The Decision That Disappointed

The Decision has had a chance to reverberate throughout the sports landscape for a few days now.  The spectacle around the announcement has been widely and harshly criticized for its narcissistic, attention-craving formulation.  The decision itself, to “join forces” with Wade and Bosh in Miami, has received more mixed reviews - ranging from a cowardly act of betrayal to an unusual sacrifice of ego and pride by a superstar in pursuit of winning.  These reactions reflected my own upon hearing of LeBron’s decision.  Today, with the benefit of a few days to reflect and let emotions subside (a few days that Dan Gilbert surely should have taken himself), I can’t help but feel disappointed by LeBron’s decision.

 

LeBron exploded into the sporting world’s universe as a teenager, proclaimed The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated as a high schooler, and has been among its brightest stars ever since.  By most everyone’s estimation, from NBA players and executives to sports fans like myself, he was blessed with truly once in a generation type talent and had the potential to one day enter the top of the NBA pyramid alongside the likes of Russell, Jordan, Bird, and Magic.  I and many others have been passionate observers over the years, marveling at his talent and wondering if he could lift his hometown team to a championship. 

 

It was going to be hard for sure, but we all thought maybe he could do it, in the same way that Jordan did it, battling unsuccessfully for a number of years against the Pistons and Celtics before finally breaking through.  In the same way that Isiah did it, fighting desperately against the Celtics and Lakers for years before finally conquering them.  These challenges tested resolve and demanded greatness over many years, and when Jordan and Isiah finally delivered championships, we revered them, not just for the outcome, but for the struggle they waged and the unrelenting competitive drive they displayed in their pursuit.

 

By comparison, LeBron’s decision to forego that struggle, in the beginning of the prime of his career, and seek out an easier path feels…unsavory?  This is not Garnett, Allen, and Pierce joining together at the ends of their careers.  This is LeBron, as great a physical talent as there has ever been in any sport, choosing an easier route at 25 years old.  It just doesn’t feel right.  It feels like LeBron is selling himself short and we fans are being shortchanged.  I wanted to see if, through the power of his immense skills, leadership, and charisma, he could lead a dormant organization to the highest levels.  I wanted to see if he could finally deliver the kind of historic playoff performances we’ve seen from all the great ones, the performances that would have lifted him to the pantheon with the greats.  But now I’m afraid we’ll never know. 

 

By choosing to form an All-Star team, are we ever going to see LeBron forced to deliver greatness?  Are we ever going to see a 35 ppg, 10 rpg, 8 apg playoff run to a championship that many thought was in him?  If the Heat go on to win a number of championships and LeBron becomes a 23-8-8 guy in the process, where does that put him?  It’ll be an achievement for sure, but not the level of achievement we all thought maybe was in him and that he thought was in himself – when you call yourself The King and tattoo Chosen on your own back, I assume you think you are destined for greatness.

 

Maybe his decision actually helps answer our questions about the level of LeBron’s greatness.  Maybe his startling admission during the announcement that, by joining the Heat, he won’t have to deal with “the pressure of going out and scoring 30 every night or shooting a high percentage” tells us even more.  Perhaps these past few days have given us a clear indication that he isn’t at the same level as Jordan, Magic, and Bird - that his competitive fire, confidence, and resolve aren’t quite as strong.  Not many people’s are. 

 

I think the Heat will win a number of championships.  I think those championships will come relatively easily.  I think LeBron will still go down as a great player, but one who took the easier route during the prime of his career and never gave himself the chance to reach his limits and be mentioned with the game’s greats.  And speaking on behalf of selfish fans, he never gave us a chance to see if he could do it, and that's very disappointing.