Is LeBron’s legacy in jeopardy?
Since LeBron James entered the NBA he has arguably been the league’s best player. James coming straight out of high school from Saint Vincent- St Mary in Akron, Ohio his hometown. He was drafted as the 1st overall pick in the 2003 draft a draft class that was loaded with talent that included former teammates Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony. James was able to come into the league and seamlessly start from the beginning winning the 2004 NBA rookie of year award. LeBron quickly became the passion of Cleveland as the Cavaliers outshined the Cleveland Browns in all aspects in the city of Cleveland since King James has arrived. Each season with LeBron on the team Cleveland fans were always excited for basketball season because they know that they had the best player on the planet on their team making them competitive to compete for a championship year in and year out.
It seemed that as LeBron bettered his game each year the Cavaliers as a team just couldn’t get the job done LeBron led the Cavaliers to the franchise’s first finals appearance in 2007 before getting swept by the San Antonio Spurs 4-0. Under the direction of Coach Mike Brown and a hungry LeBron to win his first Championship LeBron was able to lead the Cavaliers to the best record in the NBA in 2008, and 2009 respectively. James has gone on to win the MVP 4 times in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013. James became a free agent in July 2010 on his ESPN special entitled the decision. LeBron decided to join the Miami Heat with Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade with the goal of winning multiple championships. After falling short the first year with the team in 2010 losing in six games to the Dallas Mavericks.
After putting in the hard work in the offseason a lot more in the post LeBron was able to help lead the Heat to an NBA championship against the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games. Winning his first NBA championship and NBA finals MVP averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. The next season James and the Heat was able to reach the finals for the second year in a row defeating the Spurs in 7 games. James was then again named the NBA finals MVP. With another stellar season James lead the Heat to another appearance in the finals losing in five games to the Spurs ending the Heat’s chance to 3 peat.
After losing in finals to the Spurs James decided to opt out of his contract with Miami and return home to Cleveland. James was able to link with fellow teammate Kyrie Irving and acquire Kevin Love in free agency from the Minnesota Timberwolves. James led his hometown team for his fifth consecutive straight finials appearance ultimately losing to the Warriors. In 2016 James was able to lead his team to the first seed in the eastern conference and his sixth straight finials appearance. Becoming the second NBA player to go to the finals three times with two different teams since Dennis Rodman. Has LeBron lost his edge? In the past two seasons he has been outshined and out played by an better team and many has began to debate that he is not the best player in the NBA any more in that Stephen Curry has taken over that role with Cleveland now down 0-2 in the finals series against the Warriors this year it will be hard for LeBron to be in the conversation as the greatest ever if he loses to the Warriors for the second time for all the marbles. But on the bright side, King James has the maximum of two games to change things around.
