LeBron James - A runaway slave?

[DaSportsGuy]

So the NBA takes one more step towards becoming more like baseball. The Yankees had the nucleus of Jeter, Rivera, Petitte, and Posada, but that would not win them a title. So they bought one with CC and A-Rod and Texiera. Is anyone complaining that NY's most-recent title is not legitimate? Is A-Rod's legacy diminished because he didn't win a title in Texas? I don't think so.

Baseball is much different. You aren't going to have much success by having one star player, just like football. In the NBA, you can because one player can make a world of a difference.

Also, A-Rod had no prior affiliation to Texas prior to playing for them. LeBron was born in Ohio, raised in Ohio, won a State Title in Ohio, and then was drafted by the Cavs.

[pittpanther]

Baseball is much different. You aren't going to have much success by having one star player, just like football. In the NBA, you can because one player can make a world of a difference.

In this aspect, the NBA is no different than the other team sports. You cannot and will not win a title without multiple STAR players. The Jordan teams don't win without Pippen (an NBA top 50 all time player). This years Lakers team doesn't win without Gasol becoming an all-star caliber player. The Bird and Magic teams each had multiple all-stars and/or hall of famers. Same for Isiah's Detroit teams, and the Spurs teams.

Cleveland had decent players around LeBron, but not star quality. They tried to upgrade with Antawn Jamison, but he fell silent during the playoffs. So as far as LeBron is concerned, I'm sure he said to himself "I've been hear for 7 years and the best player we have other than me is Mo Williams?" Or the guy whose only claim to fame is being Candace Parker's brother? Cleveland made no serious additions to their roster to become a championship contender while LeBron was there. The Cavs deserve what they got. Don't tell me they serious thought adding an old Shaquille would put them over the hump? For every Jordan who was able to stay in one place and win, there's a Barkley, who stayed in Philly most of his career and won nothing. Same with Iverson. Same with Ewing. Staying in one place is no guarantee of winning, if your organization is not 100% committed to winning. Even then, it's not enough - sometimes luck comes into play. When Pippen was drafted, no one could forsee he would be a top-50 all time player. Robert Parrish was a complete nobody until he went to Boston. etc...

[AmenCorner]

In this aspect, the NBA is no different than the other team sports. You cannot and will not win a title without multiple STAR players. The Jordan teams don't win without Pippen (an NBA top 50 all time player). This years Lakers team doesn't win without Gasol becoming an all-star caliber player. The Bird and Magic teams each had multiple all-stars and/or hall of famers. Same for Isiah's Detroit teams, and the Spurs teams.

Spot on. LeBron knew that no elite Free Agent would ever go to Cleveland. Ever. In fact, no elite Free Agents go to Cleveland in any sport. LeBron gave it 7 years and it didn't work out. Time to move on.

[KD Epic]

Who would have foreseen "Elite Free Agents" going to Miami? Or to Orlando? Or, at one point, Phoenix?

Where the Free Agents go changes based on a number of circumstances - unless you're Boston or LA.

LeBron didn't tip those circumstances in his favor. If, after yet another exit (largely at his doing) from the playoffs he would have said "I'm staying here in Cleveland and I know some of these guys are going to want some of this action because we can taste it here.

He didn't, though. He didn't market his team at all. And it was his fault they didn't win the championship because he played terribly. Had they won, it would have been only because of him. In Miami IF they win it's going to be tough to deal out that MVP trophy. Hopefully one of those guys gets MVP for the regular season and you can give one the MVP of the Finals. And more than likely Chris "I ain't nobody's Robin" is going to be butt-hurt left out in the cold. Gonna make for an interesting off-season.

[JWL1957]

Who in the hell would ever want to live in Cleveland to begin with?

[newtogolf]

People are giving Lebron a tough time, but I only fault him for not telling Cleveland sooner so they could try to replace him with some other free agents. We all have the right to work for who we want (assuming we get an offer), why shouldn't athletes.

