Lebron's New Nike Commercial

[mgoblue2290]

Who is Jordan? His play on the court doesn't make him exempt from being called out.

He's not so much calling out Jordan as much as he's taking shots at the fact that Jordan tended to worry only about "selling his shiny shoes" while conforming to the image that people wanted for him. James is saying what works for you doesn't have to work for me.

Except James listens to the idiots he surrounds himself and lost his chance at becoming a true legend. He'll still go down as one of the best players ever, but won't be in the same breath as guys like Jordan, Kobe, Russell, Bird, etc. At least I wouldn't put him there. Although its too soon to really think about that I guess.

 

[ralaw]

Except James listens to the idiots he surrounds himself and lost his chance at becoming a true legend. He'll still go down as one of the best players ever, but won't be in the same breath as guys like Jordan, Kobe, Russell, Bird, etc. At least I wouldn't put him there. Although its too soon to really think about that I guess.

I think it is too early. Obtaining legendary status is funny, because all of the guys you mentioned played with other HOF players and won championships with them. So, now James has his HOF player in Wade and maybe Bosh. Being labeled a legend has as much to do with the silly media falling in love with players as it does with actual play on the court.

Obviously James' decision has put him in a bad light, but if he goes and wins multiple championships playing with his HOF teammates as Jordan, Russel, Bird, etc have done he'll do so while being a/the major factor, so questioning his status as an all-time great would be foolish.....or immature. Right now he's probably the second greatest SF ever and he's only like 26-27 years old.

 

[FedEx227]

The difference though is they were clear leaders (MJ, Russel, Bird, Wilt, etc.) LeBron by doing this hasn't defined himself as a clear leader but rather the best follower in the game. I'm not denying LeBron is the most talented and probably the best player in the game, but he should have people following him, not vice versa.

It may be arbitrary, but it's a fair assessment in my mind.

 

[mgoblue2290]

I think it is too early. Obtaining legendary status is funny, because all of the guys you mentioned played with other HOF players and won championships with them. So, now James has his HOF player in Wade and maybe Bosh. Being labeled a legend has as much to do with the silly media falling in love with players as it does with actual play on the court.

Obviously James' decision has put him in a bad light, but if he goes and wins multiple championships playing with his HOF teammates as Jordan, Russel, Bird, etc have done he'll do so while being a/the major factor, so questioning his status as an all-time great would be foolish.....or immature.

Thats why I said it is probably to soon. However all of those guys were the top dog on their team. This is not LeBron's team. I think that is part of it, he said ok I'll go play with Wade and join his team to win. Kobe did it with Shaq from 2000-2002 but now he's doing it as the unquestioned leader of his team. I'm not all that well versed in 80's basketball but I believe Larry Bird did it a similar way and so did Russell. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

 

[ralaw]

The difference though is they were clear leaders (MJ, Russel, Bird, Wilt, etc.) LeBron by doing this hasn't defined himself as a clear leader but rather the best follower in the game.

It may be arbitrary, but it's a fair assessment in my mind.

Thats why I said it is probably to soon. However all of those guys were the top dog on their team. This is not LeBron's team. I think that is part of it, he said ok I'll go play with Wade and join his team to win. Kobe did it with Shaq from 2000-2002 but now he's doing it as the unquestioned leader of his team. I'm not all that well versed in 80's basketball but I believe Larry Bird did it a similar way and so did Russell. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

You can't say that until you see what happens. I don't understand the thinking behind why going to Miami has to mean he's going to play Pippen to Wade's Jordan. At the end of the day Jordan was by far the most talented and best player on the Bulls and the same can be said for Bird, Magic, etc; however, this situation is different, because James is the best player and most talented player, so he's obvious going to be doing his fair share of leading and being "the guy," while taking a back seat at times to his HOF teammates as Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc did at times.

As I've always said James isn't all of a sudden going to lose his ability to lead and be a leader.

 

[FedEx227]

No, I totally understand what you're saying.

The thing though is it looks like he chased. He went to a place that was already established with another superstar who already won a title. You know?

