Just Who Is LeBron: What is He Now and What Could He Be?

For a guy who (most of the time) manages to come off as a fun-loving, easygoing kind of bloke, few people manage to polarise basketball fans like LeBron James. Just yesterday, I was playing a pickup game with a couple of mates when a kid showed up wearing a Cleveland No.23 jersey and asked if he could play.

"Not if you're wearing the Queen's jersey," was one of my guys' response. In his defense, he's a die-hard Lakers fan who truly believes Magic is the G.O.A.T, that Kobe is Black Jesus and that Bynum is the next great NBA big man.

I called the kid back and we managed to have a decent game, but it got me thinking. 

What is LeBron James right now? What could he be? What will he be?

Given the failure of the Cavs in this series, it may be tempting for all and sundry to label him a pretender, all hype and a choker.

However, let's take a look at his stats. He averages a 28-7-7 in the regular season with 2 steals and 1 block per game. In the playoffs throughout his career, he averages a 29-8-7-1-1 stat line. This year, he averaged 29-9-8-2-2. Nor can we say that he completely choked in Game 6. After an insipid Game 5, he put up what will probably go down as the most maligned triple-double in the history of playoff basketball. 

It's also unfair to say that he stopped trying. Yes, the Cavs should have been hacking Rondo (a 63% career FT shooter) in the last minute of the game. Yes, they should have been pushing the tempo. Maybe these things didn't happen because, I don't know, the rest of the team didn't take the imitative to do so? Where were Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Shaq when they needed to foul? A question for a different article could be, where were those guys in Games 5 and 6?

James may be a brilliant player, but he can't think for others. If he decided to take the last minute off, deplorable as that may be, why didn't his team mates bust their butts to at least try save the game? Even if he had taken that final minute off (which is debatable) at least he tried all of Game 6. His 10 turnovers shows that while his execution may have been a fair bit off, at least he was throwing punches all night.

No, maybe it's time for us all to take a step back.

Maybe LeBron James simply isn't as great as we've been told he is.

*GASP!*

Maybe he's just an extremely talented ballplayer without the absolute killer instinct you need to be discussed in GOAT discussions.

*DOUBLE GASP!*

Maybe, rather than being the reincarnation of Jordan, he merely has the physical attributes with a brain more like that of Shaq—a desire to win, but not an all-encompassing one.

*FAINTS*

The last point is my personal belief of what LeBron is.

He's an incredible player. I've had the pleasure of seeing him in the flesh once, and it was an experience and a half. He also seems like a nice guy who values his teammates and treats them well (unlike, say, Kobe). But he just doesn't seem to have that Jordan desire to dominate all his opponents and pound them into submission. Whether that's simply a by-product of never having really had to struggle on a court or his mental make-up is up for debate.

Before this series, I was convinced LeBron had it. I even said as much in some of my old articles. Now? I don't believe he truly does. 

Which is not to say I don't think he's a winner. Or that he can't take a team to a championship. Because I certainly think he can. However, in order to do so he needs a sidekick who can bring that intensity and killer instinct.

Unfortunately, there are only a small handful of guys currently in the NBA who have that kind of mentality. Dwyane Wade is one, and the only one who could possibly play with LeBron from next year. However, that creates it's own share of alpha dog problems. Who would be the main offensive option? Who would be the main ball handler? Who gets the ball in the clutch? It wouldn't work, plain and simple.

So, assuming LeBron either stays in Cleveland or goes to New Jersey/Chicago/New York/Clippers/wherever else, he will most likely end up playing a similar role to what he has so far in his career - being the undisputed "guy" on his team, having to carry them consistently through the clutch and step up in the big games. Which he has shown he can only do sporadically.

Can he win a ring this way? I think it depends on one thing. Will the failures of this season build a fire in his belly?

We all know about how MJ was cut from his high school team and that provided him with the drive he needed to become the GOAT. We all know how being selected very low in the draft gave guys like Manu Ginobili and Gilbert Arenas a chip on their shoulders which drove them even harder.

LeBron has never had anything like that to motivate him. All his basketball career since high school he's been touted as the Next Big Thing. He was drafted at No.1, has had every team he's ever played for built around him and been told most of his life his crap doesn't stink.

Well, now he's hearing exactly that. Will this help him find the fire inside he previously lacked? Watch this space. 

One thing, however, is for sure. LeBron James is not the next Jordan. Or the next Magic. Or the next anyone. 

He's just LeBron. Your friendly neighbourhood basketball superstar who's more concerned with having fun than destroying you.