In his 20th year in the league and at 38 years of age, Lebron James is still making the headlines. For all the right reasons. He has just been voted in the All-NBA Third Team for the second year in a row, showing that his years are indeed stopping him down. Which is an absolute beastly achievement not many other players have displayed. But, for all his greatness, his team’s season is crumbling before James’ eyes.
The Lakers have had a season of ups and downs, which will most likely and unfortunately end in a down. From being locked among the last places in the West with no playoff hopes, the Lakers have managed to outperform expectations and have reached the Western Playoffs Finals. It’s unfortunate that their opponents are the Nuggets who are playing at a high level thanks to Nikola Jokic. But, the bigger takes of this series again focuses on King James – if the Lakers fail this year, does it put a damp on his legacy?
A Legendary Career
No matter how many debates Lebron James is weaved into, his name will go down as one of the best players in the history of basketball. He has four rings behind his name and a fifth one may not be that distant of a possibility. A healthy Anthony Davis and a few good trades might make the Lakers contenders again and James a betting favorite for the Finals MVP award. The Lakers don’t look that good at betting sites right now if you follow the newest NBA betting lines. But, it could all change in the NBA’s wild landscape, and we’re sure LA is going to be one of the top title favorites at bookies come next season.
It’s all thanks to James. After Kobe retired, the Lakers didn’t have a clear direction. The Lakeshow needed a big name, and what bigger name could they get than Lebron James. At that point, he was coming off another loss in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors led by another all-time great – Stephen Curry. Lebron needed a change of scenery, this time to California.
He arrived as a three-time title winner and a 3-time Finals MVP. His first season wasn’t stellar – the Lakers missed the playoffs and James had a mixed start to his Lakeshow career. A year later, he used his star power to get Anthony Davis when the Lakers traded most of their young core to get the Pelicans star. It resulted in a major shift of power in the Western Conference and another title for LA during the COVID-19 bubble.
James was once again the star player, leading the Lakers to the title and a Finals MVP trophy. He had big help from Davis to the title, beating the Heat in six. The following seasons haven’t been that successful, but on a personal level, James won even more than before. Thanks to his scoring potential, he became the first player in the 10K-10K-10K club, and earlier this season, he became the NBA’s top scorer. That’s a feat not even Michael Jordan has managed to perform.
Legacy at Stake?
Considering the Lakers’ poor performance in the seasons following the title, Lebron’s legacy has always been a hot topic. Many wonder if this is the end of his career, as his years have been showing, especially this season. James’ weary legs and obvious tiredness have been boggling the Lakers down as much as they’ve been lifting the team’s spirits up. It’s clear that we’re witnessing the end of an era, but when it comes to ending his legacy? That’s out of the question.
For a good while, his legacy was put on the time against Michael Jordan and the late and great Kobe Bryant. His all-time leading scorer award surpassed those comparisons. There’s an ongoing debate about Lebron vs. Steph Curry, but to many, Lebron’s the more accomplished player. Don’t get us wrong – Curry will be an NBA great when his career ends and is the most skilled and best shooter of all time. He’s a 4-time NBA champ too, and is a player James admires. But, on a personal level and simply records broken, James gets the go ahead.
Lebron James’ legacy isn’t on the line. Was Kobe’s on the line when the Lakers missed the playoffs Pau Gasol? Is Curry’s legacy on the line now that the Warriors are out of the playoffs? Legacies don’t end just like that. They live on for eras and are written with golden letters in the history book. When and if there’s one such book, Lebron James’ name will be among the top.
What’s the first thing that springs to your mind when you think of Lebron James? Greatness. That’s the word we come up to, and was his motto for a big part of his career. He’s one of the most competitive players to ever play in the league, and his legacy won’t come to an end just because of a few bad seasons. The fact remains that he’s a step slower, but James never backs down. With a few key pieces and if he decides to continue playing, the Lakers will always be a problem.
History Book Material
Lebron James was one of the most hyper up prospects to come out of high school, and he repaid that faith from his first NBA game. He’s always been a lethal scorer, and after his debut season, he worked hard on himself to add more weapons to his arsenal. In his 20 years in the league, he’s become everything you’d ask for in a player. Lebron James is probably the most complete player in the history of the NBA, and one that will go down in the history books like that.
His legacy is bigger than you can think of. He’s inspired many young players to work hard and get to the NBA, many of which have already started their careers. And that’ll continue for years to come, even more when he’s inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, shortly after his retirement.
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