The biggest decision of the summer came down this past week courtesy of LeBron James, the most sought-after free agent this year has had NBA fans holding their breaths waiting for his decision. Only the ones with the largest lung capacity have been able to hang on as free agency started nearly a month ago, back on June 30.
The process has taken so long for James that the commissioner of the National Basketball Association, Adam Silver, has ben prodding King James and his posse to make a decision so he can put together a schedule. After all, could you imagine a pro game on Christmas Day without the face of the league?
James didn’t take to being hurried along and at age 41, this is more than likely his final move, which puts that much more significance behind it as he makes one final push to catch Michael Jordan. Jordan has six championships while LeBron has four. Jordan won all of his titles in Chicago, while James has won each of his with different teams.
James appears to be concerned with overtaking Jordan as the all-time greatest basketball player. The King is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and he does own three Olympic gold medals along with 10 NBA Finals appearances. However, his winning percentage, when it matters the most, doesn’t come close to Jordan’s. Mike was a perfect six of six, putting him at 100 percent while James sits at 40 percent.
James is highly intelligent both on and off the floor. Every move he makes is calculated and choosing a new home means everything in his chase of greatness. Not only was he taking his sweet time, he was providing time for suitors to stockpile as much talent as possible. James was looking for the best place to win and there were several teams that were openly courting the 23-year veteran. For a while the front runners looked like franchises that had his friends on the rosters. Golden State seemed like the logical choice because of his relationship with superstars Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Green even opted out of his contract to free up money to go after more talent in hopes of landing Lebron.
If the Warriors could have traded for Anthony Davis, they might have been able to reel in James. He and Davis won a championship together with the Lakers during the lockdown of the pandemic. AD was traded away and LA has not been a contender since then, which is exactly why the King left Hollywood.
Golden State couldn’t land Davis and LeBron got away. The saying in the NBA is the West is the best and the East has the least. In other words, the road to the Finals is easier in the East so James took his talents to the “City of Brotherly Love.” In Philly, he joins Joel Embid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and V. J. Edgecombe. The 76ers pulled off a huge trade in getting Brown from Boston, which helped get LeBron.
The master behind all these moves is the President of basketball operations, Mike Gansey. Gansey and James go back to 2001 when they were two of the top players in ohio. Gansey is a former WVU standout from 2003-2006 and had made quite a name for himself in the League.
After all, he won the lottery!
That will do it for now. Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!