LeBron James signing with Miami = lack of confidence

[maxpower]

Michael Jordan YOU ARE NOT, LeBron James. Along with his disappearing act in the playoffs time and time again, this move just proves that he didn't have the confidence in himself to bring a Championship to Cleveland. He needs to jump-ship to be a part of a "dream team" group of players, because he's not good enough to elevate the team around him to elite status. I was a fan and I have lost a TON of respect for James over this. The TRUE greats make their team better, not jump-ship to be on a better team. Kobe Bryant is now validated as UNQUESTIONABLY the best player in the NBA. Kobe has heart, LeBron does not. Tim Duncan has heart, LeBron does not. TRUE greats, like Michael Jordan, make the players around them better... which apparently LeBron James doesn't have the confidence to do. LeBron is now a "Kevin Garnett" and not a "Kobe Bryant". Now, even if he DOES win a Championship or Championships, it/they will be tainted. Great choice, LeBron.

KING KOBE!!!

The assertion that there's something 'wrong' with LeBron for signing with Miami is ludicrous. You may have a problem with the way he announced it, but winners look for the best way to win. They don't tie one hand behind their back just to see if they can 'do it on their own'. Kobe pulled a LeBron way, way, way back in the day. Arn Tellem (Kobe's agent) told Charlotte that Kobe's playing for the Hornets was "an impossibility". And Jordan's penchant for taking all possible advantages and giving absolutely no quarter to opponents is also well documented. That's what winners do... whatever it takes to win. No points for doing it with a weight around your neck.

LeBron isn't the same kind of player as Kobe or Michael though. That's not to say that he's not one of the all-time greats, but his strengths are more suited to elevating a team to victory than carrying that team on his back. He's better at getting the most out of a team of average players, but not nearly as good at imposing his will on the game at any particular moment. So, if I have to build a team from scratch, I take LeBron every time. But if I need one guy to take over a game with 2 minutes left, no doubt it's Kobe. That's why I think he ultimately went to Miami. Wade is a finisher in the Kobe mold, rather than a facilitator in the LeBron mode. It's a good fit. And on a team where you have to have 9 guys getting the veteran's minimum, LeBron is the perfect guy to get the most out of the 'scrubs'.

To say that he cannot elevate others and that Kobe can ignores all the evidence out there. Kobe couldn't do it as a one man show. Neither could Jordan for that matter. Of all three of those guys, LeBron has demonstrated the ability to do the most with the least. The fact that he didn't win a title with Cleveland is less an indictment of LeBron and more an indictment of the Cavs.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Michael Jordan YOU ARE NOT, LeBron James. Along with his disappearing act in the playoffs time and time again, this move just proves that he didn't have the confidence in himself to bring a Championship to Cleveland. He needs to jump-ship to be a part of a "dream team" group of players, because he's not good enough to elevate the team around him to elite status. I was a fan and I have lost a TON of respect for James over this. The TRUE greats make their team better, not jump-ship to be on a better team. Kobe Bryant is now validated as UNQUESTIONABLY the best player in the NBA. Kobe has heart, LeBron does not. Tim Duncan has heart, LeBron does not. TRUE greats, like Michael Jordan, make the players around them better... which apparently LeBron James doesn't have the confidence to do. LeBron is now a "Kevin Garnett" and not a "Kobe Bryant". Now, even if he DOES win a Championship or Championships, it/they will be tainted. Great choice, LeBron.

KING KOBE!!!

The assertion that there's something 'wrong' with LeBron for signing with Miami is ludicrous. You may have a problem with the way he announced it, but winners look for the best way to win. They don't tie one hand behind their back just to see if they can 'do it on their own'. Kobe pulled a LeBron way, way, way back in the day. Arn Tellem (Kobe's agent) told Charlotte that Kobe's playing for the Hornets was "an impossibility". And Jordan's penchant for taking all possible advantages and giving absolutely no quarter to opponents is also well documented. That's what winners do... whatever it takes to win. No points for doing it with a weight around your neck.

