I know...it's been a long time; I shouldn't have left you. Music has kept me quite busy, so I hope you all will forgive my lack of posting, but I had to change my schedule and wake up early in the morning to write this piece. This is something that has been on my mind for some time now, and in many ways; pains me to have to write. I feel like this is the appropriate time to point out something that most band-wagoners, coattail-riders and LeBron-jockers can't seem to wrap their minds around. Maybe they can and just don't out of fear that they won't get an e-vite to LeBron's super cool parties. Well spoiler alert, that e-vite isn't coming, ever. The fact is that LeBron, despite some dips in his public image, is a massive popular icon. Most will look at the bright side of his behavior and neglect the dark side. He will get the benefit of the doubt most times than not. This usually happens when one is dominant or unquestionably the best in his or her field, but does he deserve this treatment? Is he really as good as people want him to be? Without a doubt, LeBron James could be the most talented basketball player in NBA history, but does his on and off court behavior warrant his title of "Best Player On The Planet"? Let's look at some of the things that diminish "The King's" dominion over the NBA history books:
Crying/Complaining To Refs
Constantly. I mean damn near after every play. Not just offensive plays. EVERY PLAY. 90 percent of the time, you can see LeBron going up to a ref to conference with them about a call they made. And if he isn't actually talking to a ref, he's making a puzzled face or grimace because he felt he should have gotten a call. That in itself is a poor look for an MVP, but what's worse is that it puts so much pressure and influence over these awful (and many consider corrupt) referees. He winds up getting so many calls on the basis that he will talk your ear off and cry about it if he doesn't get what he wants. And what's even worse is that he already gets star treatment! He has been since a rookie, and that's still not good enough. One would think a 260 lb. MVP wouldn't be as sensitive about getting calls, especially since a 185 lb. MVP rarely gets any calls he deserves. *Cough, cough* Derrick Rose.
Flopping
This is probably the worse one on this list. Flopping has become an epidemic in the NBA and while still trying to pin down "patient zero", the league has tried to inject a vaccine of some sort this season. The 2012 - 2013 season marked the first institution of a fine system where after game replay would determine that players trying to deceive the referees would be penalized on an increasing scale. At this season's conclusion, the system has been weakly enforced, when really it should have been enforced weekly. We accept it with players of European decent, because it is a bit of a cultural thing. But now American players are doing it, and even further - superstars are doing it. At the helm is "lord of the flops", Sir LeBron James. Usually flopping is an action that is hard to capture in a still photo, but his flopping is so damn animated and over the top it really jumps out at you. It's impressive, in a way. Many make the point that, flopping is a "smart", "clever" and/or "veteran" move. Those who do, defend the move by saying, "Hey, if you can get away with it, why not do whatever you can to help your team win?". Those are the same people who would probably steal a blind man's wallet if there was no chance of prosecution. Flopping shows weakness. Acting, exaggerating or creating the illusion of a foul because one cannot earn it through legitimate offense or defense. And LeBron is the only superstar to come out publicly to defend flopping, saying there is nothing wrong with it. If that's true, why would the league establish an "anti-flopping" system, condemning chronic floppers in the league? The very presence of the rule, contradicts LeBron's comments...but don't let logic get in the way of a good flop.
Lack Of (Self) Awareness
How many times have you heard LeBron, and the entire Miami Heat team, use the term "We understand that..."? Many times it is in reference to the Miami Heat having a mindset of "us against the world". This just seems ridiculous, seeing as how the Heat having three all stars brought together on one team catapulted them into the leagues favor. You can see it in the media coverage and the beneficial treatment they receive on the court. True, many fans root against the Heat, understandably. And "I understand" that players will grasp on to any small thing they can to use as motivation, but nothing is as annoying as hearing LeBron James refer to himself as anything less than highly favored. Any unkind attention he receives (i.e. some ignorant fans snatching his headband, throwing items at him), he created himself by some uninformed and immature decisions and is in no way about the league being against him. He should really trash that attitude, it's not a good look; and speaking of decisions...
