In a surprising and heartfelt moment, NBA legend LeBron James recently named Derrick Tarver, not Kevin Durant, not Steph Curry, not Kobe Bryant, as the toughest player he’s ever had to guard.
The revelation came during an interview on 360 With Speedy, where James reflected on his early basketball battles growing up in Akron, Ohio. Tarver, a former University of Akron standout who never made it to the NBA, responded with humility, humor, and pride.
When asked to name the best player he’s ever guarded at any level, LeBron didn’t hesitate:
“A kid that we grew up with, it’s like our brother now, his name is Derrick Tarver… He was just stronger than everybody at like 10 years old. You knew what he was going to do, and there was no way you was going to stop it.”
James emphasized Tarver’s physical dominance and skill, noting that even as a younger player, he struggled to contain Tarver’s left-handed power and relentless drive. He added with a laugh:
“He still thinks he can cook me now… He can’t cook me anymore though.”
Tarver, now 45, responded to LeBron’s comments on Instagram with a mix of nostalgia and humor:
“My back hurts just thinking about playing you in ones LeBron James. U gotta play yo nephew (DJ).”
Credit: LeBron James/Instagram
LeBron replied with a string of laughing emojis and a warm message:
“We had more than enough battles growing up for damn sure!”
Though Tarver never reached the NBA spotlight, his basketball journey was remarkable. He played at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, the same school as LeBron, before starring at the University of Akron. Despite suffering a health scare when his twin brother Darren had a heart attack in 2002, Tarver persevered, receiving a defibrillator implant and returning to the court.
He averaged 21.6 points per game over two seasons at Akron and briefly joined the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Summer League roster in 2005. Though he didn’t make the final cut, Tarver continued his career overseas before retiring.
