LeBron James Forum

Don't see him as a GOAT, unlike Jordan, there was never a team put

together around him.... He went chasing what could have been seen

as basically a Championship team, missing one little piece....

ZERO.....cry...pout...and hold your breath till you get your way and move to the team you want to play for....then when that run is over do the same thing...to move on....also to change jersey numbers..so more sales coming in ...  Jordan....Bird....old school players would never do that....no one will miss him when he is gone...

Zero, can't stand him

Who?

awccook wrote:

Everyone likes to comment on how socially they don't like him but cite Bill/Kareem/Ali, forgetting what Bill Russel (being part of the first all-black starting 5 NCAA champion, civil rights), Kareem Abdual-Jabbar (changed religions and sat out playing for America in the Olympics for the unequal treatment of African Americans), or Muhammad Ali (conscientious objector) were all leaders and activist in their times.  If it weren't for them paving the way, Lebron may have never had the opportunity.

Lebron has done at least what they have in activism if not more being able to use capitalism to his benefit and then build the I Promise initiatives in his hometown.  I haven't watched NBA since Jordan retired the third time but to play as long as he has, at as high a level as he has, and what he has done, he deserves every bit of the accolades that people cite Bill/Kareem/Ali for.

Exactly. If you're not an NBA fan, fine. I'm a casual viewer at best. But the hate people have for someone who has had impossible expectations put on him and exceeded them all without being a vicious, callous bully like MJ or letting his ego destroy his family like Brady or Tiger (or MJ again) or being unable to control an off-the field vice that tarnishes his legacy (Favre, Tiger again, MJ again) or blatantly using so many PEDs that it's obvious to a blind fan and then threatening to come after anyone who dares state the obvious (Lance Armstrong, A-Rod, Bonds, Clemens) ....the point is, athletes aren't perfect. And there are far more flawed greats than LeBron.

It seems like the LeBron haters are either in the "Shut up and dribble" camp - in that case, you couldn't possibly have supported Ali, Russell, or KAJ -- or you're mad at him for "The Decision"/changing teams/being a de facto GM. I disliked LeBron for years and was more than happy to see Dirk and the Mavs humble the Heat. But I came around when he returned home to Cleveland and brought that city a title. He had no obligation to go back there after the way they reacted to his decision to take his talents to South Beach. But he did. IMO, that showed maturity. He might have done David Blatt dirty and hand-picked his coach/teammates, but you can't argue with the results.

I can still respect the man and the player and root against him, or at least not actively root *for* him. But what crime has he committed? His weak stance on China is his version of "Republicans buy sneakers, too" If you hate him for not using his clout to champion the right causes, then I guess you hate MJ (and Brady and Tiger) too? But if you hate him for not being on the political right... then maybe sports isn't for you.

Well spoken.  Athletes are allowed and should have opinions and career goals.

To note an epic game of his.  Win or go home, game 6 against the Celtics in 2012.

hockeydude wrote:

awccook wrote:

Everyone likes to comment on how socially they don't like him but cite Bill/Kareem/Ali, forgetting what Bill Russel (being part of the first all-black starting 5 NCAA champion, civil rights), Kareem Abdual-Jabbar (changed religions and sat out playing for America in the Olympics for the unequal treatment of African Americans), or Muhammad Ali (conscientious objector) were all leaders and activist in their times.  If it weren't for them paving the way, Lebron may have never had the opportunity.

Lebron has done at least what they have in activism if not more being able to use capitalism to his benefit and then build the I Promise initiatives in his hometown.  I haven't watched NBA since Jordan retired the third time but to play as long as he has, at as high a level as he has, and what he has done, he deserves every bit of the accolades that people cite Bill/Kareem/Ali for.

Exactly. If you're not an NBA fan, fine. I'm a casual viewer at best. But the hate people have for someone who has had impossible expectations put on him and exceeded them all without being a vicious, callous bully like MJ or letting his ego destroy his family like Brady or Tiger (or MJ again) or being unable to control an off-the field vice that tarnishes his legacy (Favre, Tiger again, MJ again) or blatantly using so many PEDs that it's obvious to a blind fan and then threatening to come after anyone who dares state the obvious (Lance Armstrong, A-Rod, Bonds, Clemens) ....the point is, athletes aren't perfect. And there are far more flawed greats than LeBron.

It seems like the LeBron haters are either in the "Shut up and dribble" camp - in that case, you couldn't possibly have supported Ali, Russell, or KAJ -- or you're mad at him for "The Decision"/changing teams/being a de facto GM. I disliked LeBron for years and was more than happy to see Dirk and the Mavs humble the Heat. But I came around when he returned home to Cleveland and brought that city a title. He had no obligation to go back there after the way they reacted to his decision to take his talents to South Beach. But he did. IMO, that showed maturity. He might have done David Blatt dirty and hand-picked his coach/teammates, but you can't argue with the results.

I can still respect the man and the player and root against him, or at least not actively root *for* him. But what crime has he committed? His weak stance on China is his version of "Republicans buy sneakers, too" If you hate him for not using his clout to champion the right causes, then I guess you hate MJ (and Brady and Tiger) too? But if you hate him for not being on the political right... then maybe sports isn't for you.

His meltdown in Boston a few games ago speaks volumes about his career. 

For those would like to compare it to real professionals, Google "tigers near perfect game" and watch how that was handled during the game and the next day.

Zero

I don't follow the NBA much but I've seen enough to know:

I respect that he's a star player.... but he is nowhere near as cool or clutch as MJ.... or Kobe.

As a player? A heck of a lot. As a person in general? Not very much.