Unless you've been living under a rock for the last four years, you've probably heard of the legend-in-the-making they call King James.
No not some famous historical king from 15th century England, but the man that is quietly becoming the best player in the NBA, quite possibly of all time.
Problem is, he plays in Cleveland.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Cleveland sports or their die hard fans. I respect the Indians (even though I'm Red Sox to the grave), the Browns, and occasionally I will find myself watching the Columbus Blue Jackets even though they're not in Cleveland (just because I like Hockey).
But let's call a spade a spade here; The Cavs cannot keep Lebron in Cleveland for his entire career.
He's becoming the franchise poster child for the NBA, an international icon, and after this summer in the Olympics he could go on to become the first billionaire ball player of all time.
Not bad for someone who didn't go to college.
The Cavs are a small market team with a very low team budget (which they've dumped mostly on Lebron, not surprisingly) and absolutely no appeal for other players to come and play for them.
Sure they got the rebounding and shot blocking machine Ben Wallace (34 and on bad knees), sharpshooter Wally Szczerbiak (bad ankles and hasn't played a full season since God knows when), and underrated point guard Delonte West.
They have young, yet unproven, three-point master Daniel Gibson and a bench that was good enough last season to help Lebron carry them to the Finals, but these players are not long term solutions nor names that will impress the King if he is unable to take the Cavs back to the championship game (which will be difficult to do now that the Celtics are back in town).
So where does an unhappy superstar with loads of endorsements and HOF tattooed on his head go to gain more popularity and stardom?
Why a big city market of course, and since Kobe will be in L.A. probably till the end of his career, this leaves New York as the only other legitamit place for a superstar like Lebron to flash that big smile of his.
Yes, New York right now is in shambles with Stephon Marbury making more headlines off the court than on it and Isiah Thomas driving another great team into the ground (Bird was wise to get rid of him).
But come 2010-2011, when Lebron becomes a free agent and the vultures come out of the woodwork to try and grab him, don't be surprised if New York dumps Thomas (if he's still there) and whoever else they can to bring in the MJ of our generation.
New York has the money, the elaborate stage (MSG), the celebrity appeal and the ability to make him the most popular athlete in the world.
Come that time, LJ will only be 26, not even entering the prime of this career, and on top of this celebrity will probably bring more playoff experience and leadership than anyone else on that team.
You also have to think of that big smile the Comish Stern would have on his face once he found out his "next big thing" is leaving for a bigger, better market.
The NBA right now is more popular internationally than in this country. Ratings for championship games have been tanking ever so slowly the last few seasons with this Spurs dynasty at the realm, and each season fewer and fewer old school teams (Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Trail Blazers) have been able to get back to the glory days that once defined them.
This season could be the jumpstart to a ratings turnaround for the NBA, especially if, and I don't want to jinx it, the Celtics-Lakers are in the Finals (Ahhhh what a series that would be), but Lebron in New York would bring the fans back and signal in a new era of Knicks love in the Big Apple.
In today's culture of money over loyality, Lebron will probably make the wise decision to leave for greener pastures once his painful tenure in Cleveland is over.
I am not a pessimist per say, more of like a realist that understands the power of the almighty dollar, and so does his majesty. D-Wade, take notes.
23 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jeffrey Santon about 1 year ago
Brooklyn Nets are poss. He will not be a knick.. He will stay in Cleveland or go to Brooklyn..
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
This is a stupid article. As a Cav Fan he will always be a CLEVELAND CAVALIER. HIS POSSE and FAMILY IS IN THE AKRON AREA. Quit being haters losers.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Save the NBA? The NBA is doing just fine. It wouldn't "save" anything. LeBron will not go to the Knicks either. Nobody in their right mind would go their. That franchise has turned into a joke and won't get any better for a long time. Thomas set that franchise back a decade or so.
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Nick Nguyen 6 months ago
agree, the NBA is just fine. But, its no Soccer in Europe, Football in America, or Hockey in Canada. As business men, Stern and his peers want to be the best. They want to go to a random Madagascar Island and hear someone in the streets say, "oh basketball? i hear its big in America. i love watching that new york player"
They want the Jordan era back. The NBA do not care about NBA fans. NBA fans will always watch the game. As a huge business, the NBA want to appeal to non basketball fans. Having Lebron in NY, Kobe in LA, and KG in Boston can make the NBA more appealing.
Think about it, NY, Lebron, 18 million people. Maybe ticket sales will go higher. All that people, some random 1 percent (non basketball fans) of the 18 million may be intrigued to go to Madison Square Garden for the first time, to see if this Lebron can prove himself. that 1 percent = 180,000 more people. Say average ticket price $30 x 180,000 people. thats 5.4 million dollars. (Cleveland total population = 430,000 and declining. Half the audience in the Quicken Loans Arena are LB's friends and family. Look at my latter post about the decline of Cleveland). Hence, more money to NY (like they need more) and more money to NBA (always a good thing).
As a business man myself, i would love to have that, although i care nothing for Lebron, NY, basketball, blah blah. Money is money, and they will do ANYTHING they can to achieve their goal.
It seems as though the best fans for the NBA are in China, (thank you Yao).
As much as Cleveland fans hate it, when NY offers that big check and pretty skyline (damn NY and their loads of money), Lebron eyes will widen and off he goes.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The article is stupid and the writer is uninformed.
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
Last I checked, the NBA was thriving. Maybe the Knicks would be saved, but that's a different story.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Cleveland isn't a "small" market, it's mid-level. #15 in the NBA TV market rankings. Stop using intentionally generic terms in a desperate attempt to make a point. Thanks.
