By Kenneth Miller | Publisher
The legacy of LeBron James is on the line. The four time, three team NBA champion is a free agent and on the open market at the age of 41, but he is still among the elite basketball players in The Association.
Let’s be honest, the Lakers struggled to embrace LeBron during his 8 season with the franchise. While Jeanie Buss and management delivered on everything he wanted from Anthony Davis to Bronny James, the fans clung to the legacy of Kobe Bryant, instead of saluting The King.
LeBron restored the hapless Lakers to glory by delivering an NBA title, but critics complained that it didn’t matter because it was during COVID and in the bubble without fans.
The subtle and chronic complaints continued to mount, from LeBron and Rich Paul stronghold on the franchise and increasingly the league to him constantly falling on the floor during games, complaining to referees and so on.
Then AD was shipped off to Dallas for Luka Doncic, without consulting James or Paul, then a late night dinner with Luka and Lakers brass to celebrate his arrival and pretty much dismiss LeBron, NBA’s greatest statistical achiever, and ultimate record holder.
It was blatant disrespect, but some of it brought on by LeBron himself.
He did not invest into the urban community like he did in Akron, admitting that he was focusing on his film career.
That was a missed opportunity, but now that’s water under the bridge and LeBron is on the open market again, perhaps for the final time.
Supposedly there are at lease a dozen teams vying for his services, among them Cleveland, Golden State, Philadelphia and others.
When Bron left Cleveland for Miami, they burnt his uniforms. When he returned after two championships and the narrative that Miami was necessary for him to bring what he learnt back home, it was a tepid embrace then a full throttle hug after he led them to their first NBA title. A year after the crown the Cavs and LeBron were swept into no mans land.
There was talk that Tyronn Lue would eventually join him in LA with the Lakers, but Lue refused to accept the terms of engagement and landed on his feet with the Clippers.
His relationship with LeBron is bonafide, and the Clippers are in an identity and credibility crisis.
LeBron can solve all of that, and also give you a chance to win, at least be better than the Lakers which is what all of the other suitors will be. They’s aint winning a championship, and if they did LeBron would suck up all the oxygen in the room, if they don’t it would be deflating to his already stellar legacy.
I say to Steve Balmer, sign LeBron and then offer him a piece of ownership of the Clippers. It’s a win-win, LeBron stays home and watches his 11 year old daughter who has spent most of her life in LA, Zhuri Nova James.
This is a no brainer for both LeBron and the Clippers, and the only scenario that makes the most sense, legacy wise.
