Yes and no..
Lebron didn’t start superteams in general. They’ve been around since the NBA has been around. George Mikan’s Lakers were a superteam. They had 4 hall of famers. Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard and Slater Martin are all hall of famers. That’s right at the beginning of the NBA. Then Russell’s Celtics which had 5–6 hall of famers on it.
Wilt arguably started the trend of superteams being created through trade when he teamed up with West and Baylor. We also saw the same thing in the 80s with the Showtime Lakers, Moses/Dr J 76ers and Bird Celtics. Bad Boy Pistons had 3 hall of famers. Jordan’s Bulls had Jordan, Pippen and later on Rodman and Kukoc who are all hall of famers. Big 3 Celtics in 2008 was created through trade and arguably had 4 hall of famers if Rondo is getting in.
There were many failed superteams that people don’t think about. 1980 Nuggets had Alex English, David Thompson, Dan Issel and George McGinnis – 4 hall of famers on it. But nobody remembers cause they didn’t get far. 1985 76ers had Moses, Dr J, Barkley, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones – FIVE hall of famers. 1983 Suns had a stacked lineup of Dennis Johnson, Larry Nance, Walter Davis, Maurice Lucas and Alvan Adams. 1997 Rockets had Barkley, Pippen and Hakeem. 2004 Lakers had Malone, Payton, Shaq and Kobe. 2013 Lakers had Dwight, Gasol, Kobe and Nash.
People don’t remember the failed superteams, only the successful ones.
But Lebron arguably started the trend of superstars teaming up in free agency and that’s something that is more modern and recent. KD going to the Warriors and Nets is Bron’s fault. As is Kawhi and PG teaming up in LA. The modern superteam era is full of free agents teaming up with each other and in that sense Bron did start that.
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