I hate being called a LeBron HATER

 

 

I hate being painted into a corner.  Choosing a GOAT is not a binary effort.  You can enjoy and even compare great players without loving your choice and hating the rest.  I actually hated my #1 basketball player of all-time.  He destroyed my favorite team and player annually.  I didn’t acquiesce to his greatness until after his 14^th season when he was done, and he showed total mastery of the game, himself, and the opponent. 

I'm writing this in May 2018...LeBron James has vanquished the Victor Oladipo led Pacers, and the DeMar Derozen led Raptors in the NBA playoffs. If you're reading this 20-30 years from now and need context these teams are considered part of the leagues JV division. The league changed the All-Star game format because the EAST is JV. The best 4 team in 2018 are the Warrior, Rockets, Pelicans, and Jazz. Don't get me wrong... what LeBron is doing this season is amazing. He is finally playing (in year 15) the way we have wanted him to play his entire career, and he's giving us MOMENTS albeit against sub-par competition. Beating the EAST when you by far had the best roster for 7 consecutive years is not greatness

I hate the dichotomy surrounding LeBron's greatness. No doubt he is a top 5 player in NBA history. He's done enough and won enough to earn that. At that level when you're judging the greats of the greats you're splitting hairs but to be called THE GOAT you have to separate yourself. LeBron has had several chances to separate himself and he's come up short

LeBron James is the most physically gifted basketball player of all-time.  I find none that dispute this.  So given this acknowledgment we expect more from him.  High expectation are a blessing and a curse.  When you are called KING JAMES the fandom expects jewelry and lots of it.  A king rides high and conquers.  Does the subsequent resume below conjure KINGSHIP?

It's disappointing that LeBron having the best record in the NBA from 2008-2010 never met Kobe in the finals. Kobe did his part but LeBron lost to the Celtics, Magic, and Celtics in consecutive years, and never gave the world what we truly wanted. It wouldn't be that much of a transgression but he teased us by getting to the finals in 2007. So this felt like one step forward and then two steps back. He knew he couldn't get past Boston so he created a super team in Miami. The Heat destroyed the East in the 2011 playoffs. LeBron played great in the playoffs and was 4 wins away from the mountain top. It was all right there for him and he melted down.

I watched that team closely because Dwyane Wade was my favorite players at the time, and I thought he was the Alpha on that team and a mentally stronger player that LeBron at the time. The Heat basically gave away game 2 at home. They had to travel to Dallas for a pivotal game 3 in which Wade took over and secured the win. After the game both Wade and LeBron were in the press conference and Wade said something that change the remainder of the series. He said “it's up to those of us that have been here before to lead.” LeBron James fell apart after that, in game 4 he had 8 points on 3 of 11 shooting. My theory. He couldn't live with the narrative of winning and he not being the MVP. He sabotaged 2011 during winning time. Imagine the Heat winning...Wade being named MVP which would have happened, and LeBron still claiming to be the best in the world. His ego couldn't take that so he ruined 2011 for no good reason.

LeBron won the next year …but think about it. Each of his championships have an asterisk. 2012 was strike shortened season, 2013 was the Spurs gagging and then Ray Allen bailing them out, 2016 was stupid Draymond. In 2017 LeBron had a chance to beat the Warrior w/KD and lost 4-1. No big deal...they should have lost but LeBron made 2 rookie mistakes in game 3 that could have changed the trajectory of the series. Cavs were up 2 with the ball and he should have took the ball to the hole, got fouled, hit 2 free throws, and iced the game. What he did instead was drive and kick for the corner three that missed. The Warrior rebounded got the ball to KD who pulled up for 3 right in LeBron’s face and drained it. During winning time you can't let KD get to his spot for the lead... you have to run him off the line… you can't give up a 3 in that spot.

One might say why so much scrutiny... I would say if you want to be the best you have to do SOMETHING great. You have to push it forward. My #4 player of all time won a High School Championship, and College Championship, and an NBA Championship in a 4 year span. My #3 players of all time won 11 championships in 13 NBA seasons. My #2 players is the all-time scoring leader who won 6 MVP's. My #1 player 3-peated twice, won 5 MVP's, 6 Finals MVP’s. My #5 play will score 40K points and have 10K rebounds and assists, win 4 MVP's  and get to the Eastern Conference finals every year. There is nothing wrong with being #5. No shame in it at all. 

LeBron will own all the numbers when he’s done.  His sustained greatness over time will be unparalleled.  He’s in year 15 and still going strong.  He reminds me of Peyton Manning, He’s more artist than killer.  High-end competition is weird... you have to have/invent disdain for your opponent (ask Isiah Thomas)…you have to want to win, and want the other person to lose.  Championships are a zero sum game.  Only one winner and the rest are all losers.  Killers thrive in this environment…artist don’t.

Imagine LeBron won that Dallas series and didn’t quit on Miami in 2014 when he realized Cleveland had the #1 pick in the draft.  A 4-peat changes history. Imagine he won 4 in South Beach went back home lost in the 2015 Finals where he dominated without Kyrie and Love, and then won his 5^th title in 2016.  Winning a championship in Cleveland would have iced the cake. He would already be recognized as the GOAT it would be irrefutable.  All of this was within his reach but outside of his grasp.  He couldn’t do it.  He was right there. The attainable became unattainable.  He’s an all-time great but he’s not the greatest. 

The thing my top 4 players have in common. They never had to say they were the best. They never ran their best player away from the team. They never changed teams for fear of not winning a championship. They never sabotaged a championship run. They never sought to control their narrative…they just played ball.

Last year I was listening to an interview of LeBron, in which he was asked a question about Tim Duncan who had just retired. LeBron gave all the requisite compliments and then said “Duncan has one of his (LeBron’s) rings.” Which is odd because he couldn't be talking about 2007 when he got swept by Duncan... so he must be talking about 2014 when he lost in 5 games. How does someone have your ring when you weren't even close to beating him? In fact in REALITY you (LeBron) have one of Duncan's rings.

I'm pissed now. So my new #5 player won 5 Championships, 3 Finals MVP's, and is considered the best power forward of all time. LeBron you’ve been vanquished to #6.

The funny thing is...deep down we wanted LeBron to catch the GOAT.  How cool would it have been to see back to back Goats in our lifetime?  But the mantle of GOAT is serious business, and it can't...nay... won't be given to someone that has shown this much mental frailty in the biggest moments.