Backstory: television cameras notice LeBron James intently looking at something other than the hoop during a fast break before throwing down a big dunk. Michael Jordan was sitting front row, in the direction of where LeBron James was looking, as he is president of the Heat’s opponents the Charlotte Bobcats. LeBron vehemently denies staring at MJ.
Bottom line is that LeBron James is full of shit and everyone knows it. There is absolutely nobody in the world more relevant for LeBron James to attempt to stare down than the man everyone compares him to, measures him up against, and mostly agrees that he is not better than, in Michael Jordan.
100%, LeBron James was staring down Michael Jordan on the way to the hoop, because everyone knows that LeBron James is a very fragile-minded person who is always seeking validation and acceptance because he’s been coddled his entire life due to being such a can’t-miss basketball prospect phenom. It’s also worth noting that LeBron was probably devastated when MJ basically said that Kobe Bryant was his true heir and was more talented and successful than LeBron, and this act of defiance was akin to a jilted ex-girlfriend blowing some other dude in front of her old boyfriend.
Needless to say, whether or not LeBron will admit it, LeBron was trying to send a message to His Airness with his steal, stare and dunk act. However, the fact of the matter is that if Michael Jordan weren’t 20 years his senior, there’s no way in hell that LeBron James would have tried this shit. For two decades, many people learned the hard way that you do not challenge Michael Jordan on the basketball court.
Patrick Ewing, Isaiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Dikembe Mutombo, Gary Payton, these are all guys who learned the hard way. These were guys that Michael Jordan made points of embarrassing on the court, and for good measure, never forgetting, and repeating it every time they opposed each other. MJ is still tormenting Patrick Ewing to this day, cockblocking him from getting into the coaching arena.
If this were 20 years ago, and Michael Jordan were still in basketball, he would have made a point to get on the court, and put LeBron James back in his place, on both ends of the court. He would hound him and not let him get the ball much less a clean look at the basket, and then on the offensive side, he would drop jumpers in his eye, and rainbow some sweet fadeaways just an inch beyond his fingertips. And for good measure, at some point, he would undoubtedly slam one in his face, to reaffirm his dominance.
I’m pretty sure Wizards Jordan could probably take LeBron James now, too. 6’9-6’10 freaks like Shawn Marion and Chris Bosh couldn’t even defend the MJ fadeaway, which would give zero hope for the smaller LeBron.
I hate to dog on LeBron like everyone else does, but he really does make it so easy to root against him.
