Lebron hatred is so 2010. Get over it. The same tiresome narratives -- including my own pedantic dissertations about the preeminent athlete from Akron -- have become archaic. Things move too quickly nowadays to still harbor the reactionary opinions of yesteryear. For James, most of his life has been
The Truman Show and he has gone from adolescent star to executive producer. The trend-line of scrutiny, which began a
decade ago, has only intensified with time. As technology advanced and social media exploded, we have watched, marveled, criticized and ridiculed this man-child as he became a man right before our unyielding pupils. Every falter, every failure, every common frailty of growing older, every millisecond of his professional life has been dissected; and he has endured it all under the blinding glare of a microscope. In the Information Age, "the spotlight" is as antiquated as a cassette tape. Michael Jordan lived under the spotlight, not a microscope, and only rarely were we privy to his surly, cantankerous demeanor. And everyone wanted to be like Mike. By most accounts, Lebron James has the temperament of a good-natured goof, not a mean-spirited villain. His whole existence has been available for our consumption and he owns that responsibility. From
Tweets about his hairline to thanking fans after a tough loss, he is as omnipresent as any mega-star in the world; and he is hyper-aware of his critics, even if he downplays the attention he pays them.
At the time, The Decision felt like a cruel and unforgivable twist in the trajectory of an otherwise impervious public figure. The free-agency backstory was packed with subterfuge. The public
relations were mercilessly bludgeoned by both the man and his
marionettes. All the players and beneficiaries remained stubbornly
indignant, celebrating as if they welcomed the backlash. That made things worse. It was, arguably, one of the most infamous and indelible
acts in modern sports. All of a sudden, he was not who we wanted him to be. So we became stubbornly indignant. The "hometown hero" narrative tumbled from its axis while his iconic Cavs
jersey burned in the streets. His appeal, his image and roughly half of
his fans, turned 180 degrees. Now, he was counter-culture's franchise player, instantly polarizing but
no less popular. The avalanche of vitriol that surrounded #6 made him even more compelling to follow and root against; but after the dust settled, only Lebron James was left to answer for Lebron James... and then live with the consequences knowing that microscope would continue to intensify its focus.
I suspect if James could take back one thing from the last twenty-three months, it would be his audacious declaration of
Titles, which ironically bookended his 48-hours of infamy. Yes, the moment was full of whimsical levity and perhaps we should not digest the sentiments so literally, but for a man who would later scour the country seeking tidbits of wisdom from former-NBA champions, the subject is no laughing matter. NBA rings are illusive, even for the all-time greats, even when the best players circumnavigate the system to form a potentially dynastic super-team.
Lebron James is, by now, the best player in NBA history who has yet to hoist that Trophy. He knows this. But let us consider some of the essential ingredients that make a champion:
Circumstance. Hard work. Clutch play. Coaching. Luck. James spent seven seasons in Cleveland, quick, name the second best player on the Cavs in his tenure... This is his ninth year in the league, name his elite coach... Part of the problem with James' circumstances is that he is just too damn good. His teams have averaged 52 wins a season. That's enough success to perennially draft in the bottom quadrant and certainly enough for his coaches to keep their jobs. Compare that to Kevin Durant. His Seattle/OKC teams won 20 and 23 games, respectively, his first two seasons. Enter Russell Westbrook (4th overall pick, 2008) and James Harden (3rd overall pick, 2009). While we loath Miami for their insider collusion and "artificial" formation, we love OKC for congealing organically. But no where in the KD vs LBJ discussion do we hear how KD's teams had to lose roughly 60 games
twice in order to become the team they are now. Lebron would have never been afforded such a margin for error.
Bitterness from The Decision still lingers and his scores of critics still take aim. I have been a guilty gunman in that firing squad.There is, however, one particular aspect of criticism that Lebron has yet to reconcile: the 4th quarter. This is both a literal and figurative hurdle. If an NBA schedule is divided into two acts -- the regular season and the playoffs -- the Finals are the denouement of Act Two. A credible case could be made that Lebron has been both the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year in each of his nine seasons. At 27 years, he is a physical freak who can effectively guard all five positions and rain holy hell fire down on anyone foolish enough to stand in his way. He can get to the spaghetti strainer at will and when his jump shot is falling, he is impossible to contain. Forget injuries, the man is impervious to the common cold and he seemingly never tires. He has single-handledly carried his teams on his back, as a facilitator, as a scorer, as a defensive stopper and as a leader. He has demonstrated a superlative ability to close games...big games. He has dominated the Eastern Conference Finals on at least three separate occasions. His performance against Detroit in 2007, his shot against Orlando in 2009 and his Game 6 in Boston last Thursday night are some of the most memorable moments of the post-Jordan era. His career playoff numbers are staggering. And still, Lebron James is widely known as a "choke artist." Considering the breadth of his talent and his limitless potential to take over any game at any time, this label is harsh but not unfair. In reality, only Lebron James can stop Lebron James. And therein lies the most beguiling anomaly in all of basketball. Too many times have we Witnessed LBJ deferring to a lesser player late in the 4th quarter. Too many times have watched him play hot potato on the perimeter. Too many times have we seen a disconnect from mind and body and purpose. When you are considered part of that ultra-elite pantheon of greatness, when your gifts are so flagrant and bottomless, our expectations are elevated... and rightfully so.
Watching Game 6 and 7 of the Heat/Celtics series we saw a different version of
@KingJames. He was calm and disaffected, business-like almost. He knew what needed to be done and he went out and did it without any over the top gesticulations or hostile facial expressions. He did not taunt the crowd nor did he seem eager to shove his 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in the face of his detractors. It was as if he decided to take full control of the narrative. He did it for his teammates, his family and to a much lesser extent, his legacy. And then he went out and did it again in Game 7, definitively slamming the door on a wonderful, admirable, 5-year Celtics run. Watching him knock down big shot after big shot was mesmerizing and almost equally frustrating. Was the switch he flipped in Boston some arbitrary force he occasionally taps into? Why have we been deprived of these moments more often than not? Will he channel that same bravado for the denouement, for the real 4th quarter against Oklahoma City? Love him or hate him, that was pure magic to behold.
I never rooted for Michael Jordan. I also never missed a Bulls playoff game. Throughout his incomparable career, it is difficult to recall any of the times Jordan came up short. What we remember is that the ball was always in his hands and the Bulls always won. So far, after nine seasons and seven playoff appearances, the same cannot be said for King James. Nothing will change that narrative until he wins a title, and considering the health and productivity of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, that illusive championship, whenever it comes, will be well-earned. Undoubtedly, as a Knicks fan, I will cringe at the sight of it, but somewhere within me, a basketball fan will appreciate a man reaching the summit and fully deserving the glory.
@HebrewRational
