Lebron James: . . . I'm Taking My Talents to South Beach

On June 21, 2012, Lebron James finally won the NBA championship that has eluded him since he joined the NBA in 2003.  I’m sure he felt miles away from his infamous “I’m taking my talents to South Beach” speech. He finally slayed the spirit that has haunted so many great players before him like—Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Patrick Ewing.  Somehow, winning a championship validates a person’s career.  I do not necessarily agree with that position.  Were the great players who retired without championship rings less dominant or not “great” because they did not win the elusive NBA championship?  I think not.  It is a prime example of how the media overemphasizes certain accomplishments, but fails to give the audience the context within which to fully analyze each set of circumstances.  Obtaining a championship ring in any sport is commendable because it represents, in many respects, each players' hard work and dedication.  Let us not forget that NBA championships are won by a team, not any one individual.  I am happy Lebron finally won a ring and now hopefully, he can receive a break from the constant barrage of unnecessary criticism he receives.

Factors rarely raised when championships and legacies are discussed are the quality of a great player’s team and the quality of the competition a great player faces.  During the 1990’s, the Phoenix Suns, a great team in its own right, faced off against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.  As well as Barkley played and as good as his team was, The Chicago Bulls were, quite frankly, a better team.  I do not think it is fair to denigrate Charles Barkley for losing to a better team.  During the 1990’s, the New York Knicks were a tough, gritty team, but once again, they ran into a guy named Michael Jordan.  There are quite a few all-time greats that never won a ring, despite being on great teams, because of Michael Jordan.  The other players’ failures are a testament to Michael’s greatness more than their failure.

That said, let us revisit Lebron’s visits to the NBA Finals.  He made his first trip to the Finals in 2007.  He was in his fourth year in the league, and let us be honest, he ran into a juggernaut of a team in the San Antonio Spurs.  The Spurs had a better team, were better coached and were in the midst of what some would call a “dynasty.”  Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich were too much for the Cavs to overcome. The Spurs exposed the weaknesses in  Lebron’s game.  He was an ineffective shooter, and his post game was non-existent.  Not to mention—Larry Hughes was likely Cleveland’s second best player.  Nobody, including Kobe, or Jordan, could have led that hapless team past the powerful Spurs team.  Lebron and the Cavs were happy to be in the Finals.  They did not have the belief that they could actually win. 

Lebron reached the Finals for the second time during the 2010-11 NBA season.  This time, Lebron was in his eighth year in the NBA.  He had recently made one of the worst public relations decisions of his life.  “The Decision” was played a million times over and the clip of him saying that the Heat would win multiple championships was over emphasized.  Yes, I think “the Decision” was a mistake; yes, I think he thought the league would bow down to the Miami Heat.  The collection of individuals appearing in the NBA Finals could hardly be considered a team.  The Heat looked lost at the end of games.  They did not have an identity as a team, and Lebron had lost his love for the game.  As he has said many times since that loss to the Dallas Mavericks, he was out to prove a point to the world.  Seemingly, he had embraced the role of “the villain.”  That role is not suited for him and he looked out of place playing with a scowl on his face.  His desire to quiet his detractors drove him to the brink of elimination.  And, his inexplicable bad play on the court pushed him and the Heat off the ledge.  Not only did they lose the series, but the media said Lebron was not “clutch.”  His desire to play the game was questioned; he was accused of being a selfish player.  In 2008, Lebron played on the 2008 “Redeem team” that won an Olympic gold medal. The 2011-2012 NBA signified Lebron’s Redemption.

The 2011-12 NBA season began after an ugly lockout threatened to wipe out the entire season.  When the season finally began on December 25, 2011, Miami’s schedule consisted of many back-to-back games.  The hellacious scheduling caused many players to suffer season ending injuries.  The list of injured players included: Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Chauncey Billups.  In fact, Dwayne Wade’s injury changed the destiny and complexion of the Miami Heat.  While he sat out, he noticed how well Lebron James played.  He noticed that the team was winning without him.  He also observed Lebron’s comfort level when he was out of the lineup; Lebron James played like the MVP he was in Cleveland.  He did not defer, he did not second guess himself.  He dominated.  As a result of Lebron’s strong play and Wade’s maturity, the Heat developed an identity.  The team no longer belonged to Wade; Lebron had become the undisputed leader and Wade played his position as the second option.

The 2011-2012 NBA Playoffs were exciting to watch.  The Heat easily won their first round matchup with the New York Knicks.  They squeaked past the Indiana Pacers and won a hard fought series against the Boston Celtics.  When they finally reached the Finals, they were slight underdogs.  The series was billed as Lebron versus Durant.  Neither star disappointed, but Lebron was special.  He dominated the game in every facet.  He scored, rebounded, assisted, defended, coached and inspired.  He was the best player on the floor and he came up big for his team when they needed him the most.  People asked me during the series if I thought Miami would win.  I said “have you seen the look on Lebron’s face?”  He had the look that said “I WILL NOT LOSE.”

Now, because Lebron has won a championship, his legacy will be reevaluated.  He will now receive praise as an all time great.  The three NBA MVP awards, Olympic gold medal, countless NBA all-star appearances apparently were not enough, alone, to make him an all-time great.  In the coming days, weeks, and years, the media will debate where Lebron ranks in the pantheon of great players.  Regardless of whether you like him as a person, you cannot deny his immense talent; you cannot deny that he dominated on the biggest stage.

Peace