Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and The NBA's Eight Most Egregiously Enormous Egos
You may recall that old Gatorade commercial with Michael Jordan, and the tune, "If I could be like Mike." There are those though that don't long to be like Mike, they imagine everyone wants to be like them. They think sometimes you dream that you could be like them.
Nope, there's no I team but there is an "m" and an "e" and these guys are happy to remind you of that. With egos big enough for more than one person, these are the guys that don't struggle with self confidence.
8: John Wall
1 of 8Based on the way he handled his own introduction into the NBA you'd think he was already an All-Star. Who needs humility when you're the number one pick in the NBA draft. It's not like those come along every year....oh wait...(John Stewart pause)..They're telling me that there is. Maybe John Wall should try accomplishing something before he acts like he already has.
7: Gilbert Arenas
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Gilbert's last name is no misnomer, because one arena isn't big enough to hold this man's ego. He needs at least two, hence "Arenas" works perfectly. It seems to me that even when he threatened a man a with a gun, he didn't actually absorb the reality that what he did was wrong. In his head, and deep down in his heart, you get the felling that he feels justified. How big does your ego have to be for that?
Even his "apology" didn't seem to take the basic fact into account that threatening another human being's life is wrong. It was about how he needed to be a better image. I don't think Arenas gets it. I doubt he ever will. His ego just seems to have trouble absorbing the notion of not being above other people
6: Paul Pierce
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When asked if he thought Kobe Bryant was the best player in the world, Pierce answered, "I don't think Kobe is the best player. I'm the best player. There's a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don't cross that line but I have a lot of confidence in myself."
No really. He did.
What you have to love the most is the way that Pierce took the extra step in telling us that he hasn't crossed that line between having confidence and being conceited. How can I possibly add to that? Pierce makes the case for being on the list all by himself.
5: Mark Cuban
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How many of us have vicariously been in the NBA All-Star game? How many of us wanted it so bad but didn't have the talent so we made billions of dollars and bought an NBA team, and then used that as a platform to get ourselves in uniform on All-Star weekend? Uhm...one.
I dare say that Cuban would actually be offended to be number five on this list. He'd probably be thinking he should be higher. What you can't help about Cuban is he doesn't deny his ego, he revels in it. Sooner or later he's going to get that baseball team and when he does, they'll be winners. Don't be surprised when works himself into that All-Star weekend too.
4: Shaquille O'Neal
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He's listed at seven feet, one inch and 325 pounds. I think that's being kind of generous on the weight. Does anyone really believe that? I bet Shaq does.
Shaq can do anything. If you don't believe me just ask Shaq. He even has a TV show to prove it, and when that stopped airing, he kept trying to prove it. He's extending himself beyond the sports world into the arts now, whether it be a human statue or orchestrating the Boston Pops, Shaq can do it all. And maintain that svelte 325 figure while he's at it.
3: Kobe Bryant
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Sometimes you have to wonder if what Kobe does in his off time is start Kobe is the G.O.A.T. arguments on the internet. Whether you think he fits or not, Kobe sure as heck does and has since he was out of high school.
Allegedly too good to play for the small town Charlotte Hornets, Kobe forced a trade to Hollywood. Then, after a few years there the town wasn't big enough for him and Shaq or Phil, so he had them replace (again, allegedly).
In Los Angeles though, this history is all untrue, and Phil's book never happened. None of it is Kobe's fault. In the rest of the world, where fiction doesn't literally employ a sizable percentage of the population, Kobe's talent is only superseded by his ego. As great as he is, Kobe will tell you he's even greater.
2: LeBron James
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I probably have less problem with "The Decision" than most people. That doesn't mean I don't see an enormous ego behind it though. When the world follows you around telling you it revolves around you starting from the time you're 13 years old, you might be inclined to believe it. James sure does.
He doesn't need a coronation to be "King" and he doesn't need a ring to have a celebration. I wasn't bothered by the show, but that fiasco that followed in the Miami Heat celebration was over the top. It was so far over the top that it needed special mirrors for re-entering the atmosphere. Combined with "The Decision," it was enough to give LeBron the title of biggest ego of all NBA players.
But wait! There's one more slide. Who could it be? Who's ego could be even bigger than LeBron's?
1: David Stern
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In part you know that he renamed the championship trophy after his predecessor because he fully expects his successor to do the same. David Stern has done wonder for the NBA, and is arguably the most powerful man in professorial sports. His ego is arguably the biggest.
The thing that comes across as the most perturbing about Stern is the lack of any checks or balances with him. Once he decides something it is the way it is. LeBron needs to give the nickname "King" to Stern because he runs the NBA like a monarchy. I'm surprised he doesn't make players kneel before hip prior to paying their fans.
The most recent and absurd Stern directive is the whole technical foul ruling. Essentially it seems like he's unilaterally determined that NBA players are no longer allowed to have emotion. He's going to kill his own product that way. It's the passion that makes the game exciting, not the rules. He needs to be a little less "Stern" and so does the league. It's not about you either David Stern.
