Lebron has to earn that respect back

[LeHeat_Dynasty]

And I thoroughly understand and completely fine with this. But what I want to know is will you give him the respect he deserves when he leads the Heat to a championship this season?


My thing is this. Lebron will not be viewed as Wade's sidekick after this season and this is why. Lebron has been a much more successful athlete than Wade. He is a bigger icon than Wade. His stats are better than Wade and I believe he will be Miami's best defender. All of this points to actually the Heat being Lebron's team.



This is similar to Kevin Garnett's situation upon joining the Celtics. It was Paul Pierce's team because he was the OG Celtics but in paper and on the court, KG was the difference maker and minus his at ude he is the Boston Celtics best player.



So the question stands. If Lebron helps the Heat win its 2nd le by being the teams best defender and most impactful player, will you give Lebron he deserves then?

[lefty]

And I thoroughly understand and completely fine with this. But what I want to know is will you give him the respect he deserves when he leads the Heat to a championship this season?


My thing is this. Lebron will not be viewed as Wade's sidekick after this season and this is why. Lebron has been a much more successful athlete than Wade. He is a bigger icon than Wade. His stats are better than Wade and I believe he will be Miami's best defender. All of this points to actually the Heat being Lebron's team.



This is similar to Kevin Garnett's situation upon joining the Celtics. It was Paul Pierce's team because he was the OG Celtics but in paper and on the court, KG was the difference maker and minus his at ude he is the Boston Celtics best player.



So the question stands. If Lebron helps the Heat win its 2nd le by being the teams best defender and most impactful player, will you give Lebron he deserves then?

Your sig

[Red Hawk #21]

"LeHeat"?? Just when I thought I had heard it all...

[Darrin]

And I thoroughly understand and completely fine with this. But what I want to know is will you give him the respect he deserves when he leads the Heat to a championship this season?


My thing is this. Lebron will not be viewed as Wade's sidekick after this season and this is why. Lebron has been a much more successful athlete than Wade. He is a bigger icon than Wade. His stats are better than Wade and I believe he will be Miami's best defender. All of this points to actually the Heat being Lebron's team.



This is similar to Kevin Garnett's situation upon joining the Celtics. It was Paul Pierce's team because he was the OG Celtics but in paper and on the court, KG was the difference maker and minus his at ude he is the Boston Celtics best player.



So the question stands. If Lebron helps the Heat win its 2nd le by being the teams best defender and most impactful player, will you give Lebron he deserves then?

I may be wrong, but I don't think Lebron is redeemable in this generation. He will remain the hated superstar long after people forget why they started hating him. It will take multiple Championships to shut people up, NOT EARNING RESPECT, before there's a deafening silence where there used to be criticism and people who didn't watch Lebron play live start to idolize him.

I think he's done as the face of anything. I think his brand is dead. I think the league will get more mileage by letting him wear the black hat in Miami, everyone's favorite superstar to hate, and Lebron will need 5 trophies to get people off his back. He won't get their adulation.

King James is dead. It remains to be seen if he takes Lebron James, the player, with him.

[HarlemHeat37]

King James isn't dead at all, TBH..

He's still going to get heavy endorsements, he's still going to be one of the main faces of the NBA..Lebron needs 1 ring and all is forgotten..he has ESPN in his back pocket, and they're a huge part of the NBA's marketing..as we have seen with other star players, ESPN can hide and toy with anything, even hiding certain player's FG% in big games so that the casual fan doesn't know how poorly he played..

[Red Hawk #21]

Lebron needs 1 ring? What about the 8 championships he guaranteed?

[D-Wade #3]

King James isn't dead at all, TBH..

He's still going to get heavy endorsements, he's still going to be one of the main faces of the NBA..Lebron needs 1 ring and all is forgotten..he has ESPN in his back pocket, and they're a huge part of the NBA's marketing..as we have seen with other star players, ESPN can hide and toy with anything, even hiding certain player's FG% in big games so that the casual fan doesn't know how poorly he played..

