James is 25 years old. Old should really be replaced with "young." He's amazing and will get better. However, their are those out there who are not satisified enough with LBJ. They want more. They want a ring from James. It's without a doubt a legitimate "beef" to have with James. People scoff at the fact that he's compared to "His Airness" Michael Jordan when he's not won anything yet. It has to be said though that that the parallels between him and Jordan are legit and should be noted.
Both came into the NBA as rising stars. Jordan won a NCAA Championship for North Carolina with his game winning shot his freshman year in 1982 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2Nnc_itdEc&feature=related. He was named the college basketball player of the year his junior year. He was a high flyer heading into the NBA. But the hype for Jordan paled in comparison to the hype LBJ got. Lebron rose to the heavens while at high school at St. Vincent St. Mary's. His games were on national television. NBA scouts said if Lebron could leave his junior year in high school he would be one of the 10 best players in the NBA. They were right.
Both Jordan and Lebron were stars before the NBA.
Both Lebron and Jordan took over the league the minute they stepped on a NBA court. Both became stars right away. Lebron haters will say how he hasn't won though. Well neither did Jordan. I think a lot of people forget Jordan's struggles in the playoffs early on. The fact is Jordan didn't win a NBA title until his 7th season in the league. And, ahem, this is Lebron James' 7th season.
People forget, or just don't know, the struggles Jordan had early on. Jordan was on inferior Chicago Bulls teams in an era where the Celtics and Lakers dominated. Finally, in the late 1980's, and early 1990's, when the Bulls became a legit team around Jordan (Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc.) Jordan still had constant losses to the 'Bad Boys' of the Detroit Pistons until he finally beat the Pistons in 1991, in which Isiah Thomas and none of the Pistons shook Jordan's hand. Jordan got over the hump, beat the Lakers, and won the first of his six NBA titles.
Jordan was reduced to tears in 1991 after 7 long seasons it took him to get that first championship. I have a feeling the same emotions will go through Lebron when finally gets his first championship.
Speaking of not shaking hands Lebron James was famous for in last year's playoffs after losing to the Orlando Magic. The Magic are just a porition of struggles Lebron has gone through the past 6 seasons. Like Jordan, Lebron has had to go through incompetent teammates. I would argue he still has incompetent teammates. Lebron is so amazing though because he's lifted these incompetent players to great heights. It's so forgettable that Lebron James actually went to the NBA Finals in 2005. His team was so bad though they stood no chance in the NBA Finals against the Spurs, in what was probably the worst NBA Finals of all time.
Since then Lebron James has tried and tried to get his team back to the NBA Finals. He has had incompetent teammates, an incompetent coach in Mike Brown (you have the best athlete in the world and you run a slow down half-court offense...what?), and like MJ, has had to deal with teams like the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic (Jordan battled the Pistons in the 80's) who, up to this point, have been to much to handle. More than likely Lebron will have to deal with one or both of these teams again to move on in this year's playoffs.
He can do it, and I think he will do it. With apologies to Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and anyone else you want to throw at me Lebron James is far and away the best player in the league. It's his 7th year, and he's never been more prepared to take the lead on his shoulders to win a title.
Their are three more criticisms of Lebron people will throw at someone. 1.) He can't shoot. It's true he won't be compared to Gerry McNamara in terms of shooting anytime soon. However, Lebron has such brute strength he can just go to the lane and score anytime he wants. And he's proven when the game is on the line he can make a clutch shot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fD1MNjkPFs
The second criticism is Lebron gets so many easy calls, and would never make it in the 1970's-1990's NBA where everyone was pushed around in the "No Blood, No Foul" era. Yes, it is without a doubt true if you whisper on Lebron it's a fould. But that's the NBA we live in today. It's not going to change. However, at his size, strength, and ability I have no doubt Lebron would have flourished in any era in the NBA. He's a beast he would have taken the hits just fine. Yes Lebron whines a lot, but name me a star NBA player in any era who was not in the ref's ear. MJ did it too. They all did.
Finally, the third criticism is Lebron lacks the killer instinct needed. People look at the goofy things Lebron James does before each game. He throws chalk in the air. He does all these handshakes, chest bumps, and fake photographic poses with his teammates. He hugs and fist pounds the opponent before the game. These are all things MJ never, NEVER would have done. As soon as MJ touched the floor he wanted to rip your heart out. Don't think Lebron doesn't want to do the same thing. MJ was ready to rip the heart out in warmups. Lebron waits until tipoff. Don't mistake showmanship for not having a killer instinct. Magic Johnson was a showman. He won 5 NBA Championships. Lebron James is the showman of this era of the NBA. I will say it again. Don't think for a second that Lebron does not have Michael Jordan's killer instinct. Because he does.
This is one thing Michael Jordan would never have done before a game. But don't think for a second that onec the game stars Lebron doesn't have the same killer instinct Jordan had.
Lebron James is in his 7th season. His career is so parallel to Michael Jordan's that it's scary. Can he be better than Jordan? He sure can be. Will he? Only time will tell. After Tiger Wood's infidelities became public Lebron James has as good a chance as ever to overtake him as the most popular athlete in the world. He has to win a title though this year. Will he? Yes he will. It's his time.
Kofod
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