A King’s Heart (by The Scribe)

A King's Heart
by The Scribe

Facing elimination, 2-Time Champion LeBron James is once again found with his back against the wall. This time, with a load that only a player of greatness could carry, it seems as if this might be much too much to bear.

Realistically, James is no stranger to pressure.  Drafted #1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003), at the time a struggling franchise, James had to immediately not only live up to expectation but supersede them. Spectators from all over began comparing James, a high school-to-pro athlete, to that of a retired hall of famer with six rings. If this wasn’t enough pressure as it is, there came the time to actually perform and live up to the name. LeBron lived up to the promise, and as he became more experienced, he was able to carry his team and metropolitan deep into the post season multiple times. Through many victories and some disappointments, the same spectators that praised LeBron, were starting to question his ability to contend, his toughness, and his heart.

Carrying his team to the playoffs year after year, there began to be speculation that James needed help. Not only help through his peers on the court, but help from a coach who could run the right system, and a general manager who could run team operations on a stellar level. Changes were made but were never enough. Acquiring a close-to-retire Shaquille O’Neal, an Antwan Jamison who couldn’t find synchronization in the offense, and point guard Sebastian Telfair who rarely saw the floor; these acquisitions were nowhere near enough fire power of what the Cavaliers needed as a whole.

Through the playoffs of 2009 and 2010, many began to question how much heart and toughness did LeBron James possess. At times, we watched as James would shy away from the ball during key possessions or even more so becoming completely invisible on the floor. The question of how much heart did LeBron really have in him plagued establishments from barbershops to the roundtables on ESPN.  Commentators had special segments, comparing a ring-less LeBron James to the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Cleveland fans had felt that James had given up on them when they needed him most.

As if his heart and toughness wasn’t under enough scrutiny, James and company held an hour long special which supported a decision he would make between staying in Cleveland and choosing a new team through free agency. At this very moment, post-decision, there were no mixed feelings that one could feel about James. Either you had come to hate the heartless-Hollywood player he had become, or loved the ambitious rising star who had chosen to explore his options.

Transformation came as James joined the Miami Heat. This time, sporting #6 on the front and back of his jersey, it almost seemed as he become the villain that everyone wanted to hate but could only watch in awe. Over 4 years with the Heat, he managed to accomplish his true goal for signing with the team twice.  These same victories would only bring more scrutiny for those spectators who didn’t like the transformed James.  The claims once again questioned the heart of LeBron. Many discredited his rings, stating that he needed a ‘super-team’ to win.

It was then time for another decision to be made. Once again, for a point and time the sports world sat and awaited as James chose to rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers. In much astonishment, this made a great story for him among the people who felt as if he never should have left initially. Also, this would give James a chance to prove that he didn’t need a stacked team to win. Upon his arrival and through the season, the Cavs received a complete facelift. This almost seemed to mirror the “South Beach move” very closely.

Happening to be one of the most controversial topics in sports, the judgment of James’ heart is simply decided upon perspective. If you’re not a fan, you hate the guy’s guts. If you are, he’s seems to be the next best legend that this generation has seen.