LeBron isn't the same kind of player as Kobe or Michael though. That's not to say that he's not one of the all-time greats, but his strengths are more suited to elevating a team to victory than carrying that team on his back. He's better at getting the most out of a team of average players, but not nearly as good at imposing his will on the game at any particular moment. So, if I have to build a team from scratch, I take LeBron every time. But if I need one guy to take over a game with 2 minutes left, no doubt it's Kobe. That's why I think he ultimately went to Miami. Wade is a finisher in the Kobe mold, rather than a facilitator in the LeBron mode. It's a good fit. And on a team where you have to have 9 guys getting the veteran's minimum, LeBron is the perfect guy to get the most out of the 'scrubs'.

To say that he cannot elevate others and that Kobe can ignores all the evidence out there. Kobe couldn't do it as a one man show. Neither could Jordan for that matter. Of all three of those guys, LeBron has demonstrated the ability to do the most with the least. The fact that he didn't win a title with Cleveland is less an indictment of LeBron and more an indictment of the Cavs.

Thank you for basically proving my point that LeBron is no where in the same mold as Jordan and Kobe, two of the best players in NBA history.

LeBron is like a Karl Malone and or a Kevin Garnett. Great players, but not near the best ever.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Let me summarize you're point:
"I hate Lebron. I would have complained if he stayed in Cleveland because it was all about the money. I would have complained if he went to Chicago because he was trying too hard to be Jordan. I would have complained if he sacrificed money to play with other superstars because it's the easy way out."

Wow. I would like say that this is the single worst "summary" I have ever seen. You basically just said a bunch of things that are completely the opposite of my point and claim that they are what I WOULD think? lol Hate LeBron? Funny stuff.

My point was you, like everyone that has been bitching the last few days, would have found something to complain about no matter where he signed.

Buuut... that's not true. It's a sentiment that you completely fabricated.

Possibly. I figured with your Scottie Pippen point that you just didn't know much about the NBA and were just drinking the Haterade today or commenting on headlines. I apologize that I grouped you in with the haters, it just seems like there are so many out there today. Hate on the ego and the way he announced his decision, but to criticize the decision itself doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[sportscardtheory]

It's silly to say that a player's decisions, mental toughness and integrity have no bearing on how they are perceived. True legends are not players who jump-ship for greener pastures, true legends make things happen on their own. Jordan is a legend. Kobe is a legend. LeBron is an amazing player pretending to be a legend.

 

[maxpower]

Michael Jordan YOU ARE NOT, LeBron James. Along with his disappearing act in the playoffs time and time again, this move just proves that he didn't have the confidence in himself to bring a Championship to Cleveland. He needs to jump-ship to be a part of a "dream team" group of players, because he's not good enough to elevate the team around him to elite status. I was a fan and I have lost a TON of respect for James over this. The TRUE greats make their team better, not jump-ship to be on a better team. Kobe Bryant is now validated as UNQUESTIONABLY the best player in the NBA. Kobe has heart, LeBron does not. Tim Duncan has heart, LeBron does not. TRUE greats, like Michael Jordan, make the players around them better... which apparently LeBron James doesn't have the confidence to do. LeBron is now a "Kevin Garnett" and not a "Kobe Bryant". Now, even if he DOES win a Championship or Championships, it/they will be tainted. Great choice, LeBron.

KING KOBE!!!

The assertion that there's something 'wrong' with LeBron for signing with Miami is ludicrous. You may have a problem with the way he announced it, but winners look for the best way to win. They don't tie one hand behind their back just to see if they can 'do it on their own'. Kobe pulled a LeBron way, way, way back in the day. Arn Tellem (Kobe's agent) told Charlotte that Kobe's playing for the Hornets was "an impossibility". And Jordan's penchant for taking all possible advantages and giving absolutely no quarter to opponents is also well documented. That's what winners do... whatever it takes to win. No points for doing it with a weight around your neck.

