duncan228
01-27-2009, 03:00 PM
King James still has leaps and bounds to go (http://media.www.mainecampus.com/media/storage/paper322/news/2009/01/26/MaineSports/King-James.Still.Has.Leaps.And.Bounds.To.Go-3596831.shtml)
Ben Hamblen
Hype is defined as "to promote or publicize showily." This definition could be no more relevant than with LeBron James. Garnering significant public notice during his sophomore year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, James was being promoted and publicized as "The Chosen One." In a league which had recently seen the departure of Michael Jordan, NBA fans were looking for a fresh face, and the NBA itself coveted a player that it could reap the financial benefits from. James was indeed "The Chosen One" as his name implies, but sometimes the most gifted and talented players are not defined as the greatest players.
At the age of 18, James was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft in a loaded class that included the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade respectively.
In today's society, the media hypes up athletes to levels where it is almost impossible not to find a point to criticize. To many, James has exceeded expectations. Those same people tend to give James the benefit of the doubt, saying that Jordan wasn't able to win his first title until he was 28. Others point to the lack of talent around James, noting players of comparable measure like Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant, who had the inside force of Shaquille O'Neal.
James, in his sixth season in the NBA, can clearly be defined as follows: He is arguably the most gifted athlete in sports, but he is not even the best employee in his own profession. One may ask what measures success. In the business world, success should be defined as one's ability to take a company to the top of its market, using leadership and teamwork along with a core group of individuals with that same goal. James is not an example of this. Players he watched growing up, like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, are examples of this. Today, Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant exceed James in this department.
It cannot be denied that his physical abilities are unmatched in the league today, and perhaps ever. Listed at six-foot-eight and 250 pounds, which could very well be understated, James looks more like a linebacker on the court than a small forward. On an individual talent level, James is most comparable to Magic Johnson. If necessary, James could play any position on the court, one through five. He has the driving and passing abilities of a point guard and the strength and rebounding abilities of a big man. All that being said, "great" athletes today are only anointed as such after they've proven to lead and to win.
A prime example of this is Alex Rodriguez, who has yet to win a ring in his illustrious baseball career. Rodriguez has proven to be one of the best in the game statistically, year in and year out. First with the Mariners, then with the Rangers and now with the Yankees. One cannot deny Rodriguez's pure talent level, but his inability to perform under pressure and will his team to the top of his profession has left him receiving an extraordinary amount of national criticism. Still a media darling, James may perhaps be seen as Rodriguez eventually, or as Dan Marino was in the NFL: a player at the height of his game who could not put his team on his shoulders and win a championship.
Looking at athletes who have a history of winning, little is said about what is lacking in their performance. Tom Brady is a winner, Tim Duncan is a winner, and Derek Jeter is a winner. These players never waver when the pressure mounts, they excel. Recall June 2007 when Duncan's San Antonio Spurs beat James' Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA title. Of course Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili made contributions, but they were able to make those contributions because Tim Duncan could make everyone around him that much better.
The New England Patriots have achieved unprecedented success due to Brady's innate ability to lead. Players such as Corey Dillon and Randy Moss were reborn as well, with the rising of Wes Welker and Deon Branch. These players were made better because Tom Brady made them better. James has not shown that he is able to lead like Brady, Duncan or Jeter. The Cleveland Cavs have rotated personnel in and out year after year as a result of the desire to acquire "what LeBron needs around him." Those players should not be hunted and acquired; instead they should be kept in place and learn to develop. The Lakers success with Kobe Bryant was a result of Shaquille O'Neal's inside presence, but also the roles of players such as Robert Horry, Derek Fisher and Rick Fox. The Spurs run has been a result of drafting Tim Duncan, but also of acquiring Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Keeping them in place to mold with Duncan, constants like Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry make key plays on the side.
Now comes the 2010 offseason, in which LeBron will make the choice of staying in Cleveland or leaving to play in New York, Brooklyn or elsewhere. LeBron has said that he desires to be the first billionaire athlete and likes the national spotlight. The large market of New York can certainly provide necessary financial compensation, as well as the large market LeBron covets. James has openly commented on the pending free agency and has been rightly criticized. Rather than focusing on his current assignment and obligation of winning in Cleveland, he is looking forward to a possible career change. In respect to staying put, all of the athletes mentioned as truly great players have spent their entire tenure with their team. Tim Duncan with the Spurs, Kobe Bryant with the Lakers, Dwayne Wade with the Heat, Michael Jordan with the Bulls, Magic Johnson with the Lakers, Larry Bird with the Celtics, Tom Brady with the Patriot and Derek Jeter with the Yankees have all stayed put, with the exception of Jordan's late move to Washington. Ohio is LeBron's home state, and he has become an icon for the people of that region. Perhaps there is no reason to leave.
"King James" is undoubtedly an exceptional talent, and leaving his throne in Cleveland could end up being a horrible career move. With the Cavaliers showing significant progress this season, LeBron needs to prove that he can lead his team to the top. Paul Pierce outplayed him in the Conference Semifinals last year because of Pierce's ability to win a Game 7 when it counts most down the stretch. The Cavs will have to beat Pierce this season and likely Kobe as well in order to win a championship. If LeBron is able to do this, the critics will become silent. James could then decide to stay in town, and he would well be on his way to a legendary career. That career would still need to be validated with multiple titles if he intends to follow the likes of Jordan, Bird, Johnson, Bryant and Duncan. Quite simply, LeBron needs to lead when it counts, stay put and keep doing what he's doing statistically. That could quite possibly put him on the fast track to becoming one of the greatest who ever played the game.