No, LeBron proved he couldn't handle the pressure of being the man, so it is why he abandoned ship and came to MIA to be my sidekick, with Bosh being Catwoman

[Darrin]

King James isn't dead at all, TBH..

He's still going to get heavy endorsements, he's still going to be one of the main faces of the NBA..Lebron needs 1 ring and all is forgotten..he has ESPN in his back pocket, and they're a huge part of the NBA's marketing..as we have seen with other star players, ESPN can hide and toy with anything, even hiding certain player's FG% in big games so that the casual fan doesn't know how poorly he played..

I don't think so, especially if he gets that first le this coming season. There's a growing resentment of him and soon people are going to see the narcissist, not the basketball player. In terms of Michael Jackson, they'll skip his early 90s hits and just look at the child abuse allegations.

Kobe had to fall off the map and come back again (3 bad seasons, 81-point game, MVP chatter, joining a contender, then winning les). It was a process.

If he wins it this year it feeds into the notion he couldn't do it alone--"Of course they won! They signed all those guys in free agency! LeChoke became LePippen and that's not how a man wins a crown."

When was the last time Britney Spears sold anything besides Star Magazine? He's not loved. He's followed. He's become a bigger celebrity than basketball player. They are trying to tear him down. I don't see him suddenly getting this thing back under control. His name is becoming synomous with greed, excess, and being a wimp.

[HarlemHeat37]

Kobe's image was a "process" because he was losing games IMO..people forget very quickly..you can believe that Kobe had to wait years to revamp his image, but I believe he just had to get back to winning..

Michael Jackson is a child molester, it's a pretty massive difference..

I think it's possible that he could still be hated on by the media if Miami wins a le and Lebron is the sidekick, but if they win and he has a superstar role in it, which I believe will be the case, I fully believe his image will be restored with the media..of course a lot of people will still hate him, but that's natural..

[LeHeat_Dynasty]

Those are all fair points Darrin. My opinion of Lebron's situations remains an opinion and I view yours as such. I think in America, winning does cures all. After winning a Super Bowl Ray Lewis was adored by the sporting world despite of his off season murder allegations. Kobe Bryant was quite possibly the most hated athlete in his genration not too long ago but he redeemed himself in such great heights to a point where he's actually revered by the same fans who used to despise him. This all came after these athletes led their teams to a le.



What irks me about this Lebron hate fest is that most people seem to criticize him without understanding a player of his status has sacrificed. Lebron is still the leagues best player at this point, not Kobe, not even his teammate Wade nor Durant can take it away from him, and by finally winning a le in June next year as quite possibly its most valuable player, I think (or hope) that fans can see Lebron's bottom line as a basketball player.

[Darrin]

Michael Jackson is a child molester, it's a pretty massive difference..

That's public perception. He was acquitted of charges in his latest episode and settled out of court for the other. He claims it was to make the whole episode go away and that was the quickest way to do it.

I think the perception is just as clear in people's minds that Lebron is self-centered. If he makes one or two mis-steps with the media from here on in, people will cling to that perception. He's been reamed from every newspaper from New York to San Francisco and back. ESPN published a story about his clubbing habits. That's not even a Lebron mistake, that's ESPN's but it plays into the notion that Lebron is controlling the media and that he's too out-of-touch with the people who attend his games to be marketable. All it takes is someone putting out his image too soon after this and getting a bad response for him to stop being a spokeman.

I think it's possible that he could still be hated on by the media if Miami wins a le and Lebron is the sidekick, but if they win and he has a superstar role in it, which I believe will be the case, I fully believe his image will be restored with the media..of course a lot of people will still hate him, but that's natural..

Those "a lot of people," I think, will outnumber the ones who give him respect, and more to the point, I think they will be listened to more on talk radio and in the newspapers if the Op-eds and talking heads lambaiste him as "taking the easy way out," whether he makes it as a superstar or not.

