CLEVELAND - I am an enormous admirer of Cleveland Cavs superstar LeBron James. He is, in my estimation, the best that the game of basketball has to offer.
But he needs to get over himself.
James, 24 at month's end was a wunderkind from the time he first picked up a basketball. In high school, his unusual brilliance drew professional players to his games, which were actually broadcast nationally on occasion. He was driving an $80,000 Hummer as a high school senior and was signed to a shoe deal worth more than $90 million by Nike Inc. before he ever played an NBA game.
Given those facts alone, it is easy to understand why James feels a sense of entitlement. The man has been called "King James" for years and dubbed "The Chosen One" beginning in 2001. During this past summer's Olympics in Beijing, it was announced that a European team would pay him $50 million for one season of his services, plus other lucrative perks. Currently, his already gargantuan ego has been fueled by the highly anticipated summer of 2010 when the basketball megastar becomes a free-agent and can sign with whomever he wants.
He's been eating it up.
Teams such as the New York Knicks and the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets have been said to be the frontrunners in the "James Sweepstakes." The Knicks just shipped off a slew of players, including star Zach Randolph in an early effort to clear salary cap space for James. Hip-Hop legend and close friend Jay-Z is a part owner of the Nets and has a huge influence over James. Many Cavs fans have expressed fear that the allure of playing in a bigger market may sway James' decision and send him to one of those markets.
It wouldn't surprise me.
LeBron has made recent comments that have been both brutally honest and stunningly selfish. He maintains that there is no loyalty in the NBA and that he is keeping his options open. He tries to make it seem as if winning championships are the most important thing, but choosing between Cleveland (which has consistently improved every season since his 2003 arrival) as opposed to a hastily assembled new team with no chemistry seems like an obvious choice if he's truly about winning. He's already rich beyond belief so money should matter less.
Right?
During the past two years, his affinity for The Big Apple and their sports teams has become palpable. Even Nike releases "special edition" versions of his basketball shoes every so often for release only in New York. Last week, the surging Cavs visited Madison Square Garden and the fans were instructed to cheer James early and often!
Say what?
LeBron continues to behave as though this is the way to conduct business. He seems to be dangling a coveted carrot in front of Cavs management enticingly only to yank it away at the last possible moment, never with the intent to part with the carrot.
Look, I understand the business side of this whole thing. James needs to do what is best for himself. It is just annoying how he is going about it. If this is a clever attempt to force the team's front office to make key moves to ensure that the team remains highly competitive, it would normally be very shrewd. Problem is, he's not being very smart. When NBA great Charles Barkley criticized him last week and advised him to "shut up," James responded by getting defensive and called Barkley "stupid."
Hey LeBron, Barkley was right.
With the Cavs playing so amazingly awesome (14-3 record thus far), James' comments don't matter as much as they would if the team were struggling. Even still, he should let the obvious be the obvious (management needing to keep him surrounded by a winning supporting cast) and just shut up and play.
His mouth isn't as talented as he is.
CLEVELAND - Charles Barkley has always been a fascinating guy in my book. His legendary pro basketball career notwithstanding, I've long considered him to be amazing.
