Have to ask if it is true he would have paid out close to 12 mil in taxes throughout the contract if he went elsewhere. Instead he wakes up in a warm place. With no taxes. Did anyone really think King James would go to the Knicks?
ESPN, the entirety of the city of New York, Stephen A. Smith until a few days before free agency began, Fin-Omenal, and many more.
No. If he wouldve went to New York (who ironically were a bunch of rebellious slaves in the late 90's) then James wouldve been forced to be THE MAN...something he clearly had no intrest in doing anymore. Wade is the man, Prince Pippen II is just that and Bosh is a rich man's Ho Grant. Will this translate into championships? TBD
James played it right and caved. You're right he can't do it alone. The King knows it too. He is the smartest non smart guy in sports at the moment.
No one player can win it alone and it's stupid to think they could man. He got to the NBA finals as the man, and it's stupid to say he could never win one as the man. Also stupid to compare his skill level to Pippen.
LeBron James >>>>>>>>>>>> Scottie Pippen (not close) Chris Bosh >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Horace Grant (not close) & You're right. Dwyane Wade is the man. In comparison, this is Michael, Magic, and.... Chris Bosh? He didn't go to the Knicks because that franchise is pure **** and Mike D'Antoni's brand of basketball is a JOKE. He didn't stay in Cleveland because well, who would? Joe Johnson I guess. I think LeBron James has always envisioned himself in a Magic Johnson type of role and Pat Riley sold him on that vision. He can't play like Magic Johnson with Mo Williams, Antwan Jamison, and J.J. Hickson. It's not a matter of being "the man" it's a matter of putting yourself in position to play the brand of basketball that compliments your attributes best. Playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will give LeBron James that freedom. He doesn't have to score 30-40 points to beat a solid team now - he can dish out 10-15 assists and let the game come to him.
Speaking of Chris Bosh, I find it funny how so many people are underrating his skill set and production. I wonder what those same people thought of Pau Gasol when he was suiting it up for Memphis?
Ofcourse Lebron is better than Pippen I was reffering to the "role" he is going to play. And I did say a rich mans Horace Grant in regards to Bosh wich is no diss whatsoever. The comparisons were aimed toward roles and not skill set sensative Heat fans. I mean Wade is no where near MJ but you guys had no problem with that comparison.
I don't think he was questioning LeBron's talents. And I almost guarantee he'll average a triple-double this year. I think he means that LeBron always talks about his legacy and being one of the greats. I know a lot of Heat fans disagree, but winning one with Wade and Bosh is going to hurt his legacy. Just like Jeter is given credit for champs over A-Rod. Heat fans disagree, but I think the guy with Chosen One tattooed on his arm just killed any shot of being in the same discussion as MJ - which, up until now, he told us was his goal. BTW - I'm not sure why Heat fans are getting riled up at this notion. Bron is still on your team, you are still going to win a ton of championships. This board said multiple times that if Bron comes, it will still be Wade's team. It is still an incredible situation for Miami and whether Bron reaches "greatest ever" really doesn't impact y'all at all. Basketball is a sport that is a lot about legacy and comparisons - I find it hard to believe that Bron is going to be in the "greatest ever" discussion if the only rings he ever wins are with Bosh and Wade.
Comparing James to Pippen is just ignorant. Why try to fit a square peg in a round hole? Why does LeBron have to fit into your Michael Jordan template? Why does a team require only one leader? Who was the leader on the 2008 Olympic team?
If LeBron finishes with 7+ rings, and averages a triple double for the next 5 seasons, he most certainly will be in the discussion. The fact that he is actually doing things his way, and not trying to be Michael Jordan will help his legacy in the long run.
Obviously. I guess I was looking at a more realistic scenario where he wins 3-4 rings over the next 5-6 years and puts up a triple double or close to it for the next 4-5 years. I don't think that puts him in the conversation. The guy has zero rings and the superteam won't be together past 4-5 years (because of the new CBA). Suddenly giving him 7+ is changing the argument. If you give Darko 7+ rings and say he averages a triple double for 5 straight seasons he suddenly enters the discussion, too. I mean, what if LeBron gets hurt and Wade and Bosh win it without him? Even if he does all that other stuff, does he still enter the MJ discussion? And the reason he is in the MJ discussion is because he said that is his goal. He took Jordan's number. He chose Nike and Gatorade as sponsors. He got "Chosen One" tattooed on his back. Listen to every post-game interview, he said he is the leader and the "go-to" guy. He is the one that set these expectations - so don't blame me when I hold him to them.
When has he ever not met his expectations? He's been the best player in the league for the past 2-3 seasons. Did he not meet your expectations when you took a team of nobodies to the NBA Finals? When he took a team of nobodies to the best record in the league? When he took the Cavs to 5 consecutive seasons with atleast a first round victory in the playoffs? The reason LeBron is in the Jordan discussion, is because he is one of the greatest basketball players to ever play. He's averaged 28-7-7 for his career, and is just now entering his prime. You can choose to discuss all the circumstances that surround him, but in the end his play has exceed every reasonable expectation anyone should have for him.
I agree, either subconsciously or consciously LeBron basically gave that series away. He would have looked horrible leaving a Championship team for the Heat no matter what spin he took on it. LeBron not even being in contact with a man that paid him millions and gave him every perk imaginable is just a sign of a person who wasn't raised right. Thats the kind of comment Gilbert was making, he was basically just calling LeBron a spoiled kid who didn't handle things like a man, I agree with him there. I think Jackson's comments are on the lowest end of the low, merely just to spark interest in himself and put a spotlight on himself. Gilbert was venting, no doubt but it had nothing to do with race, Gilbert had every right to expect LeBron to act like a man with some honor, he had every right to vent to the media to try and rally the city behind his team/business when he got left at the altar. LeBron playing the game that he did with the media was pretty sad, I never had any issues with him before, I actually defended him with a lot of people but I can't root for him anymore.
