first of all, you must separate centers into their own category. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are an entirely different discussion. And no point guards need apply, either. We turn to the midsize do-it-all guys to identify the best all-around players, and now we are talking about the likes of Michael, Magic, Larry, Kobe Bryant, and Oscar Robertson. Never forget Oscar Robertson. You can throw John Havlicek in there, too. Trust me on that. I think when it's all said and done the greatest virtuosos, guys who did it best at both ends of the floor, are Michael and LeBron. The difference between those two is that Michael didn't win it all until he learned how to share and LeBron didn't win it all until he learned to accept the responsibility of being the best player on the floor. In other words, when he stopped being so selfless and became more selfish."


Lawyer: "Some people said the Cavaliers needed to win or else LeBron would have been 2-5 in the Finals. Do you have any comment on that?"

Me: "Don't get me started! Of the four losses, he was on the clearly lesser team three times. The only exception may have been 2011 against Dallas. And what he did to keep Cleveland afloat last year when it had neither Irving nor Kevin Love was the most noble losing Finals effort since Kareem in 1974 or perhaps Jerry West in 1969."


Lawyer: "Is it your opinion, therefore, that he has been taken far too much for granted?"

Me: "Absolutely. May I point out that in the four years prior to his arrival in Cleveland the Cavaliers averaged 27 wins a year and within a few years with him they went to the Finals? Or that after he left for Miami they averaged 24 wins in the next four years? And since his return they have been to the Finals two straight years? Gee, do you think there might be a little cause and effect?"

Lawyer: "I believe we have covered it all. The witness is excused."

Bob Ryan's column appears regularly in the Globe. He can be reached at ryan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeBobRyan.