I have been doing a lot of thinking over this summer and the sports figure that has been in the news more than any other without killing someone or having 30 mistresses come out of the wood works is Lebron James. He has no doubt taking a hit in his popularity with some people but he has kept the NBA in the news more so than the Lakers winning back to back titles.
Why is Lebron such a draw? The decision some 10 million people watched and everyone has had an opinion on Lebron taking his talents to south beach. He has had his jersey burned in Cleveland former NBA players and hall of famers calling him a punk and a billionaire pronouncing a curse on him. With all of that he still turns the meter when it comes to interest.
Everyone was waiting for the summer of 2010 and it was talked about throughout last season because the best athlete in a generation was becoming a free agent. The expectation was for Lebron to join the Knicks and make the big market Knicks relevant again. Lebron had other plans and isn't this much more exciting than him going to New York or staying in Cleveland? This was brilliant!
Lebron maybe one of the smartest athletes of all time as well. He told Wade, Bosh, and Melo to sign 3 year extensions so they would have the upper hand instead of taking 5 year deals and be stuck. Wade and Bosh followed Lebron but Melo decided to take the guaranteed money. Now Melo is trapped for now and will have to go where the Nuggets send him or play out the year and have his freedom next year.
Lebron knew that at the end of the three years he would be able to team up with one of these stars but the most important thing was he would be in control of the balance of power in the NBA. Not a team president or an owner but a player determining which team would win championships over the next 5-6 years.
People can kid themselves all they want but it's Lebron's league like it or not. Every team in the NBA wanted Lebron but now he's a loser and a quitter? Where ever he went by himself that team automatically became a contender. People can kid themselves all they want with the it's Dwayne Wades team if they want but how can it be Wade's team when it's Lebron's league. That's something to think about.
I say long live the King! If he goes on to win 5,6,7 rings with the heat I think his influence and wiliness to use his power would have had a bigger impact on the NBA than Michael Jordan.
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