LeBron: Can he be King without a ring?

This weekend the most anticipated NBA playoffs in recent memory tip-off. Whilst the playoffs are always eagerly anticipated, fans are salivating at this year’s, as there are numerous teams in the mix for the championship, plus a healthy dose of subplots.

In the form of questions, they include:

– Can the LA Lakers win their third championship in a row?

– Will the Chicago Bulls win their first championship since the Michael Jordan era?

– Will the San Antonio Spurs’ experience offset their old legs?

– Have the Boston Celtics put too much faith in the health of the O’Neals, Shaq and Jermaine?

– Are the Oklahoma City Thunder ready to convert their potential into playoff success?

– Can the Dallas Mavericks shed their reputation of underperforming at the money end of the season?

– Will any of the underdog teams cause an upset?

And of course, there are many, many more. Yet perhaps the number subplot of the NBA playoffs revolves around the Miami Heat, and in particular, their superstar LeBron James.

So far, LeBron’s career has been quite the journey.

He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 16, under the title ‘The Chosen One’.

Whilst still in high school, before he could even legally drink, and before even playing a game at college level (let alone a professional one), he was a household name in America. The word ‘childhood prodigy’ gets thrown around too often, but in this case it actually undersold the talent of the individual in question.

He skipped college altogether and elected to turn professional at just 17 years of age. And then, in a scenario better suited to a Disney movie, his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers were the envy of the 28 other NBA franchises when they won the 2003 draft lottery, and thereby the right to select James with the first pick of the draft. It seemed like a fairytale was coming true.

At age 21, after four seasons in the league, he was again on Sports Illustrated’s cover with the headline ‘Best Ever?’ and an accompanying story asking if he was better than Michael Jordan. Of course, the answer was no, but the fact the magazine could even pose the question and not be ridiculed spoke volumes of James’ talents.

By the end of last season, LeBron had won two MVP trophies, made six All-Star appearances, won the Rookie-of-the-Year award, won an Olympic gold medal, and taken his team to one NBA Finals (in which he lost to the San Antonio Spurs). His list of accomplishments, quite simply, was too long to list.

The bottom line? He was considered a great player.

But in America, like no other country, champions are measured by being just that: a champion.

And LeBron James hadn’t won the one thing that mattered most. He hadn’t won a championship.

His rival as the best player on the planet over the years has been Kobe Bryant. Whilst James statistics (and charisma) are more impressive than Kobe’s, it’s important to make a distinction between the two. James is generally lauded as the best player in the NBA. But that title mainly pertains to the regular season. Meanwhile, Kobe is the best when it matters. He has five championships and, astoundingly, has made the NBA Finals in seven of the last ten seasons. To put it bluntly, he wins.

This gulf in championship success between the two star players was highlighted in last year’s playoffs, when LeBron was accused of ‘disappearing’ as Cleveland was shockingly eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the conference semi-finals. While out west, Kobe was delivering clutch performances and taking his team to the title.

It was a sad, soft and unexpected end to the season for LeBron, who copped flak from all quarters for his teams’ meek exit from the playoffs. And after seven years in the league, but no championship, LeBron faced a decision bigger than any he had ever had to make on the court. In the off-season he became a free agent, something that brought numerous questions:

– Would he stay at ‘home’ in Cleveland, where his family and friends are, and attempt to finish what he had started, by bringing a championship to the city with the longest drought of professional sports titles?

– Would he chase the bright lights, endorsement deals and large market appeal that only New York can provide?

– Would he play for good friend Jay-Z, who is a part owner of the New Jersey Nets?

– Would he follow in Michael Jordan’s footsteps in Chicago and play for a young, up-and-coming Bulls team?

– Or would he collude with other top free agents, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, to all sign in Miami together, and attempt begin a championship dynasty?

By now, everyone knows that he chose Miami. Yet, that relatively straight forward decision brought intense drama, as LeBron decided to host a one hour live special in American prime time on ESPN, named ‘The Decision’, in order to tell the world of his free agency destination with the now infamous line “I’m taking my talents to South Beach”.

The sheer arrogance caused a media storm, and had the added effect of turning almost every NBA fan against him and his new team. To coldly stab Cleveland in the back, along with ‘ganging up’ with other NBA stars Wade and Bosh, made LeBron and Miami public enemy number one. Overnight, LeBron had transformed from loveable to hated. The NBA had a new villain.

In a country where an athlete’s legacy is based on championships, it was clear that James was attempting to secure his legacy by winning a title as soon as possible. Even at the possible expense of his reputation and popularity.

So what’s at stake in these playoffs?

Only LeBron attempting to prove his decision was right, and legitimising his legacy as one of the best basketballers of all-time.

No big deal.

The ball, metaphorically and in actuality, will be in LeBron’s hands.