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Nick Nguyen 6 months ago
Correct, its mid level. The writer is implying the deterioration of the city. The writer assumed Cleveland (once a HUGE city) will definitely be a small city come the near future. Since 1930, the city loss HALF of its population, and continues to decline in LARGE amounts of number every year since then. The crime rises ever year, and poverty is high. over 80 years of decline and if this city is going to change, its going to take nearly a century to improve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland,_ohio).
with thousands of people moving out of cleveland every month, that means less and less money is going into that city every year. Lebron and basketball cannot save the city, only the city can save itself.
I don't care for Lebron or New york, but i see him going there or Brooklyn, according to my economy theory.
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Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago
LeBron isn't going anywhere. As long as they put right pieces around him to where he can compete for a title every year, then he's staying. He wants to play his career with one franchise, like a Magic or Bird.
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Nick Nguyen 6 months ago
Is their an actual source that states he WANTS to stay in Cleveland?
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Ryan Saba about 1 year ago
I agree wholeheartedly with everyone who commented. LeBron isn't going anywhere. I think he's quite happy with the trades that were made. The Cavs went to the finals last year and are preparing to make a trip deep into the playoffs this year. Lebron James is a smart guy, if I remember correctly from an article way back, he got around a 3.5 gpa in high school. He knows Cleavland is going to become a great team and I think he wants to be a part of it.
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Nick Nguyen 6 months ago
Being Lebron' age, I know how easy high school is. It doesn't take a lot to maintain a 3.5 GPA. Man, its the year 2008, even a bachelor's degree is a joke, which is now equivalent to a high school degree YEARS ago. Just stating facts.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Lebron is an overrated ballhog, stat whore who pads his numbers by holding on to the ball for 90% of the time. He's all brute and muscle without the beautiful skills of basketball. I wouldn't be surprised if he's on Steroids. He is not the best basketball player, he is the best powerhouse player...huge difference.
He needs to involve his teammates more, and get his FG attempts to 5 less per game, at least. His assists are a natural result of holding the ball the entire time, and gets them by default. It's not a system offense. It's a run through LBJ ball-hog system. it's boring. And his defense is all passing lane gambles, and weakside blocks. His man to man defense is less than average STILL, and his lateral movement is worse now than his first season.
LBJ is NOT your MVP, nor the best player.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kobe fears LeBron.
LeBron owns Kobe.
Kobe won't surpass MJ but LeBron has now surpassed Kobe.
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Kaleb Heffner about 1 year ago
First off the coward that raged on King James should be ashamed. You can, and should, have a strong opinion but claim it.
I am not sure about Bron leaving Clevland. It is definately intriguing though and a very interesting article.
Oh, MJ is the MJ of our generation. Nothing LBJ or Kobe or anyone else does will change that for me. I'm 20 and still have vivid memories of MJ dominating.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
LeBron fears Kobe.
Kobe owns LeBron.
Lebron won't surpass MJ and LeBron won''t surpass Kobe.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
i can't wait until lebron is the icon of NYC. the long dynasty of a garbage knick team will finally end when lebron is scoring 55 a night and lighting up the garden
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Cavs Fan about 1 year ago
hey stupid article loser, lebron will always be a cavalier he loves it here and he knows how good of a team the cavs can be just give the new ppl time to get used to the team. By the way LeBron just built a huge house here in ohio and that is a huge sign saying that he wont be leaving anytime soon. And if lebron were to go to ny he will be in the same predicament except the knicks are worse and have no good players around them and lebron still wont have any help there. So newyork fans lebron wont be going there he will be a cav for a long time so get it out ur heads now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Brooknam 22 7 months ago
Wow Huge house in Ohio!! OMg!! LOL I guess that is better than a penthouse on Park Ave. and our NYC chicks. LBJ will sell his house or keep it who cares. Money to blow at this point. It's about the Legacy. He will be inducted to the HOF as a Knick. Lebron needs NY to legitmize his legacy. Or he'll just be some dude that won a couple of championships in OOOOhio! wow. Ohio! Or He'll win maybe 1 in New York and live forever (see Frazier and Pearl)
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Bill Connolly 6 months ago
Why would LeBron want to go to NY? What did they do last year? What are they going to do this year? Nothing when was the last time they got into the play-offs and got to a final?
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Nick Nguyen 6 months ago
Review my earlier posts. Lebron is no longer a basketball player, he is a celebrity. I.e. You don't stay in Kansas and hope to be a big time actor, you move to L.A.
As I stated earlier, my mother from a small east town in China knows MJ, but not LJ or Kobe.
Everyone knows lebron in the US. News in other parts of the world, when referring to the US, talk primarily on NY or LA, not cleveland OhiWho?
Kobe is the same way, celebrity, not bball player. He wants the team to build around HIM, and not move.
If LB goes to NY and they struggle, the team will build around him.
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Nick Nguyen 6 months ago
Again, think about this headline: LA, KOBE vs NY, King James, Xmas day on ABC 8pm et.
Business is business, its all about money. They don't care for whats fair or not. Look at college football, the same damn teams are tanked top 10 every damn year. what happened to the other 250 colleges that play football? blah...
and gosh, NY has unbelievable amounts of money. New Yankee stadium, Mets, Giants and Jets stadium for next year. all 3 new stadiums are being built DOWN THE STREET from their old stadiums. Whats wrong with their previous stadiums? nothing, just "too old". fact: the 3 new stadiums combined equal 3.61 billion dollars. Yes, you read it correctly, i said BILLION. damn, 3.61 billion bucks? i could cure AIDS with that kinda money.
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Nick Nguyen 6 months ago
Oh great, they're gonna change the I love NY shirts to I love LB, huh
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