Will LeBron James Catch the Uncatchable Michael Jordan?
Disclaimer: In no way shape or form am I suggesting that LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan. I am merely suggesting that LeBron James was believed to have a shot at one point, and there is nothing that has been done to discourage us from thinking that.
While the media continues to swarm around LeBron James like bees outside of a hive, his latest comments from an interview with HoopsHype shed light on the weeks following his NBA finals defeat:
"How was the week following the defeat at the Finals?
LJ: It was the worst week I ever had. I hate losing.
What did you do?
LJ: I did nothing. Nothing at all.
"
I don't know how to take those words. They seem rather bland. There is little doubt he still has a bitter taste in his mouth, but it's definitely a taste he could have prevented.
It's good to know he's moved on from his mourning period, and clearly, he has. He's been to China, dropped in for a Drew League game, and most importantly has spent time honing his subpar post moves with legend Hakeem Olajuwon. He's noticeably focused on bettering his game this offseason, and I think that's because he doesn't want to be embarrassed like he was last season.
Still, we all sit waiting to see the LeBron James we were meant to see. We wanted something else for him, and that's clear. We had an agenda laid out, a plan set, and he deviated from it in an unsophisticated fashion. He's ruffled feathers throughout the nation, and it's gotten to the point where fans can hardly stand him, reasonably or not.
Eight years have passed and we've seen some incredible things from LeBron James: some jaw-dropping slams, some crafty ball-handling maneuvers, some insane chase down blocks and some mind blowing passes as well. Yet through this highlight filled career we have yet to see LeBron James be what we thought he was meant to be.
He was supposed to be the next Michael Jordan. He was supposed to be the very man who pushes the envelope, taking greatness to new heights, possibly even exceeding Jordan. With his move to Miami, everyone cut him out of the picture, and after the NBA Finals, he was senselessly beaten by every sports fan alive. They say he had it coming. I say they have something coming.
I don't know what we can expect from LeBron James. If he ever does become a better player than Jordan, I doubt he'll ever eclipse his legacy.
James isn't Jordan though, and was never meant to be. He plays a completely different style. He's a Magic-Michael crossbreed with a Karl Malone body. That's why we wanted all of this for him, and that's why now, as a collective group, we don't. He's a superhero turned villain, and whether I agree with what he did or not, the hate has been outrageously out of hand.
People forget the similar criticism Jordan encountered at a similar age. They said he was a senseless jerk and that a pure scorer couldn't lead a team to a championship. Of course he and Scottie Pippen grew as teammates and players, as did Jordan's overall game, and by the time he was 28, he had his first ring snuggly around his finger.
LeBron James is 26.
I'm not trying to compare MJ to LeBron, because frankly, right now it's a dead argument. I am saying this, though: If we ever thought LeBron could possibly become a better player than "his Airness", nothing you have seen should have changed your mind.
By this time in Jordan's career, as a 26-year-old, he'd never been to the NBA Finals. LeBron has been there twice before. By this time in Jordan's career he had won two MVP awards. LeBron has won two MVP awards. I'm not suggesting the unsuggestable, that LeBron is better or will be better than Jordan, but I'm saying if you ever truly believed it, there's no reason to stop.
LeBron James is lacking the mental stability needed to challenge Jordan. How he'll develop that, I have know idea. I thought he had things all sewn up after the Chicago series, because let's face it, he was putting on a run for the ages. When Dirk rolled around though, LeBron crawled back into his shell, and went into "facilitator" mode, which of course is the excuse fans give to players for checking out. He can't do that. Jordan had different issues as a 26 year old but nonetheless overcame him while the media spit in his face.
There is no reason LeBron won't do the same. There's no reason LeBron James won't get out of this funk he seems to enter every now and again.
Michael Jordan may hope there is a reason, he may hope that LeBron never fully toughens up mentally. He's shown his animosity towards the 6'8" star ever since his decision to join forces with Wade, saying he'd never even think of teaming up with Larry or Magic. In that same interview with HoopsHype, James further displayed that relations between him and Jordan are strained:
"How’s been your relationship with Michael Jordan since you entered the league? Do you talk? Does he give you any advice?
LJ: No. Not at all. No.
"
In such a communal society where former players are commentators and owners, you'd think the legends from the past would be a nice resource for advice. While no doubt some are, like Olajuwon who is helping James and has helped Dwight Howard, or Charles Barkley who may have a large mouth but seems to be someone still in sync with today's players, Jordan doesn't seem to be lending any healthy tips to him along his way.
It seems like Jordan and LeBron don't even lightly chat. It sounds like there is nothing friendly at all between the two. For some reason MJ may feel threatened (I won't say for sure because I have no idea what goes on his head), which at this point he shouldn't be, but years later, I can't promise Jordan shouldn't be shaking in his boots.
The popular argument that supposedly excludes James from eventually being in the Jordan conversation is that Wade is the team's leader, but nothing suggests that other than Wade snapping at LeBron once in the finals. If you'd put the competition to rest, you'd realize that it's theirs, together.
It was a whole new team for both Wade and LeBron, and all signs indicated it was a team shared: shared press conferences, flip-flopping who gives pre-game speeches, having them each close on different nights. There's no reason to say Wade is ruler over LeBron.
Realistically, Wade's injury prone ways may only grant him a few more years of dominance anyway, and the amazingly conditioned LeBron, by all signs, will still be going strong. He's the future leader of the Miami Heat and the shared leader currently.
Sure, James has a few kinks to work out fundamentally in his game, but he's close to the level when the developing needs to stop and the rings need to start showing up.
Jordan is clearly the face of the sport of basketball. When the sport comes up, Jordan is the first player to pop into everyone's head. He is the man, the myth, the legend, while LeBron James is just the hated villain. Whether he's the villain or not, his shot at catching Michael is just as good as it's ever been.
