Defining Legacy: LeBron James and Kevin Garnett
The simple message that is often implanted in children’s mind from recreation basketball is “teamwork”. Kevin Garnett knows the meaning all too well Standing side by side from arguably the best player in the NBA, Lebron James and Kevin “KG” Garnett caught up for a few moments after the Celtics win over the Cavaliers of 95-86.
This summer Lebron is faced with most likely one of the toughest decisions of his life as he ponders where he would like to play the rest of his career. He’s fortunate to be in the situation that so many teams want him but he must decide what is best for him. However, he should look at KG as a product of success.
A person Lebron can relate to after jumping straight into the NBA and playing 12 seasons with the small market Minnesota Timberwolves.
He was loved in Minnesota as he became the face of the city but his legacy was never complete because he never won a championship.
However, that all changed when he moved from the small market Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics where they had the money to create a championship team that used the basic foundations of teamwork to achieve success. Where each player had a niche to fill on the team and when everyone played their positions correctly they won.
Sure KG sacrificed some of his stats and minutes but in the end he won a championship and something he struggled for 12 years in Minnesota to do and the ultimate goal of playing in the NBA. The same position Lebron may be in five years from now, a place he can’t close his legacy in.
The moral is that Lebron can see himself become another KG, an amazing player that will never get past the obstacle of winning a championship and finalizing his legacy or he can take the initiative to place himself in a situation where he can actually win a championship.
“I know you want to win but you have to do it together”, words that the great Doc Rivers muttered to his team during a time-out.
Kobe, Jordan, Garnett all had help despite their talents and Lebron can also get the right help.
But he needs the money to spend around him. What he needs to do is accept that his legacy won’t be tarnished for changing teams and that he has given everything for the last seven years to Cleveland but only now, in the final year of his contract, do they pretend to appreciate Lebron for what he has done to this organization .
Lebron, the flight from Cleveland to New York is only a little more than an hour and a half and while your there check out what could be your home, Madison Square Garden.
