LeBron James is a great many things, and among those great many things, he can also be an egotist, a blowhard, a whiner, and a fool. Yet, he continues to lord the National Basketball Association precisely because those are the worst that can be said of him. In two and a half weeks, he will turn 34, an age where countless other superstars before him have been compelled to greet with a rocking chair in the horizon. In his case, it’s simply a number that reinforces his status as the most singular presence in the sport’s highest echelon.
Today, James will share the court with best friend Dwyane Wade for the last time. They joined the league together in 2003, but while his banana boat colleague is in the midst of a farewell tour as a substitute for the lottery-bound Heat, he is just in the opening stages of a four-year stint as the herald of the on-the-rise Lakers. The pictures in the short and medium terms are rosy due in large measure to his exertions; apart from 7.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists, he’s norming a 10-year-best 28.3 points. And the purple and gold are thriving as a result; were the season to end today, they would be the fifth seed in the highly competitive West, a whopping six spots better than their immediate past lottery position.
Indeed, the Lakers are in the conversation for all the right reasons anew. And, significantly, they’ve stuck to their guns in terms of retaining their flexibility heading into the 2019 offseason. Staying committed to a youth movement designed to fortify their future, they’ve inked veterans outside of James to one-year deals. The intent is clear: they’re swinging for the fences in the 2019 offseason to partner him with one or two major free agents. And for all the gains they’ve made, they’re not short-circuiting their plan to instigate moves for the here and now at the expense of the there and then.
Needless to say, James affords the Lakers the luxury of time. In terms of going for the hardware, he could have chosen better and taken his talents elsewhere. But because he values family and friendship above all, he made a career decision that furthers his dreams not involving the basketball. That it’s also paying off on the floor is a testament to his skills. Sure, he commands the room and, in the words of some of his critical peers, sucks the air out of it. On the other hand, he has proven himself worthy of the attention, and if they can’t see their stars shining brightly alongside his own, then that’s on them and not on him.
Meanwhile, James couldn’t care less. He know his body of work speaks for itself, and he continues to build on it in a way that no one else can. He doesn’t have legal issues. He hasn’t embarrassed himself, those around him, his employers, and his sport with public transgressions. He strives to give back to his community and speaks out on social issues without fear or favor. If that’s what a “toxic” environment means, then so be it. Ask Wade, who was glad to experience it up close. Ask the Lakers, who are ecstatic to be relevant and respected once more.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
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