LeBron James vs Michael Jordan is always an exciting debate. This week Bill Simmons' The Ringer website is playing this theme up. From his final year in high-school to every career move, everyone in the basketball world tried to see how this would affect his legacy and his path towards surpassing or falling short in stacking up as the "Greatest of All Time".
15 years as an NBA pro, LeBron has a chance. Less than 50/50 but a chance to be viewed by many as having equal to Jordan's career. Losing in the finals several times, being embarrassed with some poor performances are what his critics would always bring up. "MJ never lost in the Finals, 6-0!", "LeBron doesn't have the killer instinct, MJ was never afraid to shoot!" many would declare!
Last night, watching "Black Panther", Marvel's superhero blockbuster, I couldn't help but think of LeBron.
(For those, who haven't watched the movie, SPOILER ALERT hereon)
Chadwick Boseman, the movie's hero, shows his characters' vulnerabilities, doubts, and transformation so compellingly that not just wows with the audience, but allows us to identify with him. Most superheroes just overpowers you with their ability and conviction, Black Panther grows on you.
Is this really the King?
From the challenge scenes in the waterfalls, you can see how he has to overcome self-doubt, and his compassion towards his adversaries. Failing, getting humiliated, and defeated, including needing help are all part of Black Panther's growth.
Erik Killmonger (the villain, played by Michael B. Jordan), as he stands over a badly beaten Black Panther, asks if this is really the people chose as their king.
LeBron needs help and he knows it
As a parallel to LeBron's career, we saw him grow up before our eyes. Developing his weaker areas, overcoming his own doubts, and growing his own game and more importantly, his voice.
On the court, whether its passing up shots to Donyell Marshall, Udonis Haslem, or Kyrie Irving LeBron would do what he believes will help the team win and not just to stubbornly project an image as "the Man". We have seen him develop the weaker areas of his game, and adapt his playing style.
Sharing resources
At the end of the movie, Black Panther realizes that he can make a difference in the lives of people around the world, not just for his wealthy country, Wakanda, a technological powerhouse. Black Panther's conscience had woken him up, he declares that building "bridges", sharing resources and knowledge would be the way to go. In contrast to his erstwhile nemesis and cousin Killmonger, Black Panther is not motivated by revenge or ego, his reasoned mind and empathy moves him to take on the personal risk to make a difference for people outside his "tribe".
In the past few years, we have seen LeBron take on a more active role of being a voice on social issues, taking a stand against discrimination, and not being afraid of alienating corporate sponsors and news personalities, who prefer that he sticks to dribbling a basketball and hawking products the way Jordan did.
Increasingly, LeBron realizes that his impact is not just on his team, his business associates (or posse as Phil Jackson would say), or his banana boat friends. He now uses his global presence to take a stand against oppression and violence. His voice, presence, and platform are the best use of Lebron's vibranium.
He may never be the unanimous GOAT or the most aggressive athlete activist (Muhammad Ali), but by taking a stand, LeBron James makes a real difference and this is more significant.