Placing the Blame: Cleveland's Unfortunate Case of LeBron James

Amidst all of the criticism drowning LeBron James following his offensive departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s arguably not James’ fault at all.

Many take sides with the issue, either you’re a LeBron Lover or a LeBron Hater. In my opinion, I think all of this is occurring and it is all beyond LeBron James’ control.  In fact, all of this hoopla is hitting us today because of something that happened in Akron, Ohio about 25 years ago.

LeBron James was born in Akron in 1984. Being hyped since the age of 11, by the time James attended high school at St. Vincent – St. Mary’s, the media was already declaring him the next NBA superstar. After winning “Mr. Basketball” for the state of Ohio three times, it was a guarantee   that LeBron would enter the 2003 NBA Draft. With his size, skill-set, and attitude, LeBron James was well-deserving of the first-overall selection. By sheer coincidence, his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers held that first pick. It was an Oscar-winning movie in the making...

For a state that hasn’t won any kind of professional championship since the 60’s – LeBron James immediately became Ohio’s hope for something great. At the young age of 18, the city of Cleveland and the entire state of Ohio was strapped to LeBron’s back and he was told to carry them to the promise land. And LeBron James did that.

Now, after seven solid years in Cleveland, LeBron James has chose to move on. In those seven years with Cleveland, James has done more for that city than anyone ever has before – spiritually or economically. Although he doesn’t have an NBA Title to his credentials, LeBron James is the only thing that made the Cleveland Cavaliers relevant again. And he was the only thing that really put Ohio on the map in regards to sports since Jim Brown or Craig Ehlo.

The frustration felt by Cleveland fans and sports fans of Ohio is understandable – you’ve lost a lot. But it’s the unconventional love that YOU showed towards LeBron James that is hurting you the most. That unconventional love is a combination of many things: the support that you had shown LeBron since his days in high school, how he has never played basketball anywhere but the state of Ohio, how he was given the keys to the franchise at the age of 18, and how the coincidental situation presented itself when your team held the first pick in 2003.

Imagine if LeBron James wasn’t born in Ohio.

Had LeBron James been born in any state other than Ohio, had he played his high school ball anywhere other than Akron, none of this “unconventional love” even exists. Rewind 25 years ago and think of LeBron being born in Baltimore, Maryland. He’s still a high school phenom and his skills are still deserving of the first overall pick. In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers still have the first overall pick and they still select LeBron James. With this being the case, LeBron’s most recent departure after SEVEN seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers is nowhere near what it is today.  

Fans are far more angry than normal because LeBron James is their very own. They’ve watched him develop from an 18-year-old boy to a 25-year-old man, all while transforming the Cleveland Cavaliers from a doormat into a contender. Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert’s frustration is heartfelt. Although he went about it entirely the wrong way, coming off immature and childish, Gilbert is suddenly hit with the fact that his franchise just lost an estimated $100 million in value – after only owning the team since 2005.

It’s a tough time for everyone, especially Cleveland, but LeBron James made a decision that any human being would have to make. Just because LeBron James is from Cleveland, it doesn’t mean that he is obligated to stay in Cleveland – all while the front office continues to surround him with D-leaguers and he slowly becomes the next Charles Barkley.

From a personal standpoint, LeBron James producing a nationally televised event to show that he’s leaving his fans, family, and the Cleveland Cavaliers was wrong. He may have gone about it the wrong way, but LeBron has every right to leave Cleveland. And my real point behind this long and drawn-out article is to simply state that if LeBron James wasn’t from Ohio, we wouldn’t be having such a hard time getting over this. Had LeBron James not been from Akron, the wrongdoing and villainism surrounding LeBron James would be nowhere near what we see today.

We cannot blame LeBron James for leaving Cleveland, just as we cannot blame LeBron James for being draft eligible in 2003 - the same year that Cleveland had the first overall pick. We cannot blame LeBron James for joining a ‘super team’, just as we cannot blame LeBron James for being born in Akron, Ohio. We cannot blame LeBron James for chasing championships with the Miami Heat, just as we cannot blame LeBron James for not winning a title with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

We hate to see LeBron leave, but it seems like we’re blaming the wrong people for his departure.