LeBron James Forum

A lot of interesting points have come in today, with a surprising majority of dislikes. I'm curious to those who just wrote a 'no': is it due to his constant ability to win, his winning against your favorite teams, his supposed arrogance, his media hype, or his politics?

I blame the overall idea of the 'Decision' show on the TV network, but his part in the program seemed to focus more on leaving for Miami than the charity supported that evening.

The curiosity is more about his legacy and post-playing days; Shaq, who many had harsh criticism towards in his careers' beginning, turned out to be a smart business mind and is using his 'celebrity' and humor to keep him in the fans' conscious. MJ, whose behavior screams of pure ego to me (evident by the attitude emitted during his HOF speech and documentary interview), has been relatively quiet as far as an ambassador of the league.

Lebron has stated that he wants to play alongside his son in the NBA. I wonder if his name and brand have anything to do with that (sarcasm)? Should the event actually occur, does he then just fade away or continue to be a corporate spokesperson? Perhaps he will find a business 'team' that can encourage him to use his popularity as a positive voice for the next few generations, and not just in sports (he'll be only 40 when his current contract ends).

When his all-time points record is broken in forty or so years by someone who hasn't been born yet, will people look back and see a change in him as a person, and what might that change be?

Stay tuned.

I find these responses curious. The amount of people who have "0" (or similar) responses are being disingenuous at best. It's a sign of our culture. You don't respect him for simply hos ability to make the NBA? For being able to stay healthy enough to play for 20 years? For the championships? You didn't cheer for him during that Cleveland championship? And if you didn't you didn't at least respect what he did that last few games? Name one other person on the court with him that last five minutes of that last game... You don't respect that his behaviour has been morally pretty impressive for someone with cameras on them for over 20 years? You don't respect that he has more points than ANYONE ELSE who ever played the game? Including the person you think is the best? You don't respect that not only that he is fourth all time in assists? I don't care what era he is playing in he still did this. Anyone praising Jordan, Magic, Kobe, Wilt, etc would have a hard time criticizing LeBron based on who they are as people and im sure the same is true of others that were less visible. 

Sure. You don't like his attitude and the odd stand on an issue here or there. Funny that we want LeBron to shut up and Tiger and Jordan to speak up. It just doesn't make sense. But you're telling me you don't respect his on the ground initiatives in Akron? 

Are you sure you have ZERO respect for the guy or is that just the culture talking where our guy is gold and the other guy is well, scum? 

Me? Lots of respect. Not my favorite human but I respect his efforts on and off the court if not his answers in front of a mic at times. Put me in front of a mic every day for 20+ years I'm gonna say lots of dumb things. I'm sure I've done it already in this rant like post. And it's not even 8am.

Seems no one mentioned....

He set the record....

Though the Lakers lost the game....

Personally, rooted against every team he was with

in Championship Series....

He was babied and coddled the first few years in the NBA....

Just a side glance got a foul called on the other team...

He got away with a lot of crap...

He's always been a bully, because the league allowed it...

Your last three points could be said of Kobe and Jordan as well. Likely lots of other stars. Lary Bird. 

You can say that again, RonEaston, and I love MJ and Larry.

LeBron earned my respect as a player in his second run with the Cavs, especially the last season. Cavs were down 2-0 and 3-2 to the Celtics in the '18 CF, and LeBron put that team on his back and won game 7 (in Boston) with no Kyrie or Love. Then, in Game 1 against the Warriors, he played one of the greatest Finals games by anybody, any era, with no supporting cast. Everybody will remember it as the J.R. Smith game, but LeBron almost singlehandedly upset the Dubs on their court. That stretch cemented him as an NBA legend in my book.

RonEaston wrote:

Your last three points could be said of Kobe and Jordan as well. Likely lots of other stars. Lary Bird. 

Jordan did exactly that (as did Kobe)

As an outsider.  

I have watched very little basketball and know less about it.  I have watch Russell and Chamberlian in games (live) a few times.  Did watch Magic and Bird when they went head-to-head more than once.   MJ, James and others list here I have only seen in short runs (clips mainly).   As I watch parts of the Nuggets games now and then.

Yes James is a HOFer.  You have to give him credit for going 20 years (and more to come) but he did have 4 years that he did not play in college like most of the others.  Should we count the stats other players have in college?

As the G.O.A.T. who knows.   I go back to my years in the weather service.   There were 27 different models that the weathermen use.   All the models use all the same data, but they come up with way different outcomes.  It all depends on what data they think is more important than the others.    Rings vs MVP vs Records vs wins vs years played vs Games played.   You get the point.

The clip of James getting fouled (not called) when he missed the game winning shot do not good for him. (IMO).     MJ, Magic or Bird would have just said OK and won the game in over time.

The idea that he deserves criticism for reacting to the non call, and your 'guy' would have shrugged his shoulders, walked over patted the official on the back and said 'it's ok, everyone is human, we all make mistakes' and gone out and won the game is selective criticism at best.

Bird and MJ would have cussed the official out so badly any sailors in earshot would have been blushing. David Robinson, or whoever your pick for the nicest, most mild mannered played in NBA history would have reacted emotionally.

I've said about football mostly....

If one bad call in the closing minutes loses you the game...

It was your fault, not the Refs, because you let the game

be that close in the first place....