King James Gospel
Fansided

LeBron James just played the best four-month stretch of basketball in modern NBA history

By Jason Timpf

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates a win after the game against the Indiana Pacers in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 25, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates a win after the game against the Indiana Pacers in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 25, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The conjunction of the indomitable Golden State Warriors and the pending LeBron James free agency have managed to sweep an unbelievable stretch of basketball under the rug.

I understand the resounding hype of summertime in the NBA, but LeBron James in the postseason should easily take the cake. In general, there has been a transformative shift of power into the hands of star players and it’s great for the NBA. It has undoubtedly been the driving force behind the league’s recent growth.

According to Forbes, the NBA just had it’s most successful regular season since the league’s inception. Television ratings were way up on every single network, and arena attendance was up for the fourth consecutive year.

As for LeBron James, I truly believe the Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance to keep him. Their best shot lies in the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies, who appear potentially willing to part with the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft for an established star.

This three-team deal proposed by King James Gospel’s own Jackson Flickinger is the most likely scenario that would keep LeBron close to home:

It’s only natural to get swept up in the excitement of it all, but I hate how quickly we move on from what has just occurred. Especially when it carries historical weight.

I truly believe in the power of NBA history. Similarly to the empowerment of the star player, the historical context driving the league’s exponential growth.

With the NBA — unlike any other league — history is discussed as much, if not more than the present. Is LeBron James better than Michael Jordan? Are the Golden State Warriors the best basketball team of all time?

But as Winston Churchill once said, “History is written by the victors.” And as a result, some things are unfairly lost in time. 

For instance, I truly believe the 2015 San Antonio Spurs would have repeated as champions had Chris Paul not made that insane floater in Game 7. The Golden State Warriors were vulnerable in their youth, and LeBron had lost most of his supporting cast to injury.

Heck, if LeBron and Ray Allen hadn’t hit two threes in 14 seconds, maybe we have a Spurs three-peat. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkK3vsJl-N3/?hl=en&taken-by=houseofhighlights

The point being, sometimes we forget about greatness when it is surpassed by an even greater entity. And I believe we’re about to do that with LeBron.

LeBron James — from February 7th to June 8th — played the best stretch of basketball that has ever been played in the modern era.