As others have said, he gave Cleveland 7 years and they weren't able to build a championship team around him. He felt it was time to go someplace where he could. He doesn't owe Cleveland, in fact, the Cleveland owner owes Lebron for 7 years of increased ticket sales, national television coverage, and licensed jersey sales. I doubt Cleveland will be on national television this season except for when they play Miami.

[alomar123]

The thing is Lebron didnt always play well in the playoffs. I thik it may have been 3or4 years ago and he shot around 15% in the playoffs. That was pathetic, and Lebron struggles with the 3 more than full court shots.

[KD Epic]

People are giving Lebron a tough time, but I only fault him for not telling Cleveland sooner so they could try to replace him with some other free agents. We all have the right to work for who we want (assuming we get an offer), why shouldn't athletes.

Cleveland's owner PAID for all of those things when he drafted and PAID LeBron. We do all have the right to go work for who we want. If I can't get a promotion at work because I'm not good enough - no one should fault me for working at a company where there is less competition among coworkers (thus, easier) but it doesn't mean I'm not less of a man for doing it.

Bron couldn't get it done. It's not just Cleveland's fault. I'm a big Mavs fan. Dirk can't get it done, hasn't gotten it done. Doesn't mean he's not awesome, and it doesn't mean it's the Mavs fault - He just hasn't gotten it done. And Dirk (I hope) will get his pay day, and he should - more people would like to see a loyal guy like Dirk win a ring than a guy like LeBron (who clearly can't) Dirk is older too, so had he left if the mavs were out of it I'd cheer hard for him to get a ring. 7 years? Dirk doesn't even think 12 is enough. Dirk's got unfinished business, Bron swept his under the doormat. No one says he's a worse player because he left Cleveland, but you're a fool to think he'll be a better one for winning it elsewhere, as opposed to at home. And you're a fool to think getting one with 2 other "stars" (Bosh isn't a star, in my opinion, no star misses the playoffs 5 out of 7 times, on a decent team, in the East) is going to make him a better legacy.

[newtogolf]

Cleveland's owner PAID for all of those things when he drafted and PAID LeBron.

Gilbert did pay for those things, and he got equal or more than what he paid in return which makes the letter he wrote to the fans uncalled for. Lebron upheld the terms of his contract, it was a fixed year contract, not lifetime. It's up to the employer to provide a work environment that allows them to maintain their top employees, in this case Gilbert didn't and James took less money to go someplace else, that's how capitalism works. Don't you find it ironic that in Gilberts letter he accuses Lebron of tanking the playoffs, but still offered James a max salary / length contract? I don't offer huge raises and guaranteed contracts to my employees that tank during the most critical times of my business, so to me that's just sour grapes.

As for James, history, not you or I, will determine if leaving Cleveland makes him a better player or legacy. People fail to realize that Jordan and Bryant played for big market teams that could afford to put the best players around them, Cleveland isn't. Cleveland had seven years to build the team around James, and the best they could do is a past his prime Shaq? I don't particularly like James, and I thought his hour long "Decision" was a waste or air time, but I do support the guys right to work for who he wants to without getting personally attacked by his previous owner. As for being a fool, it's your assumption that he wants to be considered the "best player". I heard the guy say he wants to win championships and as a result, he accepted less money than he could have earned in Cleveland and acknowledges that his personal stats will be impacted by having to share the ball with two superstars (friends) he wants to play along side. You're a fool if you think you understand what motivates an individual and the decisions they make, no less someone you only know about through newspapers and ESPN.

[armandoartist]

Lebran should of faked a big injury for a year and the Cavs could get the best player in the draft the next year. Similar to David Robinson to get Duncan, but injury was probably real.

[Brendon]

Well, I live in Columbus, Ohio -- approximately 90 minutes from Cleveland; and on his decision day, we were watching the news and it was pretty intense and there was quite a bit of tension there too. They had police in riot gear, and people were burning LeBron jerseys and such. Honestly, he probably wanted to win a Championship; that's probably all. And I think him and Wade were off the court friends too. Keep in mind, that they played on the USA team together too.