The Demise of an Immature King Without a Ring

Written by Stan Park on 05/14/2010 in Editorials - 12 Comments

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In my mind, this discussion is over and it had close to no merit to begin with. Until LeBron shows that he can even get back to the NBA Finals, there’s absolutely nothing you can say that supports the claim that he is the best basketball player in the world, much less the league. Don’t even mention his name in the same breath as Kobe and definitely not MJ.

I am not however, completely shutting the door on the guy. I have no personal vendetta against him nor do I secretly wish him a career plagued by disappointment and plight. I sincerely hope that he looks himself in the mirror and makes a few decisions about how he wants to carry himself as the face of the NBA and perhaps, the most sought-after figure in all of sports.

Kobe endured his share of growing pains as we all know, and now, it merely happens to be LeBron’s turn. One definite thing I would like to see from James is, a bit of separation from the rockstar attitude and a touch of humility. I’d like to see him become more about the game of basketball and finally obtaining the crown that eludes him so.

He and I share the same age and clearly, the similarities abruptly end there. However, it does mean that anyone who is 25 years old, would love to be in the position that LeBron has had the privilege of being in for the last seven years. As of right now, I firmly believe he takes it for granted and does not appreciate the luxury of getting to play basketball as his job.

Until he matures and earns an NBA championship, anyone who utters the words, “LeBron is better than Kobe,” is broadcasting to the world that they possess an irrational, poor comprehension of logic.

As Avery Johnson said last night during ESPN’s NBA Fastbreak, “LeBron James may be the back to back MVP, but Kobe Bryant is still the best player in the NBA. In the fourth quarter, you give him the ball and you can go win yourself a championship.”

Case closed.

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Ryan Portland, OR

You are right on. This was suppose to be his time to win a
ring. All these moves the cavs did this season were built around hi
they did not use them properly at all and when the going got tough what did they do in game 5 Jack crap no emotion. Maybe they should quit the dancing in the reg season and get down to business. If he comes back his focus will be in question again no one on the cavs cab stay focused. Something needs to change. The lakers changed with focus and now are competing for titles again.
Ryan Portland, OR

You are right on. This was suppose to be his time to win a
ring. All these moves the cavs did this season were built around hi
they did not use them properly at all and when the going got tough what did they do in game 5 Jack crap no emotion. Maybe they should quit the dancing in the reg season and get down to business. If he comes back his focus will be in question again no one on the cavs cab stay focused. Something needs to change. The lakers changed with focus and now are competing for titles again.
RockitD

My point exactly and why I have the avatar I have. I’m so tired of folks on the LeBron bandwagon. Kobe is da man until someone dethrones him! LeBron was a Bronze medal winner until Kobe came to the Olympics last year. He fights through the pain and is the man you live and die with at the buzzer! The Closer, the Mamba, the TRUE MVP, and multiple champion!
RockitD

My point exactly and why I have the avatar I have. I’m so tired of folks on the LeBron bandwagon. Kobe is da man until someone dethrones him! LeBron was a Bronze medal winner until Kobe came to the Olympics last year. He fights through the pain and is the man you live and die with at the buzzer! The Closer, the Mamba, the TRUE MVP, and multiple champion!
http://twitter.com/curlette88 arlet

exactly! it’s amazing how people still don’t get it.
kobe’s whole career was all about criticisms and proving the media wrong. wrong about him being a ballhog, wrong about being ringless without shaq, wrong about being surpassed by newer players. he’s the most hated and the most criticized, seriously. now he got an earful from chuch sayin he’s “done” And it just fuels him. he plays through the hate he’s gettin. he has accomplished a lot but he’s still not getting enough credit for it.

lebron didn’t have to put up with those things. his arrival to the nba was like a gift from the heavens for them! a guy who can finally make kobe step down. the next big thing. he got all the praises and all the love. they gave him the title of the KING. of what exactly?? “who’s better, kobe or lebron?” is the dumbest question ive ever encountered. When i say KOBE they’d be like “you don’t know anything!” I’m just “dude just speak for urself!”

i remember one game in dallas this season vs the mavs, with less than a minute remaining, kobe scored a gamewinner. That became the lakers’ 3000th win as a franchise, and they’re the first one to ever get there. I thought that was huge, so i waited to see it up on espn. nope. never heard about it. but they showed lebron’s music video instead, i think he scored 30 points that night.. but still come on! 3000 > 30
kobe > lebron, however u look at it.
http://twitter.com/curlette88 arlet

exactly! it’s amazing how people still don’t get it.
kobe’s whole career was all about criticisms and proving the media wrong. wrong about him being a ballhog, wrong about being ringless without shaq, wrong about being surpassed by newer players. he’s the most hated and the most criticized, seriously. now he got an earful from chuch sayin he’s “done” And it just fuels him. he plays through the hate he’s gettin. he has accomplished a lot but he’s still not getting enough credit for it.

lebron didn’t have to put up with those things. his arrival to the nba was like a gift from the heavens for them! a guy who can finally make kobe step down. the next big thing. he got all the praises and all the love. they gave him the title of the KING. of what exactly?? “who’s better, kobe or lebron?” is the dumbest question ive ever encountered. When i say KOBE they’d be like “you don’t know anything!” I’m just “dude just speak for urself!”

