Believe it or not I really don’t care about this argument. So why write about it? I’m writing about it because there’s a new twist to this argument now that Lebron had joined Bosh and Wade in Miami. It isn't about the stats but about drive and passion.
Lebron James was a free agent and by that very definition he is free to go anywhere he pleases. It is his right, and I don’t mind him leaving Cleveland. People have had different opinions about Lebron leaving for another team and that’s fine but what is unanimously agreed upon is the narcissistic, self-absorbed, and insensitive manner by which he did it. Bosh and Wade hired a production company to film the entire free agency process in order to make a “documentary.” This documentary will no doubt end with Lebron’s announcement as the climax in which he embarrasses his hometown over national television. This has left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth (expect in Miami’s of course). This is why EVERYONE will be watching them next year, not cheering for them but hoping they lose.
As it’s already been pointed out, no other professional athlete could generate this much interest in a decision other than Lebron. The reason being that he has the pedigree to be the best player of all-time. Which makes his decision to go to Miami all the more disappointing. If I were 25 years old, rich, and everyone worshipped me I would probably want to go to South Beach with my buddies too. But there’s a competitive fire in athletes that we admire that’s much bigger than a buddy system. Lets take a quick look at history.
Bird and Magic
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are great friends today. But it wasn’t because they played AAU together has kids. It wasn’t because they played USA Basketball together. It was because they tried to destroy each other every time they played against each other and they respected each other for doing it. They brought the best out of each other and as a result they reached heights they couldn’t have reached without driving one another to do so. Now, years after their playing days, they are linked closer to each other than they are to any of their former teammates. In the HBO documentary, Larry Bird said, “They’ll be talking about this [Bird and Magic] for a 100 years.” And you know what? He’s right.
Jordan
One of my theories on why Michael Jordan retired the first time after the 1993 season was that Bird and Magic were retired and there was no one left to conquer. He didn’t do well in baseball, got bored, and decided to come back to the NBA. He didn’t make a spectacle of it, just a simple fax with two words, “I’m back.”
Jordan came back with only 17 games left in the 1995 season and lost to the Orlando Magic in the semi-conference finals in 6 games. Magic forward Horace Grant was carried off as the hero on the Bulls court, having left the Bulls the previous season for Orlando because he “didn’t feel appreciated.” I’ll never forget the look on Jordan’s face during that game. He watched with pressed lips as though he was holding back the fire that was burning his soul.
Do you know what happened the following season? Jordan went full “Destroy Everyone” mode the entire year, lead the league in scoring (30.4 ppg), winning the All-Star MVP, regular season MVP, leading the Bulls to the NBA all-time best record of 72-10, won his 4th title and was named Finals MVP (his 4th). Now THAT’S how your react after losing! You don’t promote a documentary about yourself after you lose. You don’t promote a book about yourself after you lose. And you certainly don’t join the competition when you lose.
Jordan never cared about being a “global icon” or selling his “brand.” He was consumed by winning. Ironically, winning was how Jordan sold his brand and became a global icon. That’s something Lebron has yet to figure out.
Lebron
If Lebron truly wanted to win then why not go to Chicago where he clearly would have been “the guy?” He would’ve had D. Rose, an elite point guard who happens to play very similar to D. Wade but less polished. He would’ve had one of the best defensive/rebounding centers in Noah. He would’ve had a low-post threat in Boozer (something he’s never had).
The wife tells me, “I think it’s okay that Lebron is not wired the way everyone else wants him to be wired. If he’s content playing with his buddies and partying in South Beach during the off season then he should be free to make that decision.” Valid point. However, maybe that is part of the problem. An athlete as gifted as Lebron shouldn’t have that mentality. How is that not “burying your talents” instead of multiplying them?
Furthermore, Lebron has always wanted to be beloved by the people. How is he going to handle the villain role? Do you think only Cleveland is mad at him? What about the other cities he was jacking around? The Nets, Knicks, and Bulls aren’t going to be mad? Those cities fan base aren’t going to spit venom when he comes to town? He didn’t have the stomach to be “the hero” (although he keeps referring to himself as “the king.”) now he’s content with being a Mega-sidekick for D. Wade? How is this not disappointing?
As a Laker fan, I didn’t have a horse in the free agency race. But as a basketball fan, I want to see basketball at the highest level. Lebron going to Miami instead of Chicago or staying in Cleveland was a major let down. Bill Simmons says it best, “Michael Jordan would have wanted to kick Dwyane Wade's butt every spring, not play with him. This should be mentioned every day for the rest of LeBron's career. It's also the kryptonite for any ‘Some day we'll remember LeBron James as the best basketball player ever’ argument. We will not. Jordan and Russell were the greatest players of all time. Neither of them would have made the choice that LeBron did. That should tell you something.” This brings me back to my point about the Kobe vs. Lebron thing.
For part II click here.
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