California Dreaming: Why LA should be LeBron James’ last chapter
Global Icon
Of the many contributions that Michael Jordan made to the NBA, the single greatest one was heralding the globalization of the league.
Unlike MJ who was the Herald, LeBron is perhaps the single greatest benefactor of the NBA’s globalization. LeBron James is bigger than Cleveland Cavaliers basketball. His global fans don’t care if he plays for the Cavaliers, they just care that he plays basketball. When LeBron was mercilessly ridiculed for leaving Cleveland back in 2010, his global fans didn’t care, they simply replaced his Cavaliers jersey with a Miami one.
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When he returned to Cleveland, ‘I’m coming home’ didn’t reverberate with them, in the same manner, it did in northeast Ohio. Cleveland was just another destination where they would get to see their favorite player in action. LeBron is the player they followed from high school to the NBA. Global fans are invested in his career and will defend his every basketball decision. LeBron isn’t clutch, he doesn’t want to take the last shot. Does he sometimes pass the ball to an above average open shooter? Yes, he does. That is all that matters to them, not some overrated notion of being ‘clutch’. The man demonstrates his high basketball IQ by making the best basketball play, and that is why he is beloved globally.
Whenever he hears the criticism of LeBron James, the global fan simply smiles and looks at his Heat and Cavs jerseys enshrined in glass in his man cave.
Another argument bandied about is that LeBron has to play on a super team in order to win a championship. Global fans are baffled by this, ’’define a super team’’ they say. Their general thoughts: Allstars, check, hall of famers, check, good role players, check. How many NBA championship teams didn’t check all these boxes?
The ‘super team argument’ for the global fan is a non-starter. You cannot endorse an anti-LeBron argument without preparing to cut through the thick electric wire defense mounted by his global fans, they see the flaws but are quick to point out the flaws in other players. So LeBron has flaws but who doesn’t? Flaws do not diminish LeBron’s greatness. He left Cleveland and then Miami, define free agency, suggests the LeBron James global fan.
Basketball prowess aside, LeBron is even admired for his presumed positive character attributes. LeBron has to date not gotten into any major trouble off the court. He has, on the face of it, done everything he can to advance himself. He is involved in entertainment from a production side and has worked with friends to form productive businesses.
That last part is key, his friends are seemingly productive, not mere members of a free-loading, hard partying entourage. Mothers love this and want their sons to adapt these LeBron-like qualities. Choose productive friends, own up to and take care of your children, and try to carve out a place for yourself.
The entire family has a reason to cheer for LeBron and his teams and to buy the products he endorses. Among this group, LeBron’s stature as an icon will not diminish after the 2017/18 season. When LeBron once again leaves the Cavaliers and heads out West to the Lakers or Clippers, a new jersey will be enshrined in glass in the man cave, or in the family room.