The Decision
I can't stress this point enough...LeBron James FOREVER stained his legacy with his self created news event announcing his leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. For someone who as a kid, idolized, imitated and wore the same number as Michael Jordan, he created a distance between himself and His Airness that I don't believe will ever be closed. The decision was disastrous in so many ways. One being, who does that to their team? And their hometown team, at that?! It was terribly distasteful, and whereas Dan Gilbert's (owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers) public outrage was misguided, I felt it was appropriate. I couldn't imagine Derrick Rose creating a media conference like that to embarrass his hometown Chicago Bulls. It showed poor character, but also weakness. This is something that I find to be consistent with LeBron; strong body, weak mind. The move said, "I can't win it on my own so i'm going to flee to another team with young all stars to help me". It should be stated that the Cavs surrounded him with capable talent for years, the truth was that Lebron was not ready to lead a team and carry all the pressure. Basically, he couldn't do something that Michael Jordan seemed to be born with. Who did Jordan have besides Pippen (who was drafted by the team)? I'm just not a fan of "superteams" and have zero respect for player who are apart of them. Miami Heat fans defend the move saying "what about when the Lakers did it, and then the Celtics?" I didn't approve of that either, but the Lakers adding Gary Payton and Karl Malone and the Celtics adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen is a far cry from two all stars in their prime. Three max contract players and then a surrounding cast of player who should make more, but take pay cuts for a chance at a cheap championship. It's simply unfair, when other teams have to struggle under cap rules to find talent that is suitable for their team.
What makes this "superteam" phenomenon so bad is that now every team has to do it. No one feels like they can compete with the Heat, so now Carmelo has to act like a baby to go to the Knicks. Now Dwight Howard has to act like a baby to go to the Lakers (and then continue to act like a baby). The Atlanta Hawks now have to violate the anti-tampering law by alluding to their signing Chris Paul and Dwight Howard to attract fans to buy season tickets. The balance of talent is more and more shifted to a smaller number of teams, which to me is not fun. This does, however, makes me respect teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs that much more. Never active with big name free agents, yet always remain at the top of the game. LeBron James had this at one time, but his decision to join a mega-team cheapened his place in the league in my book.
On Court Performance
When you like someone, everything they do is great...that's the saying. But let's look at Lebron James's play on the court objectionably. Again, there is no doubt that James is the most physically gifted player in the league right now...maybe in history. But what does he do with those tools? Yes his jumper has improved, but after 10 years in the game, smart defenders are still stepping back from him; allowing him to shoot. He's not consistent. He is a rhythm shooter and he's streaky, but not by definition a "good jump shooter". That being said, he is a monster when he decides to go to the rim. He is nearly unstoppable. One would ask, "why doesn't he go to the basket all the time?" So let's ask it...WHY?!! It's something that always perplexed me about him. It's like, he thinks he can't be the greatest unless his does what MJ did. His strength is not his jump shot on offense, and Lebron's major flaw is not exploiting his strengths more. He is 250 plus lbs. and he complains about getting hit when he drives to the lane. After the Chicago Bulls snapped the Miami Heat's 27 game win streak, LeBron complained that he was being fouled too hard. Really, LeBron? He goes to the hole, leading with his elbow, puts his head down and rams his Easter Island head into opponents and he thinks he's getting hit too hard? C'mon son, that's weak! Get down on the block and do work...there's no reason why he can't average over 30 points a game while having his usual 8 and 8 rebounds and assists.
Defensively, he is called great, but is he really? He is a good help defender, yes. And he does play the passing lanes well. I think what many describe as great defense, is really great athleticism. When was the last time LeBron James kept an offensive player in front of him and created a one on one turnover or blocked shot? If you look closely, you'll see he's quite lazy with his on-ball defense. I mean, Kawhi Leonard abused him one on one in the Finals, constantly blowing past him. While a budding star in the making, he should not be able to bypass a truly great defender in his first Finals appearance. LeBron's mental weakness keeps him from being as great as people label him to be. Maybe if the media told him he's not yet the best or as good as he could be, he would try harder...but for now he seems confortable being the self proclaimed "King"
Now, I will inevitably be called a hater for writing this piece, which i'm no stranger to. You're a hater when you don't just accept what every one else does, when you think about things critically, when you stray away from popular belief. Remember, this piece was written by a fan, student, and player of the game. More importantly, a former fan of LeBron James. I used to love watching James play, and thinking that with a bit more work he was on his way to being the best ever. Then he had to go and ruin it all. I guess you could say i'm salty. He took away my ability to root for an exciting player and a great talent of the league. But now, I can't in all honesty can't enjoy watching him. Not when there are players like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose, whose classy personalities are only bested by their superior talent on the court. Derrick Rose, aside from injury, to me has become what LeBron was...taking a team of not that much, putting them on his back and succeeding at a high level. Vastly improving every facet of his game rapidly and becoming an MVP. If I had to choose a player to build a franchise around...I choose Rose. Who wants a player who you know may leave you if things don't go his way? Loyalty, honor and respect mean a lot, and LeBron lacks in those departments. Being physically superior can only take you so far. I mean, what good are all those muscles, if you don't have the mind to move them with?
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