What Legacy Will LeBron Leave On The NBA Universe?
LeBron James has made an impact on the National Basketball Association and people have been wondering whether he will leave a good legacy when he retires the year. There are three key elements this article will focus on that people won’t forget when Lebron James retires.
From High School Leader to NBA Superstar
For us to truly talk about the legacy of LeBron James, it’s important to know how it started. LeBron went to St. Vincent- St. Mary High School where he led their basketball team to win three state championships. During LeBron’s time as a high school basketball player, he encouraged his peers to do their best and didn’t scold them for making mistakes. With hard work and good sportsmanship, he was made the first pick for his home team, the Cleveland Cavilers in the 2003 NBA draft.
LeBron James Becomes “The King” While Wearing Jersey #23.
LeBron James' nickname “The King” and wearing Michael Jordan’s jersey number are crucial elements to how people view him today. Some people look down on LeBron James because he was called The King before he even started winning a single championship. The King himself decided to pick #23 which is also the legendary Michael Jordan’s number. Since LeBron was called The King and he wears #23, the media started to backlash at him and claimed that The King thought he was just as good as Michael Jordan, if not better.
Transferring From the Cleveland Cavilers to the Miami Heat.
The story of LeBron James' legacy wouldn’t be complete if the trade-off between the Cavaliers and the Heat wasn’t mentioned. In 2010, LeBron James left his home team, the Cleveland Cavilers for the Miami Heat because they haven’t won a championship since he was on the team. The decision for LeBron James to leave his home state started upsetting his fans, even though he donated over $3 million to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
Recent Excuses from Lebron “The King” James Made During His Big Losses.
Every time LeBron James faced a loss in recent playoffs, he would have an excuse for why it wasn’t his fault. In this article, I’m only going to focus on the most recent excuses LeBron made involving his losses in the championships. In the 2017-2018 playoffs, LeBron returned to the Cavilers and played against the Golden State Warriors in the finals. The Cavilers lost the finals while scoring 114 points and the Warriors 124 points. The King claimed that he punched a brick wall, so he was playing with a broken arm the whole series after losing to Golden State.
When LeBron joined the Los Angeles Lakers and went against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018-2019 season, his team lost with the score finaling to 111-106. This loss made the Lakers ineligible to play in the playoffs. LeBron James said that he lost because of a groin injury, but his physical therapist said that he shouldn’t have played for the rest of the year. During the 2020-2021 season, LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers against the Phoenix Suns during the championship and lost 120-110.
The King said that he lost the championship because his team was too injured to play together. Although LeBron's injuries were legitimate, they seemed to only happen when he lost a game which will impact how his fans are going to view him when he retires this year. Since LeBron James is retiring this year, we need to know The King’s mindset when he joined the NBA and how it changed throughout his basketball career.
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