The LeBron James Thread

[LingeringRegime]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I have become more of a Kevin Durant fan through all of this mess. I wonder if the casual fan has too.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Explain

Do I really need to spell that out for you? I've made my thoughts on that pretty clear over the last 200 something pages.

Based on the quote he gave he should just have picked any team. They all play basketball and that's all he needs.

I took from that quote that the glamour of big city lights and money is apart of that stuff that doesn't excite him as a reason to go somewhere. He's happy to have the game of basketball in his life, but part of the game is winning and having fun. If he wants to win and have fun, being home or in Chicago is the best place to do it.

[Jasong7777]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

On a serious note, what's really sad is that the world will get to see Lebron rip the hearts of Cleveland fans on national tv, if he leaves. That sucks. If you're going to leave, you don't do it like that.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Do I really need to spell that out for you? I've made my thoughts on that pretty clear over the last 200 something pages.



I took from that quote that the glamour of big city lights and money is apart of that stuff that doesn't excite him as a reason to go somewhere. He's happy to have the game of basketball in his life, but part of the game is winning and having fun. If he wants to win and have fun, being home or in Chicago is the best place to do it.

I don't see how either of those cities offer any better of a chance to win than New York, Miami, or even the Clippers for that matter.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

On a serious note, what's really sad is that the world will get to see Lebron rip the hearts of Cleveland fans on national tv, if he leaves. That sucks. If you're going to leave, you don't do it like that.

That's one of the main reasons my gut tells me he is staying in CLE. It would hurt his "brand" too much to be looked upon like that.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

On a serious note, what's really sad is that the world will get to see Lebron rip the hearts of Cleveland fans on national tv, if he leaves. That sucks. If you're going to leave, you don't do it like that.

More reason why I openly hate Lebron and am becoming a much bigger fan of Kevin Durant.

And I agree with Deft. I feel like he's going to stay in Cleveland even though his announcement is near the Knicks facility and he just switched his taxes and everything to be billed to his house in Chicago or whatever. Even Lebron must realize how crappy it would be for him to ditch his hometown on national television.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I don't see how either of those cities offer any better of a chance to win than New York, Miami, or even the Clippers for that matter.

You are not allowed to be logical during such discussion...

[ehh]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I should add that this is all compounded by the fact that Lebron is not a guaranteed championship. Even with a good team, it's not a guarantee.

Without a doubt. LeBron still doesn't "get it" IMO. Everything is still a spectacle or a show to him. He wants people to be in awe of him, off and on the court. I don't believe winning is in in the top three things on LBJ's priority list. I feel like he is constantly thinking, "what can I do next that will amaze people?". Just seems like that's in his head every moment of every day.

He can say winning is the most important thing to him as often as he'd like, but as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. He doesn't carry himself like a grown/mature man yet. If he comes to NY and pulls the childish/immature crap he will get roasted badly. It could be a volatile relationship, that's for sure.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I should add that this is all compounded by the fact that Lebron is not a guaranteed championship. Jordan was a LOCK for a chip when he was competing. He didn't just win championships, he was barely challenged most of the time, and individually there was no player even close to him, not just statistically, but also as a dominant winner.

Lebron is great, no doubt, but he hasn't won anything, and he's not guaranteed to win anything. There are players in the league--Kobe, Wade, Durant--that are around his skill level. You can debate how above or below based on your biases, but the bottom line is he is not head and shoulders above his peers, so getting Lebron is truly only the beginning. Even with a good team, it's not a guarantee. People bemoan his current roster, but he's got a hustle guy, a 3pt threat, a guard that averaged 17+ppg before going to the team and a forward that averaged 20 and 10 RIGHT before joining his squad.

Still they lost. Because Lebron sucks? No. Not completely his fault. It's partially because Boston and Orlando have a lot of talent, and Lebron is not so great of an individual that there is any wiggle room for messing around when playing those guys.

So all of this bowing and scraping is a little confusing to me, outside of Cleveland. I understand doing that if he really was "the King", but he's just one great player among other great players in an era that has benefitted from some very good drafts since 96.

I agree that LeBron is not a guaranteed championship. But no player is. No one player can win a championship no matter who it is. Michael Jordan NEVER, I repeat, NEVER won without players that complemented him. MJ is my favorite player of all time and in my mind the greatest of all time, but I don't see why everyone always claims that he could win no matter what. Michael Jordan won his first chip, 6 years in and never won without Pippen. He didn't win by himself. Neither will LeBron.