Look at some of the arguments going on in the comparison threads. We're getting down to the nature of trying to decipher who helps who on the basketball court, and if that quality alone is worth making you a superstar. People who never watched him play in a game will key in on the fact he had Wade to help him.

Michael Jordan could still get the credit, even when John Paxon and/or Scottie Pippen played great, even if Paxon took the last shot. It wasn't Jordan getting the key rebounds--it was usually Grant and Rodman. However, he gets the majority of the credit for winning 6 Championships in 8 years. We hear less and less about Pippen as an all-time great and less about Phil Jackson as their coach, and more about Jordan. It's revisionist history, but perception becomes reality. He was their best player so he gets all the credit. Actually, he was recognized as their best player because he was universally loved.

Kevin Durant makes us all feel warm about compe ion and sharing the ball while still being a superstar who will score 30 a game. He's the new golden boy. Lebron isn't performing in a vacuum. If the Thunder take strides to becoming the best team in the West, it's less complicated, and better entertainment, to say he's the good guy, it's Wade's team, and Lebron isn't worth his talent.

[Giuseppe]

Durant is a scrub and you clowns need to stop with all this undeserved hype.

Yep, Artest made him say "uncle."

[usdane]

What respect. Who did he ever got respect from? What is there to respect him for? LeSweept, LeBronce, LeQuit, LeRings, LeDecision.

[HarlemHeat37]

LeFinals, Le2MVPs, LeGold, LeBestPlayerInTheNBA, LeHistoricPlayoffsAndSeriesIn2009, LeDonation..

[Killakobe81]

He just needs to win let history dictate his legacy ...

But no matter what we will know the decision and what it means ...

Many vets and old-school fans feell he ed out ... but agree with harlem he wins many will forget.
But when the legend is written he loses his slim chance at MJ's GOAT status and maybe even a chance to surpass Kobe ...

[Em-City]

Those are all fair points Darrin. My opinion of Lebron's situations remains an opinion and I view yours as such. I think in America, winning does cures all. After winning a Super Bowl Ray Lewis was adored by the sporting world despite of his off season murder allegations. Kobe Bryant was quite possibly the most hated athlete in his genration not too long ago but he redeemed himself in such great heights to a point where he's actually revered by the same fans who used to despise him. This all came after these athletes led their teams to a le.



What irks me about this Lebron hate fest is that most people seem to criticize him without understanding a player of his status has sacrificed. Lebron is still the leagues best player at this point, not Kobe, not even his teammate Wade nor Durant can take it away from him, and by finally winning a le in June next year as quite possibly its most valuable player, I think (or hope) that fans can see Lebron's bottom line as a basketball player.

To be fair, Kobe was still very successful when he was a hated player... and the lakers were winning - so his game was respected even though the player was not.

I think this time round a lot more people respect how kobe is going about things - putting his ego to one side and - as a result - is both a better personality and a better player.


kobe from "kobe & pau" >>>>> kobe from "kobe & shaq"

[xellos88330]

He hasn't won the championship yet.

Many basketball coaches and players alike will say something along the lines of this "That is why they/we play the games".

Don't know how it will turn out. LeBron has lost all of my respect after all the theatrics and drama, and if I were commissioner, his ass would be out of the league.

Is LeBron a great player? yeah he is.

But being a great player doesn't automatically garner respect. You have to earn it not just by your game, but how you conduct yourself as a person and the choices that you make. He made his decision and IMO it was definitely the wrong one.

[Pero]

King James isn't dead at all, TBH..

"King" James is dead. He died the moment he went out of Cleveland. Kings don't switch to other countries, they conquer them.

[Venti Quattro]

He has to earn that respect back for the kids

[Drachen]

And I thoroughly understand and completely fine with this. But what I want to know is will you give him the respect he deserves when he leads the Heat to a championship this season?


My thing is this. Lebron will not be viewed as Wade's sidekick after this season and this is why. Lebron has been a much more successful athlete than Wade. He is a bigger icon than Wade. His stats are better than Wade and I believe he will be Miami's best defender. All of this points to actually the Heat being Lebron's team.