I made this reference, whether it's the best or not, but it's akin to Jordan in 1991 going to the Pistons. Yeah, Jordan would clearly be better than Isiah or Mahorn or anyone on that team. He'd be the clear leader of that team, but you can't say if he wins 3-4 titles with them that he's seen as the same superstar as he was by winning with the Bulls.

Yes, he's still the man, and clearly the best player on those teams, and yes they probably win a title. But it's just not the same...

 

[ralaw]

No, I totally understand what you're saying.

The thing though is it looks like he chased. He went to a place that was already established with another superstar who already won a title. You know?

I made this reference, whether it's the best or not, but it's akin to Jordan in 1991 going to the Pistons. Yeah, Jordan would clearly be better than Isiah or Mahorn or anyone on that team. He'd be the clear leader of that team, but you can't say if he wins 3-4 titles with them that he's seen as the same superstar as he was by winning with the Bulls.

Yes, he's still the man, and clearly the best player on those teams, and yes they probably win a title. But it's just not the same...

In hindsight people can say that because we know what became of Jordan in Chicago; however who is to say had Jordan went to the Pistons and won his legacy would be any less or greater today? So who's to say had James stayed with the Cavs he'd have the same experiences Jordan had in Chicago?

This is the philosophical issue with this story, because people are comparing it to Jordan's situation, when they shouldn't be, because we know the Jordan story and legacy. Knowing the Jordan legacy causes people to want to put that on James, which isn’t far to him, because we don’t know James’ legacy? For all we know they could go and win 8 championships in a row with James leading the way, so does that still mean his legacy is diminished? One thing that I do know is that had he stayed with the Cavs and not won a championship or multiple championships (which seems highly likely) his legacy certainly wouldn't be on the same level as Jordan, Bird, Magic's, etc. So, at the end of the day he's in a lose/lose situation, so why not just do what makes him happy and let the legacy stuff work itself out? Besides, worrying about legacy is something fans and the media concern themselves with and not players.

 

[Argath]

he should shut the fuck up is what he should do

 

[KillaK]

I'm not a Heat fan but if Lebron came out and ripped his shirt off and had an NWO shirt under it I would be a fan for life.

 

[Hasselbeck]

The NBA would be the hottest sport if the Heat end up embracing it during the season. Talk trash, act like they already won, antagonize opposing cities, it would make for some amazing television and live games.

Well like the WWE, the games are fixed.. why not?

 

[Hasselbeck]

Thats why I said it is probably to soon. However all of those guys were the top dog on their team. This is not LeBron's team. I think that is part of it, he said ok I'll go play with Wade and join his team to win. Kobe did it with Shaq from 2000-2002 but now he's doing it as the unquestioned leader of his team. I'm not all that well versed in 80's basketball but I believe Larry Bird did it a similar way and so did Russell. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

Can we end this charade already?

It WILL be LeBron's team very soon. Trust me. The roles are already changing. When everyone is watching the Heat, it's not to see how Wade does. It's to watch LeBron. Bosh is kind of like a Gasol.. just along for the ride.

The Heat WILL belong to LeBron this season. If you think otherwise you're kidding yourself.

 

[ralaw]

Can we end this charade already?

It WILL be LeBron's team very soon. Trust me. The roles are already changing. When everyone is watching the Heat, it's not to see how Wade does. It's to watch LeBron. Bosh is kind of like a Gasol.. just along for the ride.

The Heat WILL belong to LeBron this season. If you think otherwise you're kidding yourself.

This is what I've been saying all summer yet most people seem to be of the belief that this is Wade's team, because James went there. However, as I've been saying James is why people will watch this team, James is the best player and James will be the player that gets them where they need to be. Wade is a great player, but he's going to half to do more adjusting than James will.

 

[Bear Pand]

This commercial would be a lot more believable and effective if he took this stance from the start. It's obvious, at least to me, that after he made his decision he didn't expect such a negative reaction and he's been coming off as butthurt every since. Plus I really doubt this commercial was his idea, probably just another thing he got talked into by his handlers. He just has such a generic/fake personality.

Honestly as someone who never liked LeBron if he would've said on the first day of free agency, "I'm going to Miami, F anyone who disagrees" I'd be rooting for the Heat right now.