LeBron James (2008-09 NBA MVP)

[buchtelgrad04]

The fact that we're having this discussion when Bron is only 24 years old, answers the question, IMO. Kobe isn't going to get any better than what we've already seen. Bron's peak won't come for another year or two. He's unstoppable now, he'll be illeagal soon.

[ScriptOhio]

It started with Jawad Williams, then spread to J.J. Hickson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas during the regular season. Now every Cavs player, with the exception of Joe Smith and Sasha Pavlovic, is wearing James' signature shoe line in the series.
Smith and Pavlovic have shoe deals with adidas. Some players, such as Mo Williams and Delonte West, switched in the last series, and now Nike has shipped shoes in every player's size. This is unprecedented in the NBA for nearly every player to wear a teammate's personal shoe line.

Entire article: Orlando Magic followers cry foul on Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James - Page 2 - Cleveland.com

[Maurice Clarett]

My namesake has some advice for Lebron.

Letter to LeBron ? The Mind of Maurice Clarett

Letter to LeBron

Lose yourself in the moment my brother. Make history and represent Ohio how you?re supposed to. I?m on the sideline watching and rooting for you now, harder than ever. As a matter of fact I think this whole penitentiary is. In order to come back in this series you?re going to have to put the team on your back and reset the standard of playing for your team. You?re going to have to get extremely aggressive on both ends of the floor and let your team know that you didn?t come this far to lose. At this point in the season it?s all about ambition and execution. It will all come down to your mentality in the locker room and on the floor. Show the world why they call you ?King.? You know I hate that ?Ohio always chokes up? s***. I?m sure you feel the same way. I?m tired of hearing that Cleveland hasn?t won anything since the Jim Brown era. That team is built around you. They follow your lead. They follow your energy. They depend on you homey. I know that there are four other players on the floor who have to play with you but there comes a time when you have to become selfish in order for the team to move forward. That time is now. Make history. Shatter Orlando?s hopes of moving on. Show the world how serious the Cavs are. Show the league what ?GOING HARD? really means and looks like. Show the world what it looks like to be hungry. Show your team what determination looks like. Go get what you came for. Its not about the money for you, you have it. It?s about respect.

[BuckStocksHere]

No matter what - the overwhelming majority of posters on this site will take LeBron because he is their guy. Same goes for a site that covers a California team - they'd take Kobe and be happy about it.

I already feel the way about LeBron that the rest of the NHL feels about Sidney Crosby - I'm tired of hearing about him. It's not that he isn't great, because he is, but they are trying to jam it down your throat. I frankly don't blame the NBA, because that is what kept them going when they had MJ....MJ this, MJ that and it worked - why stop that kind of marketing.

In a sport with only 5 people on the floor, where you can supposedly make everyone around you better if you are a superstar - I'll wait for LeBron to get a few rings before annoiting him the next MJ...KOBE..or whomever. Wait - there will never be another MJ. He has a shot at being the next Kobe but not the next MJ. Just like Gretzky and MJ and probably a few others like them - they are icons in their respective sport.

LeBron is not there........yet. I'm willing to give him time for sure, unfortunately for you guys, I think he'll be doing it as a Knick.

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by BuckStocksHere

No matter what - the overwhelming majority of posters on this site will take LeBron because he is their guy. Same goes for a site that covers a California team - they'd take Kobe and be happy about it.

I already feel the way about LeBron that the rest of the NHL feels about Sidney Crosby - I'm tired of hearing about him. It's not that he isn't great, because he is, but they are trying to jam it down your throat. I frankly don't blame the NBA, because that is what kept them going when they had MJ....MJ this, MJ that and it worked - why stop that kind of marketing.

In a sport with only 5 people on the floor, where you can supposedly make everyone around you better if you are a superstar - I'll wait for LeBron to get a few rings before annoiting him the next MJ...KOBE..or whomever. Wait - there will never be another MJ. He has a shot at being the next Kobe but not the next MJ. Just like Gretzky and MJ and probably a few others like them - they are icons in their respective sport.

LeBron is not there........yet. I'm willing to give him time for sure, unfortunately for you guys, I think he'll be doing it as a Knick.