Ben Hamblen
Hype is defined as "to promote or publicize showily." This definition could be no more relevant than with LeBron James. Garnering significant public notice during his sophomore year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, James was being promoted and publicized as "The Chosen One." In a league which had recently seen the departure of Michael Jordan, NBA fans were looking for a fresh face, and the NBA itself coveted a player that it could reap the financial benefits from. James was indeed "The Chosen One" as his name implies, but sometimes the most gifted and talented players are not defined as the greatest players.
At the age of 18, James was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft in a loaded class that included the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade respectively.
In today's society, the media hypes up athletes to levels where it is almost impossible not to find a point to criticize. To many, James has exceeded expectations. Those same people tend to give James the benefit of the doubt, saying that Jordan wasn't able to win his first title until he was 28. Others point to the lack of talent around James, noting players of comparable measure like Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant, who had the inside force of Shaquille O'Neal.
James, in his sixth season in the NBA, can clearly be defined as follows: He is arguably the most gifted athlete in sports, but he is not even the best employee in his own profession. One may ask what measures success. In the business world, success should be defined as one's ability to take a company to the top of its market, using leadership and teamwork along with a core group of individuals with that same goal. James is not an example of this. Players he watched growing up, like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, are examples of this. Today, Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant exceed James in this department.
It cannot be denied that his physical abilities are unmatched in the league today, and perhaps ever. Listed at six-foot-eight and 250 pounds, which could very well be understated, James looks more like a linebacker on the court than a small forward. On an individual talent level, James is most comparable to Magic Johnson. If necessary, James could play any position on the court, one through five. He has the driving and passing abilities of a point guard and the strength and rebounding abilities of a big man. All that being said, "great" athletes today are only anointed as such after they've proven to lead and to win.
A prime example of this is Alex Rodriguez, who has yet to win a ring in his illustrious baseball career. Rodriguez has proven to be one of the best in the game statistically, year in and year out. First with the Mariners, then with the Rangers and now with the Yankees. One cannot deny Rodriguez's pure talent level, but his inability to perform under pressure and will his team to the top of his profession has left him receiving an extraordinary amount of national criticism. Still a media darling, James may perhaps be seen as Rodriguez eventually, or as Dan Marino was in the NFL: a player at the height of his game who could not put his team on his shoulders and win a championship.
Looking at athletes who have a history of winning, little is said about what is lacking in their performance. Tom Brady is a winner, Tim Duncan is a winner, and Derek Jeter is a winner. These players never waver when the pressure mounts, they excel. Recall June 2007 when Duncan's San Antonio Spurs beat James' Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA title. Of course Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili made contributions, but they were able to make those contributions because Tim Duncan could make everyone around him that much better.
The New England Patriots have achieved unprecedented success due to Brady's innate ability to lead. Players such as Corey Dillon and Randy Moss were reborn as well, with the rising of Wes Welker and Deon Branch. These players were made better because Tom Brady made them better. James has not shown that he is able to lead like Brady, Duncan or Jeter. The Cleveland Cavs have rotated personnel in and out year after year as a result of the desire to acquire "what LeBron needs around him." Those players should not be hunted and acquired; instead they should be kept in place and learn to develop. The Lakers success with Kobe Bryant was a result of Shaquille O'Neal's inside presence, but also the roles of players such as Robert Horry, Derek Fisher and Rick Fox. The Spurs run has been a result of drafting Tim Duncan, but also of acquiring Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Keeping them in place to mold with Duncan, constants like Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry make key plays on the side.
Now comes the 2010 offseason, in which LeBron will make the choice of staying in Cleveland or leaving to play in New York, Brooklyn or elsewhere. LeBron has said that he desires to be the first billionaire athlete and likes the national spotlight. The large market of New York can certainly provide necessary financial compensation, as well as the large market LeBron covets. James has openly commented on the pending free agency and has been rightly criticized. Rather than focusing on his current assignment and obligation of winning in Cleveland, he is looking forward to a possible career change. In respect to staying put, all of the athletes mentioned as truly great players have spent their entire tenure with their team. Tim Duncan with the Spurs, Kobe Bryant with the Lakers, Dwayne Wade with the Heat, Michael Jordan with the Bulls, Magic Johnson with the Lakers, Larry Bird with the Celtics, Tom Brady with the Patriot and Derek Jeter with the Yankees have all stayed put, with the exception of Jordan's late move to Washington. Ohio is LeBron's home state, and he has become an icon for the people of that region. Perhaps there is no reason to leave.
"King James" is undoubtedly an exceptional talent, and leaving his throne in Cleveland could end up being a horrible career move. With the Cavaliers showing significant progress this season, LeBron needs to prove that he can lead his team to the top. Paul Pierce outplayed him in the Conference Semifinals last year because of Pierce's ability to win a Game 7 when it counts most down the stretch. The Cavs will have to beat Pierce this season and likely Kobe as well in order to win a championship. If LeBron is able to do this, the critics will become silent. James could then decide to stay in town, and he would well be on his way to a legendary career. That career would still need to be validated with multiple titles if he intends to follow the likes of Jordan, Bird, Johnson, Bryant and Duncan. Quite simply, LeBron needs to lead when it counts, stay put and keep doing what he's doing statistically. That could quite possibly put him on the fast track to becoming one of the greatest who ever played the game.