LeBron James and the Top 5 Players Who Absolutely Need to Win the Championship
The purpose of playing through the grind of the regular season and then going through the marathon we call the NBA playoffs is to win the championship. Everybody wants it.
But face it, some players need it more than others. Some either need it to cement their legacy, others need it to prove a point to their critics.
For instance, in the NHL, it was well documented that Ray Bourque, a long time player for the Boston Bruins, had never won a Stanley Cup. So when he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche and they made the Stanley Cup Finals, it was an absolute must for him to hoist the Cup and cement his legacy.
Others, like Kobe Bryant, needed to win a championship to escape the shadow of Shaquille O'Neal's shadow.
Every star player has their own reason. Here are the top five players who absolutely need to win it this year.
5. Chris Bosh
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Talk about a player who has received nothing but scrutiny ever since leaving Toronto.
What people forget is that Bosh averaged 18.3 points per game this year with 8.3 rebounds and a 49 percent field goal percentage. He was very effective for Miami in the paint, yet the way the media and fans describe him makes him look like a soft butterfly.
Chris Bosh came to Miami to win a championship. Although he has a lot of help on his team in Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, a championship will help lift those criticisms off his back.
Also, strong performances such as the ones he had in Game 1 and Game 3 in the Eastern Conference Finals will prevent critics from saying that he piggy-backed his way to a title.
If the Heat are unable to win this year, we will hear constant rumblings about how Bosh did not step up and his lack of determination was a main reason why the Heat didn't win a championship. The brunt of the criticism will fall on LeBron (who is also on this list) but Bosh will undoubtedly be bombarded with negative media attention.
4. Derrick Rose
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Many people feel like Dwight Howard should have won the 2011 MVP award because of the sole reason that without him, the Magic would not be a playoff team. However, a championship for Derrick Rose would completely validate his MVP.
By picking up his first ring, Rose will show everyone that he is in fact "Heir Jordan" and that he truly did deserve his MVP award.
Also, by winning the NBA championship, Rose will have done something that nobody has ever done in a long time: win without help. Every star player that has won a championship has had help. From Kobe and Pau to Parker, Ginobili and Duncan, every championship has been won with multiple stars. By winning, Rose will do it basically on his own with a bunch of other B players.
3. Jason Kidd
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Jason Kidd has seen it all.
The closest he came to championship glory was in 2003 when his Nets lost to the Lakers. Now, at the twilight of his career, Kidd finds himself five wins away from the coveted championship ring.
The 38-year old point guard has been one of the best during his era. He still facilitates the offense well and he's one of the greatest three-point shooters of all-time.
A ring would cement his legacy and give him some peace of mind as he retires.
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2. LeBron James
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Vilified athletes generally get their "villain" tag off them by doing one thing: winning.
That's how Kobe became a national hero. That's how Mike Vick was forgiven. Now, LeBron James, after probably the most infamous press conference in history, tries to win a ring and win fans back.
He's been subject to unfair criticism all year. It's not like he committed a crime. Yet LeBron constantly gets bashed for every last second shot he misses and has been labeled as a bad closer.
He responded to his critics by finishing off the Celtics in a heroic fourth quarter performance and by shutting down Derrick Rose in the fourth quarter in the last three games of the Eastern Conference Finals.
He has been nothing but clutch in this year's playoffs. Critics have had to really dig deep to criticize LeBron, such as when he didn't guard a 60-foot half court shot at the end of the quarter. (I mean, who makes those anyway? Give him a break.)
A championship for LeBron will silence his critics for good. We will no longer hear lame jokes like, "LeBron bought an iPhone but it doesn't ring." And most importantly, he will strike fear into the rest of the NBA.
Essentially he'll be saying, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."
1. Dirk Nowitzki
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All the German born center has heard throughout his career is how the Mavericks have constantly choked throughout his career.
From the infamous first round exit to the No. 8 seed Golden State Warriors in 2007, to the NBA Finals meltdown in 2006, the Mavs just have not been able to answer the call in the playoffs.
Nowitzki has been called soft at times. Many have blamed him for the lack of success the Mavs have had in the playoffs. Let's face it. If Dirk were to retire today, his legacy would include "playoff choker."
He carries this weight with him everyday. With a championship victory, he will be able to lift that burden off his shoulders and add on to his great legacy.
Of all the players left in the playoffs, Dirk needs a ring the most. Besides, we all know LeBron will be back at it again in the next five years with his super team if he doesn't win this year. Derrick Rose is also still very young and will have plenty of opportunities.
In an ESPN poll, 63 percent of fans voted that Dirk needs it more than LeBron. This couldn't be more true. With a Thunder team that is only going to get better, and a Lakers team that will surely rebuild and be back stronger next year, this may be the last time in Nowitzki's career where he has a legitimate shot for a title.
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