On Thursday, July 9, a media circus took place the likes of which we have rarely seen in sport. Across America, people watched in anticipation as LeBron James was ready to announce his future home. When the time came, LeBron jerseys across Cleveland caught fire, while Miami bars erupted in raucous celebration. The King’s new throne is South Beach Miami. LeBron James will join superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a superteam unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. As soon as he announced his decision, the pundits jumped on him and talked about how he had ruined his legacy. I think they advanced the gun. I don’t think his legacy is ruined and here’s why…
1. James can still be “the man” in Miami: Yes, he’s joining Wade and Bosh to form a three-headed beast, but I think LeBron is still a notch above those two players. Certainly above Bosh, and possibly above Wade. James may see a slight drop in scoring (or he may not), but he could also see a stratospheric increase in assists from him. If Lebron James can average 10 assists along with his 25+ automatic points and 7+ rebounds, he will continue to be seen as the most complete player in the NBA. If he wins a championship as Finals MVP, I think he’ll continue to prove that he’s “the man.”
2. You can win titles: There are still plenty of holes to fill in Miami, but regardless, he has a better chance of winning than ever. In Cleveland he was surrounded by a couple of B-level players and a lot of lesser players. He never had a true No. 2. Cleveland had almost no assets and failed to build a team around LeBron when they had the chance…for 7 years. In Miami he’s with a legitimate No. 1 player, let alone No. 2. Bosh has to be considered one of the best third options in the league right now. If they plug the holes in Miami properly, this could be a dynasty.
3. You can move again: If LeBron wins three titles in Miami, or even five, he can move on. People used to blame Kobe for leading Shaq to three titles, but since Kobe won without Shaq, now he’s just seen as a guy with 5 rings. Nobody mentions Shaq anymore. Isn’t that possible for LeBron? Could a 30-year-old LeBron go somewhere and be “the man”? I wouldn’t rule it out.
All these questions will be answered in the future. If I had to venture a guess, I’d assume his legacy will be determined by how the Heat do. If they are a great dynasty with 5 championships in a row and LeBron is MVP in each of them, his place in history will not be denied. We’ll know the answer eventually, and no one can predict it, so let’s sit back and enjoy the show!