LeBron isn't the same kind of player as Kobe or Michael though. That's not to say that he's not one of the all-time greats, but his strengths are more suited to elevating a team to victory than carrying that team on his back. He's better at getting the most out of a team of average players, but not nearly as good at imposing his will on the game at any particular moment. So, if I have to build a team from scratch, I take LeBron every time. But if I need one guy to take over a game with 2 minutes left, no doubt it's Kobe. That's why I think he ultimately went to Miami. Wade is a finisher in the Kobe mold, rather than a facilitator in the LeBron mode. It's a good fit. And on a team where you have to have 9 guys getting the veteran's minimum, LeBron is the perfect guy to get the most out of the 'scrubs'.

To say that he cannot elevate others and that Kobe can ignores all the evidence out there. Kobe couldn't do it as a one man show. Neither could Jordan for that matter. Of all three of those guys, LeBron has demonstrated the ability to do the most with the least. The fact that he didn't win a title with Cleveland is less an indictment of LeBron and more an indictment of the Cavs.

Thank you for basically proving my point that LeBron is no where in the same mold as Jordan and Kobe, two of the best players in NBA history.

LeBron is like a Karl Malone and or a Kevin Garnett. Great players, but not near the best ever.

Thanks for the condescension. It really does make your conclusory argument eleventy billion times more persuasive! 'Kobe and Jordan are the best, therefore THEY ARE THE BEST! LOL! PWNED!!!!'

Kareem, Magic, and Bird weren't in the same mode as Jordan and Kobe, and I do believe they are in the greatest ever argument.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Michael Jordan YOU ARE NOT, LeBron James. Along with his disappearing act in the playoffs time and time again, this move just proves that he didn't have the confidence in himself to bring a Championship to Cleveland. He needs to jump-ship to be a part of a "dream team" group of players, because he's not good enough to elevate the team around him to elite status. I was a fan and I have lost a TON of respect for James over this. The TRUE greats make their team better, not jump-ship to be on a better team. Kobe Bryant is now validated as UNQUESTIONABLY the best player in the NBA. Kobe has heart, LeBron does not. Tim Duncan has heart, LeBron does not. TRUE greats, like Michael Jordan, make the players around them better... which apparently LeBron James doesn't have the confidence to do. LeBron is now a "Kevin Garnett" and not a "Kobe Bryant". Now, even if he DOES win a Championship or Championships, it/they will be tainted. Great choice, LeBron.

KING KOBE!!!

The assertion that there's something 'wrong' with LeBron for signing with Miami is ludicrous. You may have a problem with the way he announced it, but winners look for the best way to win. They don't tie one hand behind their back just to see if they can 'do it on their own'. Kobe pulled a LeBron way, way, way back in the day. Arn Tellem (Kobe's agent) told Charlotte that Kobe's playing for the Hornets was "an impossibility". And Jordan's penchant for taking all possible advantages and giving absolutely no quarter to opponents is also well documented. That's what winners do... whatever it takes to win. No points for doing it with a weight around your neck.

LeBron isn't the same kind of player as Kobe or Michael though. That's not to say that he's not one of the all-time greats, but his strengths are more suited to elevating a team to victory than carrying that team on his back. He's better at getting the most out of a team of average players, but not nearly as good at imposing his will on the game at any particular moment. So, if I have to build a team from scratch, I take LeBron every time. But if I need one guy to take over a game with 2 minutes left, no doubt it's Kobe. That's why I think he ultimately went to Miami. Wade is a finisher in the Kobe mold, rather than a facilitator in the LeBron mode. It's a good fit. And on a team where you have to have 9 guys getting the veteran's minimum, LeBron is the perfect guy to get the most out of the 'scrubs'.

