The 2014-2015 NBA finals have once again brought up heated discussions about LeBron James’ legacy. This time, though, the arguments for – and against – have a lot more merit.
LeBron James’ return to his home city of Cleveland came with much fanfare as he joined forces with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to form a new ‘Big Three’. Hopes of bringing the city of Cleveland it’s first major sporting championship since the Browns won the 1964 NFL Championship game skyrocketed.
Against all odds the Cavaliers have managed to play well, despite season-ending injuries to Irving and Love. They win the first two games of the finals series thanks largely to the supreme talent and drive of James and the gritty play of role players such as Matthew Dellavedova.
James’ detractors have pointed out in the past that he had to join forces with fellow superstars such as Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade to win a championship, but what ammunition will they use to disparage LeBron James’ achievements if he is able to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a championship? His best sidekicks in the finals have been Dellavedova and Timofey Mozgov.
Putting up statistically better numbers than the likes of both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and playing with less stellar teammates, a win in this finals series, along with his previous achievements, would for the first time open up valid discussions for LeBron’s rise up the GOAT list.
However, a loss in this series must also fall on James’ shoulders just like a victory would. In the same way that a Cavaliers championship win would highlight a career full of fantastic achievements, a loss would also bring into question again things such as slight tendencies to disappear when his teams have needed him the most.
For example, in the recent Game 4 in Cleveland, Mozgov top scored with 28 points along with 10 rebounds, but James was held to 20 points while collecting 12 rebounds and providing eight assists. While those statistics are nothing to shake your head at, at 2-1 up and with a chance to all but seal the victory in the series at home the Cavaliers desperately needed more on the scoreboard from ‘King James’.
Concessions must be made for the injuries Cleveland has had to deal with resulting in coach David Blatt using a seven-man rotation and the Golden State Warriors quite frankly under performing compared to their regular season form, but at the end of the day history will remember results.
The finals may be swinging in the favour of the Warriors now, but LeBron James’ legacy as one of the greatest players of all time or the greatest is also dependent on the final result.
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