He hasn't been a more successful athlete, Dwade won a ship, therefore as an athlete he has had more success.

Bigger Icon: who cares? There may be some out there who do give it, but I don't give my respect based on who is best able to self-promote.

Stats != good player or good leader.

This is similar to Kevin Garnett's situation upon joining the Celtics. It was Paul Pierce's team because he was the OG Celtics but in paper and on the court, KG was the difference maker and minus his at ude he is the Boston Celtics best player.

I think you will get a lot of disagreement here. KG shrunk in big moments. Clutch time is when you really see whose team it is. It was obviously Paul Pierce's team. KG brought some important aspects (as LeBron will), but it was Pierce's team. Eunichs like KG and Lebron cannot be a "leader."

So the question stands. If Lebron helps the Heat win its 2nd le by being the teams best defender and most impactful player, will you give Lebron he deserves then?

If he subjugates himself and his stats for the good of the team on the way to a ship, then I will definitely crown him the best Pippen since early 2000s Kobe.

(I promise that last line wasn't trying to get a rise out of Lakers fans, I feel he was a sidekick in those years. I will concede that he has been the man recently).

[Drachen]

I may be wrong, but I don't think Lebron is redeemable in this generation. He will remain the hated superstar long after people forget why they started hating him. It will take multiple Championships to shut people up, NOT EARNING RESPECT, before there's a deafening silence where there used to be criticism and people who didn't watch Lebron play live start to idolize him.

I think he's done as the face of anything. I think his brand is dead. I think the league will get more mileage by letting him wear the black hat in Miami, everyone's favorite superstar to hate, and Lebron will need 5 trophies to get people off his back. He won't get their adulation.

King James is dead. It remains to be seen if he takes Lebron James, the player, with him.

LOL, I never watched wrestling but the first thing I thought of when reading your post (specifically the black hat comment) was "Oh My god, it can't be, that is Hollywood Hogans music"

[Giuseppe]

(I promise that last line wasn't trying to get a rise out of Lakers fans, I feel he was a sidekick in those years. I will concede that he has been the man recently).

Good, because if you were trying to get a rise then I'd have to start smelling skunk again.

[Drachen]

To be fair, Kobe was still very successful when he was a hated player... and the lakers were winning - so his game was respected even though the player was not.

I think this time round a lot more people respect how kobe is going about things - putting his ego to one side and - as a result - is both a better personality and a better player.


kobe from "kobe & pau" >>>>> kobe from "kobe & shaq"

Also, Kobe's image didn't begin its repair in earnest until he shut up and played. Can Lebron do this? I think not. Also, I don't think Kobe's image is ever fully repaired without Lebron this summer. Will John Wall come out and be an even bigger bag in 5 years to help rehabilitate Lebrons image? doubtful.

[DJB]

And I thoroughly understand and completely fine with this. But what I want to know is will you give him the respect he deserves when he leads the Heat to a championship this season?


My thing is this. Lebron will not be viewed as Wade's sidekick after this season and this is why. Lebron has been a much more successful athlete than Wade. He is a bigger icon than Wade. His stats are better than Wade and I believe he will be Miami's best defender. All of this points to actually the Heat being Lebron's team.



This is similar to Kevin Garnett's situation upon joining the Celtics. It was Paul Pierce's team because he was the OG Celtics but in paper and on the court, KG was the difference maker and minus his at ude he is the Boston Celtics best player.



So the question stands. If Lebron helps the Heat win its 2nd le by being the teams best defender and most impactful player, will you give Lebron he deserves then?

You need to earn our respect before you start making threads. And being a bandwagon fan with a bandwagon user name isn't a good start.

[Darrin]

LOL, I never watched wrestling but the first thing I thought of when reading your post (specifically the black hat comment) was "Oh My god, it can't be, that is Hollywood Hogans music"

That's how mature people's reaction has been to this. Professional Wrestling.