To say that he cannot elevate others and that Kobe can ignores all the evidence out there. Kobe couldn't do it as a one man show. Neither could Jordan for that matter. Of all three of those guys, LeBron has demonstrated the ability to do the most with the least. The fact that he didn't win a title with Cleveland is less an indictment of LeBron and more an indictment of the Cavs.

Thank you for basically proving my point that LeBron is no where in the same mold as Jordan and Kobe, two of the best players in NBA history.

LeBron is like a Karl Malone and or a Kevin Garnett. Great players, but not near the best ever.

Thanks for the condescension. It really does make your conclusory argument eleventy billion times more persuasive! 'Kobe and Jordan are the best, therefore THEY ARE THE BEST! LOL! PWNED!!!!'

Kareem, Magic, and Bird weren't in the same mode as Jordan and Kobe, and I do believe they are in the greatest ever argument.

I agree with your point. Lebron was compared to Magic more than Jordan when he entered the league. I think he's lived up to that billing. That doesn't mean he isn't already one of the best to every play the game.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Thanks for the condescension. It really does make your conclusory argument eleventy billion times more persuasive! 'Kobe and Jordan are the best, therefore THEY ARE THE BEST! LOL! PWNED!!!!'

Kareem, Magic, and Bird weren't in the same mode as Jordan and Kobe, and I do believe they are in the greatest ever argument.

Those guys had 14 Championships between them. But if you want to bow to The King, then so be it. I, for one, would like to see proof before anointing anyone "one of the best ever". I was much more of a LeBron fan yesterday, but I look at a player's play AND choices as what define him. Some people don't care.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Thanks for the condescension. It really does make your conclusory argument eleventy billion times more persuasive! 'Kobe and Jordan are the best, therefore THEY ARE THE BEST! LOL! PWNED!!!!'

Kareem, Magic, and Bird weren't in the same mode as Jordan and Kobe, and I do believe they are in the greatest ever argument.

Those guys had 14 Championships between them. But if you want to bow to The King, then so be it. I, for one, would like to see proof before anointing anyone "one of the best ever". I was much more of a LeBron fan yesterday, but I look at a players play AND choices as what define him. Some people don't care.

But again, those 14 rings had the superstars listed playing with far better supporting casts than anything Lebron played with. In the NBA you need a superstar, 1-2 great players, and a solid cast of role players to win a championship.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Thanks for the condescension. It really does make your conclusory argument eleventy billion times more persuasive! 'Kobe and Jordan are the best, therefore THEY ARE THE BEST! LOL! PWNED!!!!'

Kareem, Magic, and Bird weren't in the same mode as Jordan and Kobe, and I do believe they are in the greatest ever argument.

Those guys had 14 Championships between them. But if you want to bow to The King, then so be it. I, for one, would like to see proof before anointing anyone "one of the best ever". I was much more of a LeBron fan yesterday, but I look at a players play AND choices as what define him. Some people don't care.

But again, those 14 rings had the superstars listed playing with far better supporting casts than anything Lebron played with. In the NBA you need a superstar, 1-2 great players, and a solid cast of role players to win a championship.

Legends don't need excuses made for them, that's all I'm saying. Should we have a pity-party for The King. Now he has his shot, at the expense of his integrity. I haven't even gotten into the fact that he was born and raised in/around Cleveland and played high school ball there.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Thanks for the condescension. It really does make your conclusory argument eleventy billion times more persuasive! 'Kobe and Jordan are the best, therefore THEY ARE THE BEST! LOL! PWNED!!!!'

Kareem, Magic, and Bird weren't in the same mode as Jordan and Kobe, and I do believe they are in the greatest ever argument.

Those guys had 14 Championships between them. But if you want to bow to The King, then so be it. I, for one, would like to see proof before anointing anyone "one of the best ever". I was much more of a LeBron fan yesterday, but I look at a players play AND choices as what define him. Some people don't care.

But again, those 14 rings had the superstars listed playing with far better supporting casts than anything Lebron played with. In the NBA you need a superstar, 1-2 great players, and a solid cast of role players to win a championship.