Lebron will be the first Lebron. He's not on MJ's level yet, but it's easy to see where he's headed. I'm not a Cavs fan, but no matter where James ends up, he'll always be from Ohio. That alone is enough to make me root for him, if not for the Cavs.

[1926Buckeyes]

Originally Posted by BuckStocksHere

In a sport with only 5 people on the floor, where you can supposedly make everyone around you better if you are a superstar - I'll wait for LeBron to get a few rings before annoiting him the next MJ...KOBE..or whomever. Wait - there will never be another MJ. He has a shot at being the next Kobe but not the next MJ. Just like Gretzky and MJ and probably a few others like them - they are icons in their respective sport.

Jordan also had some great players to support him, players that James does not have yet.

I understand what you mean though. I was unfortunately never able to watch Jordan much in his prime because I was too young, but seing James now makes me think he could possibly be as good if he keeps improving, which he will. He just needs a better supporting cast and he'll get some titles. No player can/could do it alone, not even Jordan. And for as much flack as James gets, Jordan didn't win it until his 7th year anyway. I think some people expect him to be some sort of god or something.

[BuckeyeMafia]

If there is a god, he will sign a contract this offseason. From what I understand he refused to talk to the media after the game- not really sure what that says, but I don't like it. I'm still confident he'll stay, but wow, I'm really scared and we're still 53-54 weeks from really worrying.

[OState29]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMafia

If there is a god, he will sign a contract this offseason. From what I understand he refused to talk to the media after the game- not really sure what that says, but I don't like it. I'm still confident he'll stay, but wow, I'm really scared and we're still 53-54 weeks from really worrying.

Pssshhh...

All they have to do to keep him is win it all next year, that's it, it's easy really. Aw [censored] next year Cleveland sports either gets a championship or possibly gets f'd in the a once again.

[BuckeyeMafia]

Originally Posted by OState29

Pssshhh...

All they have to do to keep him is win it all next year, that's it, it's easy really. Aw [censored] next year Cleveland sports either gets a championship or possibly gets f'd in the a once again.

Yeah it's been easy for what.. 46 years now?

[OState29]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMafia

Yeah it's been easy for what.. 46 years now?

Forgot the sarcasm font.

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

King James left the playoffs as a loser - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

James is blasted in this article for his post-game actions.

[BoxCar_Willie]

Pretty much sums up my feeling about Lebron.

[Oneshot]

Don't be so quick... You guys act like he should act like he's been there before. He hasn't. He's always been a gentleman. And he's SO young.

I say cut him some slack.

[fanaticbuckeye]

All this criticism of LBJ is overboard, in my opinion. Did he make a mistake, absolutely. Dan Patrick summed it up pretty well (summarizing) LBJ is always available and is very respectful. He is disappointed in LBJ because he has carried himself so well and so graciously up to this point.

But to call him a self absorbed brat? Really?

[crazybuckfan40]

I will defend LBj in this situation...shake hands? When the team has confetti, they are happy...no...I have no problem with him leaving the court...

Who cares about the media...he talks to them all the time...He keeps them in a job, i understand he is obligated to talk to the media, but if he doesn't one time after a season ending loss who gives a [censored]...

THe media drags him through the mud after one thing like this, and they want him to talk to them all the time...kinda goes both ways one would think...

As for LBJ/Jordan...

Jordan is who he is because of the titles...Obviously another top 50 player in the history of the game playing alongside him helped...

If you would put a top 50 guy alongside LBJ they would rule the league...Some have mentioned Amare, Bosh...Guys that are all-stars year in and year out but not top 50 players, and still with guys like that I think they would rule the league...

So if LBJ is able to put up title victories anywhere around 4, depending on the talent that he has around him, he will go down as the best player and surpassing Jordan...

The kid is 24...Yeah the jumpshot is not great yet, he is still finding his niche for his game...His free throw stroke is not great...Give him next year, and I think he improves all that with the way he works on his game and I think we honeslty could see a title in Cleveland and LBJ really starting his legacy...If not he will stay in Cleveland and bring a guy like Bosh in with him and win one that year...