Lebron James starts his 15th year at the NBA tonight. Year 15! It is hard to believe that he was a recruit since 2003. How was life different at the time? George W. Bush was in his first term as President of the United States. Rapper, 50 Cent, had the song # 1 "In Da Club". The film "The Lord of the Rings" was the most profitable film of the year. The television show "Friends" was entering its final season. Netflix existed, but they used to send you those strange things called CD. Bitcoin was still six years after its creation.
But in those years, Lebron James had a great career. I love you or I hate you, you can not deny your accomplishments. Let's look at what he did for his first 14 years.
The average length of a race in the NBA is 4.8 years. Lebron tripled this without an end in sight at the 32-year-old age. But Superstars in professional sports are judged primarily by 1 thing and 1 thing only, CHAMPIONSHIPS. Lebron checked this box 3 times.
After making the NBA Finals with his local team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron became a free agent and decided to test the waters after 8 years in the summer of 2010. He was courted by all major markets and teams. Rumors tormented him and Dwyane Wade joined Chicago in Wade's hometown. Bulls fans were delighted with the opportunity. The New York Knicks were ready for Lebron to play in the biggest basketball room at Madison Square Garden. But most of the country, including the owner of the Cavs and the main office, hoped that Lebron would remain a Cav and never leave the city which adored him.
On July 8, a week after Lebron became an unrestricted free agent, he announced that he would choose a special on ESPN titled "The Decision". Ironically, he would regret this title for the rest of his life. In a definitive betrayal of the Cleveland Cavs, he announced that he was bringing his talent to South Beach. He teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and formed the first "Big 3" the league had ever seen. In an overwhelming demonstration of confidence, the trio joked about winning 7 or 8 championships, while Cleveland fans burned their shirts.
But the championship rings were not automatically awarded to Lebron and the Miami Heat. They lost in their first season together. But then, in 2012 and 2013, they came back and seemed unstoppable. It seemed that a dynasty was being born. But as fast as they won, they also lost. In 2014, the heat lost in the finals and Lebron was again a free agent.
This time there was little doubt about where Lebron would be. Most of them assumed he would return to the Miami Heat. But much more subtle, he made his "decision" by talking to Sports Illustrated in an article titled "I'm Coming Home." The city of Cleveland was NUTS as fanatics celebrated in the streets.
Lebron promised the same people he had rejected a few years ago that would bring them their first title. And although he did not deliver in his first season, he delivered in his second season.
Lebron James entered the NBA 2017 season with a record of 3 and 5 in the NBA finals. Depending on who you ask, it is a phenomenal or extremely disappointing feat. It seems he ran after Michael Jordan his entire career, which went 6-0 in the NBA finals.
But do not forget the other achievements of Lebron:
● 3x Final MVP
● 4x NBA MVP
● 13x All-Star
● 2x MVP All-Star Game
● 11x all first NBA team
● 5x NBA defensive team
● NBA Rookie of the Year
● Best scorer of the NBA
● All annotated endpoints
● 2 times the Olympic gold medal
Few others have had an impressive career in any professional sports league.
So, what's in this new season for Lebron James and the Cavs? Everyone knows the turbulent low season and movements on the list. Will this be the last Lebron season in Cleveland? He is again a free agent at the end of the season. Do you want to break the city and the hearts of the fans and speak to the Lakers, as they say? Or is he back for good?
Your next "decision" will probably be its end. But it probably depends on the end of the 2017-2018 season. Will Lebron raise another trophy or buy a new house in Los Angeles? I can not wait to find out.