Again, LeBron isn't a guaranteed winner, but neither was MJ. Early in his career, MJ was a dunker, a freak of an athlete who just dunked, and had a shaky shot. People say the same things about LeBron. I don't think LeBron is as good as MJ, but people give MJ too much credit. He didn't do it by himself. I agree that LeBron isn't far and away the greatest, but there are still people out there who don't think that MJ are the best of all time. MJ won because he had a partner who was a Top 50 player of all time. I think Pippen was partially made by MJ, but LeBron has had noone near as good as Pippen. People always want to bring MJ into the LeBron argument, or even Kobe, but guys have to be judged on their own merit. LeBron is LeBron, not MJ and not Kobe. I'm not saying you are comparing him to them unfairly because you are not, but look who those two have won with. Kobe has 3 chips with one of the top 3 in my mind centers of all time and 2 with one of the best overall teams of this decade. MJ won 6 chips with a top 50 player. LeBron has had none of those things, yet people expect him to do the same things. I hope LeBron knows what he is doing, because the media will crucify him if he doesn't win and it may be fair, it may not be, but until he gets all of the benefits that MJ and Kobe have had, it isn't fair to believe that he should be doing the same things.

[DakkoN]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I still wonder what the hell is going to happen in this hour. Is LBJ going to be sitting at the table where Noah strolls in and sits down. After that is LBJ going to pretend to sign a contract, stand up, shake Noah's hand and clothesline him? Followed by Amare, Gallo popping out and helping LBJ stomp on Noah and spray paint nWo on his back?

This made me laugh out loud. I can just see Mike D'antoni dying his hair black to be Bischoff

[Jasong7777]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

So all of this bowing and scraping is a little confusing to me, outside of Cleveland. I understand doing that if he really was "the King", but he's just one great player among other great players in an era that has benefitted from some very good drafts since 96.

THIS. Lebron is just a great player in a league full of great players. Thats all he is folks. He ain't the king of ****, except Lebron.

[utexas]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I think this special will turn into a promo for the Boys and Girls Club of America. They are already getting the proceeds from the event. I think that is why he is announcing so early in the show.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

On a serious note, what's really sad is that the world will get to see Lebron rip the hearts of Cleveland fans on national tv, if he leaves. That sucks. If you're going to leave, you don't do it like that.

Seriously I don't get this logic. Has the 'Mothership' reached a new low and placed cameras in every home in Ohio to get the reactions of Cavs fans across the state so that the world can see they're hearts ripped out? If he announces it over Twitter, tells someone in the media who reports or goes on Sportscenter like Bosh and Wade, he'd be leaving and ripping Cleveland's heart. They've already made it clear that if he isn't finishing his career with the Cavs they will be heartbroken, especially with him leaving without having gotten them a championship. This is part of why I don't get why everyone talks about him not wanting to play in Jordan's shadow, I'd rather play with that pressure than the weight of an entire state putting ALL they're sports hopes on his shoulders every year he plays or the pressure of the New York media if he doesn't bring the Knicks a title in X amount of years.

A-Rod has been ripped to shreds for pretty much his entire time in New York because the Yankees were starving for a championship after 10 looooooooooong, agonizing, excruciating years of not winning one and LeBron has the task of bringing a title to New York after not having won one since the '70s? This stuff is crazy.

[NovaStar]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

THIS. Lebron is just a great player in a league full of great players. Thats all he is folks. He ain't the king of ****, except Lebron.

Both you and Born are making too much sense.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Without a doubt. LeBron still doesn't "get it" IMO. Everything is still a spectacle or a show to him. He wants people to be in awe of him, off and on the court. I don't believe winning is in in the top three things on LBJ's priority list. I feel like he is constantly thinking, "what can I do next that will amaze people?". Just seems like that's in his head every moment of every day.

He can say winning is the most important thing to him as often as he'd like, but as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. He doesn't carry himself like a grown/mature man yet. If he comes to NY and pulls the childish/immature crap he will get roasted badly. It could be a volatile relationship, that's for sure.

Totally agree with you ehh. I will say this though, if he's does become that man & brings a Championship to NY (If he comes) He will be remembered here for the rest of his life. I really feel he senses this.