Lebron James: Its Time To Usher In a New King

People, the polls are open and its time to vote again for the face of the NBA. Our current King, well, I don't think he never understood what comes with the title. Personally, I wasn't given a vote in appointing Lebron James King or the Next Big Thing so I don’t have an issue with such change. All in favor say, ‘I’. Quietly, I probably would have said 'I' initially based on him being 6'9 and 250 pounds with freakish athletic talent. But after being a witness for the past 7 years, I am requesting a recount and I know that is possible in the beautiful State of Florida.   

The media appointed him King based on his potential, superior athletic ability and Kobe Bryant's trip to Colorado. This potential we speak of, the hype, this was built based on accolades from high school and the various summer league programs. This potential was never displayed on the big stage versus top NBA Prospects or College All-Stars. We have witnessed a High School All-America garner this much attention in the past. The real question is: Who is Felipe Lopez? Felipe Lopez took his talents to St. John’s University and the hype fizzled faster than Usain Bolt running the one hundred meter dash. College and the pressures that go with being a top flight athlete, the raucous crowds (much better than NBA fans), zone defenses, 40 plus highly scrutinized games by NBA scouts and executives, led to the demise of Felipe Lopez. Lebron never performed under these conditions. He was given a pass and his abilities were put on display in a work-out to show his skill level but that display never tested his heart.

So now, Lebron was the first pick in the 2003/04 season NBA Draft.  Well-deserved as the hometown kid and based on the potential of this man-child, what he did for the Cavaliers was amazing for seven seasons. This just in, the Cavaliers are currently on a nineteen game losing streak. But, as the "Next Becoming", we were duped because they never told us what he was going to become, so we assumed it was Michael Jordan. Well you know what they say about people who assume? Fast forward seven years and he is no Michael Jordan. He isn't even Scottie Pippen but a more athletic Grant Hill, pre-ankle surgeries. Yeah, remember Grant Hill? People, we seen this movie before, CUT.

That's it, another mystery has been solved. Lebron James was to be the "Next Becoming" of Grant Hill. They both lack the killer instinct needed to win championships in sports. Lebron has the edge over Grant Hill because the "it" factor that they lack on the court, he has off the court. Off the court, he surpassed the hype and became the marketable superstar Nike and the league was searching for. I'll admit I purchased my nephew a pair of his shoes, and even though he didn't make the team, they looked nice with a polo top and khaki pants. The guy is so marketable, he gets a check from me and Nike (literally) for ninety million dollars before he ever stepped foot on the basketball court versus professional athletes.

I offer my sincerest apologies to Grant Hill because he never danced on the sidelines, before and during games like Lebron, but he did go to Orlando with the hopes of playing second fiddle to Tracy McGrady. Sounds familiar and that is no knock against Grant Hill, he was never placed on the pedestal to be the "Next Becoming of Michael Jordan". He’s a Duke Blue Devil (no pun intended). Lebron, on the other hand, did have the opportunity this summer to go and become the face of the New York Knicks franchise. He could have played in Madison Square Garden over 40 times a year, on the biggest stage in the world, but he chose the beaches of South Florida and American Airlines Arena. Huh, American Airlines Arena versus Madison Square Garden. Which fans would you prefer to perform for or would you prefer to play second fiddle to Dwayne Wade?

Let's face it, Lebron James the basketball player, has never lived up to the hype. I know, back to back MVP trophies and a trip to the finals with the Cavaliers makes it easy for one to question what else is there for him to accomplish as an individual in the NBA. I would say championships but that would be the obvious answer. If we base it off his impact on the court, can Lebron stand next to Allen Iverson? He too is an MVP and led a team full of stiffs to the finals. But Allen Iverson has the heart of a lion, a take no prisoners’ mentality and he left it all on the court. Do you think DeShawn Stevenson would have sent idle threats to Allen Iverson before a 7-game series? You can answer that question, but be honest. Lebron James isn't feared in the NBA. He doesn't use his size and frame to dominate the opponent. Can you imaging Mike Tyson bobbing and weaving? That’s the equivalent: Mike Tyson, with his power, becoming a counter-puncher. We have been a witness to Lebron developing better range for the past seven years but he has yet to elevate his game to epic proportions, a la Michael Jordan.  

Michael Jordan, outside of talent and his ability to dominate a game, willed his team to win when it counted most. He built his legacy on the court which is why his short-comings off the court were not an issue to his brand. The LBJ brand wasn't built on the court. On the court, Lebron has not gotten any better over the years. You’re probably thinking it’s hard to buy this argument but I'm not selling it. What's one aspect of his game has Lebron worked on in the off-season and returned the following season to display it for all to see? Please tell me, what is his signature move? This might take a while so I'll continue writing. Lebron is limited as a basketball player and without the ball in his hand, he is basically ineffective in the half-court game. He suffers from the same syndrome as Vince Carter, dubbed: I am a superior athlete and will use this ability to cover up my short-comings in a game that takes superior skills.

At the least, Vince Carter did take the route that all superior athletes take in the NBA and take advantage of the NBA All-Star Weekend and the Dunk contest to build his brand. We can go back to epic show-downs between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins. Julius Erving, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Kobe Bryant used this stage to welcome themselves to the world and allow for their brand to be built in front of the entire NBA and its viewing audience. Lebron name isn’t listed above because he has yet to enter the Dunk contest. Well the window has closed and we have a party who is ready to build his brand on the court starting with the Dunk contest. People, the polls have been re-opened again for the first time in seven years and I am ready to cast my ballot. The 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend will truly consist of the best talent the NBA has to offer in almost a decade. I’ll be honest, I didn't receive a ballot this time either, but I have no issue with a write-in and will start the campaign today. Votes will be tallied after the 2011 NBA All-Star Game. So with that being said I want to introduce to you all, my candidate, Blake Griffin as the new face of the NBA and I'll ask everyone to stand as he gets ready for his showcase over All-Star Weekend.