Father Time’s Revenge: Lebron is Unloved!

Figure 1a. Author Image, CanvaAI. Figure 1.b: Tears of Lebron

Stop me if you have heard this one before. Lebron James, at the start of the off-season, hijacks the news headlines to make a ‘decision.’ I am ‘Lebronned’ out. It is really a ‘Lebummer.’ The simple ‘fact’ in my mind is this: Lebron will end up revered, but will he be loved?

Firstly, this is not a hate piece. The fact that Lebron James is my age and still performing at a Top 50 level in the league is astonishing! The fact I almost tore my hamstring merely getting out of bed this morning…less astonishing.

In the wake of his decision to join a now loaded but injury-prone Philadelphia 76ers team (thank you Brad Stevens), I was struck by this notion of ‘legacy.’ Kobe (Bryant) belonged to the Lakers, (Michael) Jordan belonged to the Bulls (the Wizards didn’t count), (Steph) Curry forever belongs to the Warriors. What about Lebron? Has the player empowerment era hurt legacies and the true idea of the fan(atic)? Do fans in those cities who celebrated his greatness and cried with his departure just shrug their shoulders now and say, “Yeah, he was pretty good for us.”

Do modern-day superstars such as Lebron or (Kevin) Durant even have a home to, well, go home to? This choice of my goals/my opinions/my brand over the long-accepted idea of team and community is becoming all too common. The Lebron-led player movement (not the first, but definitely a catalyst in the modern game) has created positives; but also leaves me empty and offended as a fan of the ‘other’ beautiful game. Regrettably, this offence is separate from the nepotism of ‘Bronny’ and Lebron’s ‘gutting teams/leaving them always worse off’ blitzkrieg he has become synonymous with (another ‘take’ for another day).

As a one-time Lebron fan, I find myself conflicted. One more team, a few more records, probably one or two more demands to the newest front office puppet; acquiescing to the great ‘King James.’ I find myself tired. I slowly forget the greatness and am left with a bitter taste in my mouth. The (future) multiple retired jerseys in the rafters will leave me (and many fans) empty, and my doe-eyed innocent view of sport is once again replaced by ‘business’ and ‘brand.’

When Lebron does eventually retire (most likely in 2036 (or the year 2150!) and five more championship-able teams later)) I will (probably) rejoice in the fact that he wasn’t human and was a social, physical and mental marvel. However, for now, I am disheartened. When Springfield comes for ‘The King,’ I will remember ‘The Block,’ ‘The 46 Special,’ ‘The Not 1, Not 2, Not 3…,’ but for the kid from Akron, when it is all said and done, has he ever given his heart to a fanbase (and/or not left the fans heartbroken, apathetic or disillusioned?). Jordan is the GOAT (there is no debate!); does that make Lebron: ‘The Tin Man?’