California Dreaming: Why LA should be LeBron James’ last chapter
LeBron leaves in Free Agency
LeBron has been a free agent twice in his career, and he left the team each time. Why shouldn’t his fan base believe he’ll do it again? Let’s head back to the Lee Jenkins piece once more, “
Let’s head back to the Lee Jenkins piece once more, “Remember when I was sitting up there at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of Miami as my second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.”
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LeBron felt his time with Miami was in college, and he returned home after his college years. That is indeed an interesting take on his actions. College kids may return after college, but then they leave again. They leave for a variety of reasons, maybe they found a job elsewhere, maybe they want a different experience, or maybe, just maybe a move may be in keeping with where they are in their lives. In LeBron’s case perhaps it’s the last reason, after all it is the most applicable. LeBron no longer needs his college years to grow up as a player, been there done that. He no longer needs to deliver a championship to the franchise that drafted him, been there done that.
LeBron at the end of the 2017/18 season will have completed 15 years in the NBA. Headed into his 16th season, it is time for him to do what is best for his career. LeBron can take care of his off-court ventures, play with his friends, and have fun while going after a championship.
After 2017/18 what is left for him to achieve? More rings for Cleveland? He only promised them one. All that is left for LeBron, is to chart the final course of his career. Whatever he thinks is best, wherever he thinks is best, is appropriate for LeBron. He has never before been allowed to be a free agent in the true sense. The first time he felt pressure to stay in Cleveland mainly since they drafted ‘the home town boy’. The second time he felt pressure to return to Cleveland to deliver what he failed to do the first time, a championship.
This time there is no true pressure on LeBron, and he can go wherever he chooses. It’s a good time to be a fan of the Lakers or the Clippers because the catch of the free-agency period is coming.