LeBron James: 5 Reasons King James Doesn't Deserve NBA Title This Year
LeBron James has his new team, the Miami Heat, a game away from the Eastern Conference Finals.
This after a year in which James and Co. experienced widespread criticism following unexpected losing streaks and embarrassing losses to less-talented clubs peppered with impressive blowout wins against NBA title contenders.
What an insane, roller-coaster year for LeBron James.
After unceremoniously leaving Cleveland, he's become one of the most polarizing athletes, still admired by his loyal fans but despised by those who value loyalty.
If his squad can close out the Celtics, win the Eastern Conference and get to the NBA Finals, there'll be a lot of proud fans out there, but many will be rooting for a championship collapse.
And after what we've seen from him in his NBA career, here are the five reasons why King James doesn't deserve to win an NBA title this season.
5. LeBron Needs to Beat the Best Before He Can Be the Best
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The Heat are clicking right now; totally in sync.
A game away from the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron is one step away from reaching his second NBA Finals.
However, have the Heat really been tested this postseason?
The 76ers are a young, fun, but inexperienced team that stood no chance against a higher seed.
OK, fine, most top seeds haven't been tested in the first round.
But are they getting the "real" Boston Celtics right now?
Rajon Rondo's been hurt and Ray Allen's spent time on the bench. One player usually doesn't change a series, but if there's a guy who can, it's Rondo—a catalyst that really sparks his team when he's playing at his best.
If they move onto the conference finals, will they be getting a Bulls team that's 100 percent?
I'm not so sure.
Though it's no fault of his own, I'd still like to see LeBron James meet the best teams when they're fully healthy and beat them before winning a championship.
4. He's Not Still Proven in the Clutch
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We've seen countless jaw-dropping performances from LBJ over the years.
However, most of the "wow" moments have come before crunch time.
LeBron critics often point to his lack of the so-called "clutch gene," and really, they aren't mistaken.
It's something that the all-time greats had: the innate ability to come through in the biggest moments under the most pressure.
James was swept in the finals in 2007.
He made what ultimately was a meaningless game-winner in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic in 2009, but do many other crucial playoff game winners or daggers come to mind?
With Wade and Bosh, he's got two guys to fall back on.
Miss the shot, Bosh is there to tip it in.
Not feeling it from the outside? Pass it to a true closer in Wade.
Until we see him win a huge game for his team in the final minutes, he doesn't deserve a championship.
3. His Time Will Come (Doesn't Have to Win This Year)
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This isn't a total bashing here.
Whether you like him or not, LeBron James is good—other-worldly good.
Whoever starts with him is automatically better, and whichever NBA team he plays for instantly has a chance to win a title.
Also, remember, Mr. James 26 years old and has lots of MVP-type basketball left in him.
He's been maturing as a player ever since his rookie year and he'll become an even more all-around player as his jump-shot improves.
For James' fans, it'll be tough to say "there's always next year" once again, but you'd be foolish to think that LeBron won't eventually get a title.
2. He Fled Cleveland When Past Stars Stayed with Original Teams
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The logic behind King James "taking his talents to South Beach" was the fact that he'd formulate a never-before-seen three-headed monster with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh; a trio that would have the opportunity to win multiple championships.
Understandable, I guess. Definitely a bit cowardly.
But there's just something about transplanting to a new team and winning it all in the first year that just doesn't seem right.
How about the guys that've played on the other contending teams for years? You know, guys that have become a part of a city, taken active roles in the community.
It may seem marginal, but this is something we love as fans: watching a team draft a star player, growing with him, experiencing the ups and downs together and sticking it out alongside each other.
It's something the all-time greats like Hakeem Olajuwon went through—the trials and tribulations—and didn't flee to another squad with top talent already in place.
What about Karl Malone and John Stockton?
How about Michael Jordan?
1. What He Did to the City of Cleveland
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Like Cleveland hasn't dealt with enough.
A home-grown Ohioan, the child prodigy James playing for the Cavs was a dream come true for every heartbroken Cleveland sports fan.
He brought the franchise to new heights and infused hope into the entire City.
After leading his team almost single-handledly to the 2007 NBA Finals, the Cavs front office did what they needed to add talent around him.
He was then the centerpiece behind two straight No. 1 seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but fell short when it mattered most—when everyone expected James to come up large.
His final game in a Cavaliers uniform, many thought he "gave up" and was ready to leave the franchise.
I'll keep it short with last summer's ridiculous James saga.
Not only did he make it an unnecessary spectacle, ultimately announcing it on ESPN, but he waited until the final moment so the Cavs didn't have time to sign any big-game free agents, leaving Cleveland in shambles once again.
He left his home for the bright lights and beaches of Miami. Awesome.
You've got to at least pay one year for this kind of betrayal, right?