i remember one game in dallas this season vs the mavs, with less than a minute remaining, kobe scored a gamewinner. That became the lakers’ 3000th win as a franchise, and they’re the first one to ever get there. I thought that was huge, so i waited to see it up on espn. nope. never heard about it. but they showed lebron’s music video instead, i think he scored 30 points that night.. but still come on! 3000 > 30
kobe > lebron, however u look at it.
D. Carter

no doubt about it i love the lakers but are you guys truely that blnd to see that lebron will go down as one of the best basketball players if not the best? kobe has had the advantage of being in los angeles where jerry bus put championships as his number one priority. on the otherhand lebron hasn’t. lebrons rookie year he was the star and was brought in to bring a ring to the cleveland organization which in fact he almost did as a sophmore surrounded by average talent. (big Z, drew gooden, eric snow etc.) you guys have to also remember that lebron has only been in the league for 6 years while kobe being the veteran has 13. in 7 years theres no telling how good lebron is going to be. you can’t judge a player based on championships. theres several players wihtout rings who are still great; reggie miller, john stockton, karl malone, charles barkley, patrick ewing, etc.
D. Carter

no doubt about it i love the lakers but are you guys truely that blnd to see that lebron will go down as one of the best basketball players if not the best? kobe has had the advantage of being in los angeles where jerry bus put championships as his number one priority. on the otherhand lebron hasn’t. lebrons rookie year he was the star and was brought in to bring a ring to the cleveland organization which in fact he almost did as a sophmore surrounded by average talent. (big Z, drew gooden, eric snow etc.) you guys have to also remember that lebron has only been in the league for 6 years while kobe being the veteran has 13. in 7 years theres no telling how good lebron is going to be. you can’t judge a player based on championships. theres several players wihtout rings who are still great; reggie miller, john stockton, karl malone, charles barkley, patrick ewing, etc.
sarge_90

No! You don’t get it! It’s always about Championships. And Thank God that Jerry Buss “put (winning) championships as his number one priority” Michael Jordan would not be considered the “Greatest Player in NBA history” if he had not won Championships. All those players you mentioned, reggie miller, john stockton, karl malone, charles barkley, patrick ewing, were good players, and everyone of them wanted to win Championships. And we waited years for them to win at least one to cement their legacy as Great Players. Unfortunately None of them achieved what every player in any league or sport plays for, Championships. Basketball Is not Horseshoes! You don’t get points for “almost winning” anything! Lebron my or may not win a Championship.If game 5 of the Boston Cleveland series was any indication, he may not be mentally/emotionally gifted enough to be great when it really matters, What you and so many others don’t get is that No Matter what ESPN, Nike, The NBA or TNT want, He, Lebron will have to earn it, It want be handed to him on a silver plater! and I doubt seriously if you “love the lakers.”
sarge_90

No! You don’t get it! It’s always about Championships. And Thank God that Jerry Buss “put (winning) championships as his number one priority” Michael Jordan would not be considered the “Greatest Player in NBA history” if he had not won Championships. All those players you mentioned, reggie miller, john stockton, karl malone, charles barkley, patrick ewing, were good players, and everyone of them wanted to win Championships. And we waited years for them to win at least one to cement their legacy as Great Players. Unfortunately None of them achieved what every player in any league or sport plays for, Championships. Basketball Is not Horseshoes! You don’t get points for “almost winning” anything! Lebron my or may not win a Championship.If game 5 of the Boston Cleveland series was any indication, he may not be mentally/emotionally gifted enough to be great when it really matters, What you and so many others don’t get is that No Matter what ESPN, Nike, The NBA or TNT want, He, Lebron will have to earn it, It want be handed to him on a silver plater! and I doubt seriously if you “love the lakers.”
sarge_90

sarge_90 says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.

05.19.10 at 4:18 am
No! You don’t get it! It’s always about Championships. And Thank God that Jerry Buss “put (winning) championships as his number one priority” Michael Jordan would not be considered the “Greatest Player in NBA history” if he had not won Championships. All those players you mentioned, reggie miller, john stockton, karl malone, charles barkley, patrick ewing, were good players, and everyone of them wanted to win Championships. And we waited years for them to win at least one to cement their legacy as Great Players. Unfortunately None of them achieved what every player in any league or sport plays for, Championships. Basketball Is not Horseshoes! You don’t get points for “almost winning” anything! Lebron my or may not win a Championship.If game 5 of the Boston Cleveland series was any indication, he may not be mentally/emotionally gifted enough to be great when it really matters, What you and so many others don’t get is that No Matter what ESPN, Nike, The NBA or TNT want, He, Lebron will have to earn it, It want be handed to him on a silver plater! and I doubt seriously if you “love the lakers.”
sarge_90

sarge_90 says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.

05.19.10 at 4:18 am
No! You don’t get it! It’s always about Championships. And Thank God that Jerry Buss “put (winning) championships as his number one priority” Michael Jordan would not be considered the “Greatest Player in NBA history” if he had not won Championships. All those players you mentioned, reggie miller, john stockton, karl malone, charles barkley, patrick ewing, were good players, and everyone of them wanted to win Championships. And we waited years for them to win at least one to cement their legacy as Great Players. Unfortunately None of them achieved what every player in any league or sport plays for, Championships. Basketball Is not Horseshoes! You don’t get points for “almost winning” anything! Lebron my or may not win a Championship.If game 5 of the Boston Cleveland series was any indication, he may not be mentally/emotionally gifted enough to be great when it really matters, What you and so many others don’t get is that No Matter what ESPN, Nike, The NBA or TNT want, He, Lebron will have to earn it, It want be handed to him on a silver plater! and I doubt seriously if you “love the lakers.”