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LeBron James' move was not entirely about basketball. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP)
This first appeared in the Washington Post's NBA edition on July 2, the Monday Morning Post Up. You can subscribe by clicking here
In the past eight years, every move by LeBron James was based solely on victory. Returning to the Miami Heat in 2010 to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers four years later, James focused on the laser to try to get more championships, doing all he could to defeat Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever seen. Sunday, James chose a different path.
In accepting a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, James made it clear that he felt safe on his inheritance. Choosing to go to the Lakers without any guarantee that another star would join him, without any clear path for the championship competition this season, was clearly not aimed at winning.
He wanted James to do what he wanted, regardless of anything else
[LeBron James is headed to the Lakers, and he’s giving them time to build a contender]
James was right to feel safe in his legacy. Making eight trips to the NBA Finals this decade is a feat that will become bigger as time goes by. Win a championship for the city of Cleveland, something that had not been done for more than half a century before James led the Cavaliers with a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors of 72 wins two years ago. in the moment. It will grow in importance over time as the Cavaliers lose their relevance.
For 15 consecutive seasons, James has fascinated and dazzled by his greatness, playing at a higher level than anyone in history by taking a ridiculous nighttime burden.
He led a remarkable journey, taking him from Akron to Cleveland to Miami, then to Cleveland and now, finally, to Los Angeles. He has also clearly enabled James to take charge of his life and make decisions that will allow him and his family to be happy.
Some in Cleveland will undoubtedly make fun of James giving the Lakers a four-year commitment (though the last year is a player option) after signing one and two year contracts during from his second stay in North Ohio. But after the way the owner of the Cavaliers Dan Gilbert acted the first time James left, the level of confidence would never allow him to commit to Cleveland in the long run the same way.
One could say that the Lakers have done little in recent years to gain such confidence, either. But again, this is not a basketball decision first. If that were the case, James would sign with the Philadelphia 76ers or opt for his contract and be traded to the Houston Rockets, which would have made a lot more sense.
As one source said, "It was always the right choice". And it was the right decision because it was the move that James wanted to make.
[Brewer: As LeBron James heads west, can the once-great Lakers rise to his level?]
Eight years ago, James overthrew the world of basketball leaving the Cavaliers for Heat. In doing so, he has led a new era of basketball self – determination, one that has seen a cavalcade of stars change free agency in the last few years
including one, Kevin Durant, knocking over all the best of James. -theide provides for a second act in Cleveland. He probably expected it to last more than four years when he wrote his essay in Sports Illustrated declaring his intention to return home four years ago.
Today, James takes this self-determination to another level. By moving to Los Angeles, he is not content to be comfortable where he and his family will be comfortable and will be able to continue to develop his myriad commercial interests while his career continues. ; end. He is also happy to relive the Lakers mystique, something that has marked in recent years the franchise besieged by the dysfunction and mismanagement of the last years of Kobe Bryant's career.
The Lakers will not be good enough to compete with the Warriors this season, though they will undoubtedly be entertaining after signing Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee, of all the people, Sunday night to play alongside James. But they will have a chance to reach the Western Conference finals thanks to James' only presence. With a host of stars that will become free agents next summer – including Durant, Klay Thompson, Irving Kyrie, Al Horford, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and Kevin Love – he will be able to "get on board". encourage more players to join him.
By signing a four-year contract, James agrees to the Lakers, that they continue to do silly things or if none of these stars want to join him in Los Angeles. And, to be honest, he really was not going to the Lakers anyway.
James was committed to himself. If the championships to shine his legacy follow, so be it. But it was not the determining factor here. It could not be.
For 15 years, James has entertained everyone in basketball. He will continue to do that in Los Angeles. But by going there, he decided that it was time to make sure he was happy too.
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