An Interesting Take On LeBron James

Another year, another NBA Finals is upon us. As expected, Kobe Bryant's Lakers will take on...the Orlando Magic?! That wasn't in the script...

Indeed it was not, as the Cleveland Cavaliers could not make the dream series happen. After the Magic soundly defeated the Cavs 4-2 in their best-of-seven series, many discussed which players (namely not LeBron James) cost the Cavs the series with their sub par performances, and looking even further, how the team could appease King James with vast improvements in the offseason. He, of course, had one of the best statistical series in recent memory. Averaging nearly a triple-double in the series, with 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.o assists per game, respectively, LeBron carried the team on his back through each and every game this season.

But this may be more than an issue of statistical dominance. This may delve deeper inoto how LeBron handles himself as the leader of his teammates, and how he handles being a leader in general. It may not be the popular thing to point the finger at LeBron, but it would not hurt to analyze his skills as a leader. As absurd as it may sound to the common fan, King James may not yet be ready for the throne he has been so hastily placed upon.

Now, this is not a LeBron-bashing piece. This is simply a different perspective on the man, the myth, and the legend-in-the-making that is LeBron James.

James' biggest rival in today is arguably Kobe Bryant. With that being said, the similarities between them are much more resounding than at first glance. James is leading a team of role players and, despite the argument for Mo Williams, does not really have a viable sidekick, nor has he ever. This is Kobe Bryant circa 2004-05, when he began leading the Lakers as the top player on that squad. No matter how hard "The Black Mamba" tried, he could not get the Lakers over the hump by himself, and although James has had more success as the sole superstar on his team, he has suffered from the same issue. Their penchant for taking over a game is also something to debate and compare.

In the series against the Magic just days ago, James had to score 35+ points every single night just to keep his team in the game. Ditto for Bryant in the years before the heist known as the Pau Gasol trade. James even had to knock down one of the most amazing shots in Game 2 of the series to keep his team in the driver's seat. Sounds like Kobe's shot in overtime against the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the first round of the 2006 playoffs, doesn't it? Both the 2006 Lakers and this year's Cavaliers were subsequently dominated and bounces from their respective playoffs.

It took three years after the departure of Shaq for things to gel, but with the same core, the Lakers did just that, and now they're a title favorite every single year. This may be the only problem for the Cavs, despite the fact experts peg this team as one that cannot bring James to a title. That chatter sounds awfully like the talk Bryant heard during his post-Diesel days.

With this being said, it is unfair not to make this comparison. This is so because there is only one major glaring difference in these two players: assists. While Bryant does not and did not record as many dimes as James does currently, this leads onlookers to think James is not a "ball hog," and therefore is a completely unselfish player. Quite frankly, both are selfish players, and most to all players are selfish, as all they want is to win a championship to further cement their legacy as greats in the annals of NBA lore.

Now, you may ask, "What about the 2007 playoffs? LeBron took his team past the Pistons and onto the NBA Finals!" Very true, but this is nothing more than a freak accident and a fluke. A freak accident because James is a physical basketball freak. An accident because the Cavaliers were a decent team, but they were not great. James completely carried that team in those very playoffs, and he has never carried a team more than when he took them past Detroit and onto the Finals. The King's first taste of professional achievement was due to himself completely and single-handedly, and the fact that they were demolished by the San Antonio Spurs shows that it was just James being himself, and also that maybe it was too much too soon for "Bron Bron," but not in the traditional sense. He may just achieved more than many would have expected in that early stage of his career, his fourth season, and due to this, the fans may be expecting too much from the supposed savior of Cleveland sports.

Will this ruin James? No. He still is the heir to the throne left by Michael Jordan as the NBA's best. But, just like Jordan, he needed a sidekick, and he needed time to evolve. He won his first title in his seventh season (James will be in his seventh next season). The man will win titles, but he needs patience, and so do his fans. Not shaking hands after a Conference Finals loss is not how he should be remembered. Moreover, "The Chosen One" should and will be regarded as one of the best of all-time. Just ask the man whose career his parallels: Kobe Bryant.

That's all for now, and catch a new post each and every week, starting next Friday.


Enjoy,

MOD