Next generation impresses James
It’s reached a point where LeBron James requires his own All-Star Media Day. James was not present for last Saturday’s media session with his fellow All-Stars. Instead, he held a news conference hours before the tipoff of Sunday’s game and addressed several issues, including his future.
At 39, James had to acknowledge that his days in the league are numbered, regardless of how well he continues to play. The league is pondering who will take over as the face of the NBA. Jayson Tatum is a candidate, as are several other All-Stars.
“I don’t know, because when I came into the league, I didn’t look at myself as the face of anything,” James said. “I didn’t look at myself as the next Michael [Jordan] or the successor to Michael. When I came into the league, the first thing that I thought about was I have to start over now. I have built my rep in high school from my freshman year to my senior year, from being a 14year-old freshman, I was 6-2, 180 pounds, and I was like, OK, how can I make a name for myself at St. Vincent-St. Mary, all the way to my senior year, where I was the No. 1 player in the country.
“That’s the same thing I did when I got drafted. I did not come in with the mind-set I was the No. 1 player in the country still. I came in with the mind-set I have to start over and I’m just one of 450 guys. I think that’s what allowed me to build and build and build.”
The NBA is in good enough hands to move on without James as the centerpiece. At the time, commissioner David Stern and league executives were concerned about the retirement of Jordan, and then Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett became generational talents, and James joined as a dominant player months out of high school.
“I knew I was being put in a position that I was being the face of a franchise, NBA franchise, at 18 years old,” said James. “It was very stressful, and I knew the odds were stacked up against me and a lot of people wanted to see me fail. And I just kind of used that as motivation.
“But at the same time, understanding that I still have to be a professional. I know it’s a lot to ask from a teenager, but I wanted to represent my family with the utmost respect, represent my city with the utmost respect, do it on the floor at a high level, but also do it off the floor at a high level. Whatever came out of that, came out of that.”
The reality is the next face of the NBA could be an international player. Stars such as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Victor Wembanyama could take the league to new heights.
“We have a great young group of guys in our league right now that is playing spectacular basketball and also being great off the floor, as well,” James said. “But I don’t think you just say, OK, this guy’s the next person to be the face of anything. You have to just let it happen organically and then see what happens. But we have some great, great players in this league that can carry anything if they put their mind to it and they want it.”