Legends don't need excuses made for them, that's all I'm saying. Should we have a pity-party for The King. Now he has his shot, at the expense of his integrity. I haven't even gotten into the fact that he was born and raised in/around Cleveland and played high school ball there.

No one is asking for sympathy. You're attacking him for a decision, and people are saying why that decision doesn't deserve to be attacked. Attack him for walking off against Orlando without shaking hands, or attack him for having an hour long special to announce his decision, or attack him for any of the other times he's come off as an egomaniac. Attacking him for deciding winning was the most important thing to him and made the decision based on that. Keep in mind how many times the general public complains that winning isn't the number 1 priority to most athletes, and you might think his decision is actually a bold move. Giving up money, stats, and the spotlight to win.

What the hell does it matter where he grew up? He doesn't owe cleveland anything, it's actually the other way around. Should MJ have left the Bulls to sign with the Hornets? Bird to the Pacers?

 

[rymflaherty]

You also have to remember Cleveland won over 60 games the past couple years. They had the best record in the East...so it's tough to say it wasn't a team capable of winning a championship. Lebron obviously took lesser guys and made them a legitimate team, ala Kobe and MJ. The difference - in the playoffs, the final minutes of those games, elimination games....the time when it counts - Lebron was not like Kobe and MJ. He failed.

What I think? There is a true heir to the Jordan- Kobe throne....and it's not the man masquerading as the "King".
He resides in OKC.

 

[bodiaz]

You also have to remember Cleveland won over 60 games the past couple years. They had the best record in the East...so it's tough to say it wasn't a team capable of winning a championship. Lebron obviously took lesser guys and made them a legitimate team, ala Kobe and MJ. The difference - in the playoffs, the final minutes of those games, elimination games....the time when it counts - Lebron was not like Kobe and MJ. He failed.

What I think? There is a true heir to the Jordan- Kobe throne....and it's not the man masquerading as the "King".
He resides in OKC.

Yeah Cleveland won 60 with LeBron! Lets see how many they win without him. Anyone doubting LeBrons greatness as a player just doesn't understand the game! He is going to a team that has 3 players under contract besides himself, and they are now the Vegas favorite to win the title.

 

[yankeefan812]

It's silly to say that a player's decisions, mental toughness and integrity have no bearing on how they are perceived. True legends are not players who jump-ship for greener pastures, true legends make things happen on their own. Jordan is a legend. Kobe is a legend. LeBron is an amazing player pretending to be a legend.

But how can you be a true legend without a strong supporting class? The Cleveland Cavaliers failed to bring anyone in that would be able to help Lebron win a championship. No matter how good you are you can't do it on your own. The Lakers brought in Gasol, Fisher, and Artest over the last couple of years to assist Kobe in winning championships. That strong supporting cast, along with a great coach, has enormously helped Kobe. I think if Cleveland landed one guy, Lebron would have stayed. He did what he had to do to elevate himself to the next level and win a championship.

 

[Bornagaincollector]

The Cavs gave Lebron everything he wanted as a player.He had input of them Getting williams/wallace/shaq and jamison and Lebron wanted them to resign Wildthing which they did.

Lebron ran this team for 7 years not Gilbert/Ferry/Brown and thats why this didn't work.Lebron needed someone to put him in his place and it never happeded.

 

[rymflaherty]

^
Interesting you bring up the coach aspect.....because I think that is what hurt him more than his supporting cast.
The coach and really the whole organization enabled him....he was allowed free reign and able to do whatever he wanted. Or at least that was the way it seemed. Granted a superstar should and will be treated as such, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't be challenged and everyone shouldn't have to answer to the player.
Lebron needed someone that would challenge him and hold him accountable.....someone to smack him in the side of the head while he was taking mime photos of his teammates......someone he respected and was the one calling the shots.


