The spotlight has always been on LeBron James. From his days as a high school star to being the number 1 pick in the NBA Draft of his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, the pressure was on his shoulders as he continued to grow in to one of basketball’s best. He was nicknamed “The King.” Endorsements poured in. Fans were labeled “Witnesses.” James led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals at the tender young age of 22 and won his first MVP award at 24. Blessed with a unique combination of size, strength, speed, finesse, and instinct, he had already entered the conversation as arguably the best basketball player in the world, with adoring fans in every corner of the globe-- and then came The Decision.
No matter what the feelings were towards James and the handling of his infamous departure from Cleveland, there was never any doubting his unbelievable talent as a player. However petty and insignificant though, the criticisms always remained that he was a choke artist, he couldn't become a closer, and that he couldn’t will his team to victory in a big game. As overstated as they may have been, these were the headlines of the naysayers who reviled in the prospect of James’ failings, no doubt magnified by the way he handled his choice to sign with the Miami Heat.
After the summer of 2010, the conversation seemed to be less about basketball and more about LeBron James as a person. He was labeled as a selfish traitor who turned his back on the hometown that helped shape who he had become. Admittedly, much of the negative attention was brought on by himself and the spectacle of his prime-time television announcement, along with his guarantees of multiple championships. The focus was now on James as a man, not just as a player, and his detractors cheerfully gloated as his Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, repeating the same mantras of him as a failure.
Those that were able to see past the personal shortcomings knew that James was headed for greatness, and it was only a matter of time before he would break through. The 2012 season was that time, as he treated basketball fans to one of the most spectacular postseason performances in history. He won his 3rd MVP, his first Finals MVP, and most importantly, his first championship. He responded in every must-win situation with monster games, and in doing so, he has managed to change the conversation back to one about his remarkable talents.
No doubt some will still belittle his achievement, offering the excuse of a stacked team or a shortened NBA season. Those fans will never be won over. But to those who have watched James mature as a player and person, there is no doubt that there are many more of these moments in his career yet to come, as he continues to cement his place in history among the game’s best ever.
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