The funny thing about sports is that seldom does the likely ever actually occur; especially when it comes to championships. When was the last time a team favored to win it all from the start of the season actually win it all? How many times do we see a college football juggernaut, ranked #1 from the start, falter and fail to even make it to the championship game? How many athletes have we witnessed state their intentions to succeed and make promises that they have little chances of fulfilling?
I remember the rise of LeBron James. Hearing about this kid in Ohio who was an absolute physical freak of nature, even whilst in high school. He was a decade ago, basically what Bryce Harper was just a few years ago, this teenage phenom that was destined to easily succeed in the professional ranks of their respective sports. LeBron was anointed a Next Jordan in a time when doing such was the equivalent of a career kiss of death; but that’s just how much of a sure thing he was believed to be.
I remember when the Cavaliers drafted him following the 04-05 season, it was the start of a truly storybook story, of the hometown kid being drafted by franchise in his state. He said he wanted to “do his best” to bring a championship to Cleveland. In his first regular season game as a Cavalier, he nearly had a triple-double. I was impressed at how good he was from the onset.
We sports fans all remember when LeBron James reached the Finals, and failed to win a title against the San Antonio Spurs, and then decided to “take his talents to South Beach,” when he ultimately signed with the Miami Heat, in what would basically be a full-fledged heel turn and one of the most criticized moments in the sport. And I have to imagine there was a sense of being punched in the sports fan’s gut in Cleveland, as LeBron James reached the NBA Finals in each of his four seasons played in Miami, winning championships twice.
But then something interesting happened: LeBron James decided to come back to Cleveland. In his prime, and not like some final hurrah or the pathetic one-day contracts, like guys even as incredible as Ken Griffey, Jr. or Emmitt Smith did in their careers. It’s almost like LeBron James had a modicum of remorse for ever leaving Cleveland in the first place, or almost as if he needed to know what it was like to win a championship(s), so he could have the experience for him to try it again in Cleveland.
This time, he promised to bring a championship to Cleveland. The ultimate in daunting goals to strive for, a literal guarantee that he was going to deliver a championship to a maligned sports town known for failure, heartbreak and just plain inability to succeed. Promises aren’t things that people throw around lightly, because a promise is just that – something that must be delivered, lest one’s word becomes completely untrustworthy and invalid for the future.
It took two tries, but LeBron James actually delivered on his promise. By beating the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, LeBron James led the Cavaliers to the NBA championship, thus bringing the first championship to the City of Cleveland in like bajillion years.
LeBron James said he would, and then promised he would, and he actually delivered. Somehow, that feels like a massive rarity in the world of professional sports.
I’m not going to pretend that I’m even close to being a LeBron James fan, but I will also not deny just how successful of a career he’s had, capped off with this most recent accolade. Now a three-time champion, with six straight trips to the NBA Finals. Multiple MVP awards, countless times named an All-Star, and even two Olympic gold medals (and one Bronze lol).
I don’t think he’s ever going to be as overall decorated or as good as Michael Jordan, or even Kobe Bryant, but there’s still time left in LeBron’s career to prove me wrong. Regardless, he’s accomplished everything there really is to accomplish in a professional basketball career, and he really has nothing left to prove. At this point, the rest of his career is simply padding his bank account, stats and his legacy in the game, but I would have to say that the most substantial thing he accomplished in his still-going career is fulfilling a seemingly impossible promise.
As for the Warriors? Chalk them up like the 2007 Patriots at making history, but failing to cement it with a title. This is where I’d say 73 wins is a record nobody will touch, but I also said that about the 1996 Bulls’ 72 wins. But without the requisite championship to cement the legacy, the Warriors are kind of the most accomplished failures in NBA history now. As disappointed in the notion in Cleveland gaining a championship is to my sadistic side, I’m satisfied with the idea of the 73-win Warriors failing to win the title, because as far as I’m concerned that still puts them beneath the 96 Bulls and my childhood nostalgia.