And to my first post that was quoted - I totally agree. The Cavs team w/o Lebron is most likely one of the worst in the conference (guess we'll find out now). And it is a credit to him and his greatness that they did win so many games.
That being the case - I still think they had shots to win the championship and to whatever extend Lebron has to be held accountable for that failure.
If Kobe and Lebron switched teams/rosters...I honestly think Kobe and that Cavs roster would have a better shot at winning a title than Lebron and the Lakers supporting cast.

 

[Zambrano38]

I think that Lebron handled the situation wrong and shouldn't have announced it on tv.
I also think that it was a poor decision to go to Miami simply because he is going to Wade's team. I think it hurts his brand and puts even more pressure on him to win; even if he does win the glory will a lot less than if he were to win elsewhere.

 

[bodiaz]

I think that Lebron handled the situation wrong and shouldn't have announced it on tv.
I also think that it was a poor decision to go to Miami simply because he is going to Wade's team. I think it hurts his brand and puts even more pressure on him to win; even if he does win the glory will a lot less than if he were to win elsewhere.

Make no mistake, it is NOT Wade's team anymore. When the 2 time MVP comes to your team, it becomes his team. Wade is Scottie Pippen now.

 

[Zambrano38]

I think that Lebron handled the situation wrong and shouldn't have announced it on tv.
I also think that it was a poor decision to go to Miami simply because he is going to Wade's team. I think it hurts his brand and puts even more pressure on him to win; even if he does win the glory will a lot less than if he were to win elsewhere.

Make no mistake, it is NOT Wade's team anymore. When the 2 time MVP comes to your team, it becomes his team. Wade is Scottie Pippen now.

Regardless if Lebron is a better player, it's hard to say that it will automatically be his team. Wade has won without Lebron. In a way it is like A-Rod coming to Yankees; no matter how good he plays you can't call the Yankees his team.

 

[bodiaz]

Agree to disagree then. Wade never wins his ring without Shaq, and he never would again without LeBron. We will see who ends up Finals MVP, it won't be Wade.

 

[OhioBobcat3]

The Cavs gave Lebron everything he wanted as a player.He had input of them Getting williams/wallace/shaq and jamison and Lebron wanted them to resign Wildthing which they did.

Lebron ran this team for 7 years not Gilbert/Ferry/Brown and thats why this didn't work.Lebron needed someone to put him in his place and it never happeded.

This. LeBron had MAJOR input as to who the Cavs brought in to help him win a championship. If he couldn't win a championship in Cleveland when he was signing off on the players around him, he quite possibly deserves the largest chunk of the blame himself.

He comes off as a massive jerk to me, not because he left Cleveland, but because of HOW he did it.

1) He returned none of the messages that Dan Gilbert left for him in the days/weeks leading up to "The Decision". In addition, James notified him through an acquaintance only minutes before making his choice public. Say what you will about Gilbert and his letter, but unless I missed something nothing occurred between the two of them prior to this to suggest that this kind of silent treatment was warranted. If it was about keeping things "hush-hush" for his tv special, doesn't that clarify why going on tv was just a really bad idea?

2) He ripped Cavs' fans hearts out by making said "Decision" in front of a nationally televised audience, only to give no viable answer as to WHY he left them when questioned. He knew about Cleveland's past sports heartbreaks. Common sense would suggest that doing something like this in front of the world would just add another to the list. Leaving Cleveland is fine, but he could've just done it the way that Bosh did -- without the spectacle. He wanted the spotlight AND he just didn't care, which given his ego is no big surprise...

3) He didn't make his decision until after all available big name free agents were gone, leaving the Cavs hung out to dry when it comes to the 2010-2011 season. I don't know if this was intentional on his part or not, but as a casual Cavs fan it certainly doesn't make him look good.

At this moment I experience a tremendous loathing feeling whenever I think of LeBron James. Not because he chose Miami and left Cleveland, but because of the total lack of consideration that he gave to the Cavaliers in regards to "The Decision".