LeBron James has been on warpath trying to solidify his legacy and he can smell his second straight ring with the Cleveland Cavaliers. We’re finally witnessing LeBron in his prime.
LeBron James is the best player in the world and he has no problem letting you know.
This continues and will continue although people expect Father Time to creep up on him sooner or later. Yet, although people have said LeBron has lost a step and he doesn’t fly as high as he used to, this is actually his basketball prime.
After beating a 73-win team last year LeBron proved that he can do it all. Besides being an all around player he has finally brought a ring to Cleveland and proven that he is a person that can come through in the clutch.
Coming back from a 3-1 lead, which is now one of the most famous things to say on social media and in media circles, the LeBron legacy has done something that Jordan or anybody can never say they have done.
It’s not untrue that James is has lot a bit of his explosiveness. However, he’s adapted just as all the great ones have. Since he’s lost a step has recreated his game and played a more back-to-the-basket style and he’s consistently been using his smarts to make defenders look silly.
Right now, playing excellent basketball looks nearly effortless for him and throughout these playoffs he’s made the best players in the league look like they belong in the rec league and the nearest gym. Take that for the regular season.
These playoffs, LeBron’s toyed with defenders like Serge Ibaka in the semi-finals, spinning the ball in his face and nailing a three.
At they were at one point beating the Celtics by 50 points in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
It’s his prime because this is when he can mix the athletic ability he’s been blessed with, that even when lessened is still head and shoulders above 95% of the leagues, his basketball IQ and after 14 seasons in the NBA and a notorious memory, an encyclopedic knowledge of the game.
With that combination you can tell that he believes in himself and he believes that he can accomplish any goal.
Lately, LeBron has shown a confidence that has never been displayed before by him until he joined the Cavaliers for a second time. When he was with the Cavaliers the first time he was a young player. He was still the leader but he wasn’t the veteran player that everybody looked up to. He was still trying make a name for himself. When he was with the Heat it was Dwayne Wade’s team initially, then James began to grow into his own. Nonetheless, Dade County would always be known as Wade County.
The team he has now is his first team where he’s the unquestioned leader and the blueprint of Finals success.
While remaining coachable and receptive to differing opinions, he’s comfortable calling the shots.
LeBron has displayed that with his input on multiple personnel matters. Don’t forget, LeBron is the reason that Deron Williams is on the team because of his “playmaker” rant. As a result, the Cavs have a former All-Star at the point guard position as their backup to Kyrie Irving.
Consider this:
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LeBron’s not only in his prime because of his play on the court, he’s in his prime because of his mature mindset.
LeBron is getting that killer instinct slowly but surely and it’ll be interesting to see how he displays his killer mindset in the Finals against the Warriors.
Even though the Cavs weren’t the best team in the Eastern Conference record-wise everybody knew that they were the best team in the East. After sweeping both of the first two rounds they easily handled the Celtics and, now, LeBron looks like he will never relinquish his stranglehold on the conference.
LeBron has always been compared to Michael Jordan and he chose to wear the number 23 not once but twice so he clearly embraces being compared to Jordan. Now that his career is rounding out and he is passing basketball legends on career leaderboards at just 32-years-old, people are now bringing up the Jordan-LeBron debate with more vigor and seriousness than ever before.
All the buzz surrounding him should help his mindset; he should be hungrier than ever and certainly hungrier than anybody that will be on the court in the Finals.
LeBron knows that if he can win four games against this daunting Warriors team he will be finally without a doubt be in the conversation with Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever.
LeBron has a chance at true greatness and we will all witness it starting June 1st at 9:00 pm EST time.
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