Lebron would have been blasted either way, as he is getting blasted now. That makes no sense that he would throw the game.
I know. Just go back and watch the games. It isn't the same player. I don't 100% believe it - but there is enough there to make me question.
He looked as bad as a Kobe did against Boston in the 08 Finals. Could have been the dejection of realizing the team around him was not good enough to win a title and probably worse than they were a year ago.
So you are arguing that LeBron is such a competitor that he GAVE UP because he didn't think his team was good enough? The team is not stacked - but hardly so horrible that they couldn't compete. Mo Williams isn't a star but solid. Jamison is a former all-star that still plays at a high level. Shaq is slow but can still get his underneath. Varejao is a good defender who gets a lot of easy baskets. Hickson is a decent young big. Parker / Moon / Gibson can make shots (which is what you want around LeBron.) It wasn't an all-star team, but pretending it was the Knicks roster is completely over the top.
Other than LeBron, there was not one player on that roster that would start for the Lakers, Celtics, or Magic. That team, barring any big moves, will be lucky to win 25 games this season. It was not championship caliber, regardless of what James did. It was good enough to win a first round series. Maybe a little deeper if LeBron goes out of his mind. And I never said he gave up. He had a triple double while he got eliminated. But it was obvious he realized how poorly a job Cleveland had done building a team around him, and was fed up with hearing people say he lacked "killer instinct" or some other imaginary traits that the media loves throwing out there, all because he didn't have Pao Gasol or Ray Allen on his team.
Gilbert's letter was immature and classless. It made him and the Cavs look like an emotional stalker that just found out the target of their affection loved another. I have no doubt that if Wade had left Miami for Chicago that you would not have seen a similarly classless display from the Heat or Arison. I'm sure there would have been some classless displays from fans, but you expect more from the organization. And personally, I stated that I would have understood if Wade left for Chicago b/c you can't blame a man for wanting to be with his kids. This is nothing like the RWs situation b/c he was under contract and really did leave b/c he was scared. He said so himself, but his defenders choose to blame others. The JT did reveal some classless displays by fans even though JT was left with only one choice, play for a team that wanted him or retire. IMO the Dolphin's FO handled it poorly, but not nearly as bad as how Gilbert did. They at least had enough class not to release a statement. In the end, James was a FA who had the right to leave. He never said he would never leave, just that he wanted to stay. Anybody who isn't acting like a jilted GF recognized that. And it's that same jilted GF mentality that criticizes the way it was handled. If he had announced it early he would have been criticized for not giving Cleveland a chance. If he had just released a statement he would have been criticized for not doing it face to to face. So he was going to be criticized for his method regardless. And I agree with Wilbon regarding Jackson. Having Jackson say anything makes it less credible. I don't think Gilbert was being racist, but now that Jackson said it I'm sure it wasn't racist.
I don't agree that Lebron winning championships on this team tarnishes his legacy anymore than MJ's was tarnished for never winning until he had Pippen and Grant. Nobody ever says Russell has all those rings but he's not great b/c he won with Havilcek and Cousy. The list goes on but every player who won did it with at least one other superstar, usually two others. Anybody who claims Lebron won't be considered great if he wins 4-5 rings b/c of this team has already been proven wrong by history.
I never got the whole "tarnished legacy" and having to do it all alone argument. Makes 0 sense, because the greats didn't do it alone. So much for a team game. Lol yeah. I'm sure LeBron will be crying about his "tarnished legacy" when he runs out of fingers to wear all the Championship Rings at once.
Funny, he was the best player in the NBA when you wanted him to "make your Knicks relevant again." It's fine to be angry that LeBron flipped you two birds and his third leg just for laughs, but let's try to stay within the realm of reality when discussing his impact.
Sorry, but Lebron's image is tarnished, as someone put it MJ would have never wanted to play with Wade in April, he would have wanted to kick his ***. I think if he would have signed with Chicago or New York and won a championship there I don't think he would have hurt his image as bad as it will when he wins championships with a near dream team of him, Wade and Bosh.
Which is just laughable, considering that Jordan tried and failed just as LeBron did before he got serious help.
The topic was the best offensive player in the NBA.. And to think its a forgone conclusion that Lebron is that is pretty naive. The Magic Johnson comparison is very accurate, and that is a pretty damn good compliment.
Not many "non Heat fans" dont recognize that his circuis act was a joke.... If he had went to NY I wouldve had Lebron goggles on too and all these guys would be singing the same tune as me and you.
Hey, I am not excusing the Cavs from their inability to get Lebron a wingman like Jordan had, I am just stating the realty of this all. Let me put it to you this way, you don't think Lebron took the easy way out to getting his championships? Because I expect this not to be a challenge at all, the trio of him, Wade and Bosh is about as sick as it gets. Even if Jordan never gotten Pippen I don't think he would have ever looked for an easier way to a championship, he would have stuck it out to the end with the Bulls and would have eventually would have gotten that title or two or more. And I didn't have a horse in the race to get Lebron, so I am not a burned suitor.
Sorry, but your comments don't have much credibility considering how badly you wanted LeBron on "your Knicks." Sour grapes. The reality is that no one can win in the NBA without help, so saying that LeBron couldn't be Jordan is irrelevant: Jordan couldn't be Jordan without Pippen. The man needed help.
