The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
James reaches upper level of greatness
I’m just going to let Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff explain what makes LeBron James a great basketball player. He does it much better than any sports writer, so why get in his way?
“It’s easy to see, tough to explain, if that makes sense,” Bickerstaff said after practice Nov. 24 in Independence, one day before James and the Lakers made their only appearance in Cleveland this season.
“Greatness is more than individual basketball traits,” Bickerstaff continued. “There are a lot of good players in the NBA who can score points, who can rebound, who can pass, who can impact a game. There are very few players who have the magnitude and ability to change and carry franchises and organizations to a championship level, and that’s what he’s proven to be able to do wherever he’s been.”
The Cavaliers selected James with the first pick in the 2003 draft. After seven seasons in Cleveland he famously took his talents to South Beach, where he helped the Miami Heat win two NBA championships in four years. He re-signed with the Cavaliers in 2014 and in 2016 led them to their only league championship in franchise history.
James was on the move again in 2018. He signed with the Lakers — hard to believe this is already his sixth season in Los Angeles — and in 2020 helped them win their first league title in 10 years.
James’ grip on the emotions of his followers is impossible to measure. Cavs fans felt betrayed when he left Cleveland the first time, especially because he was so smug when he announced his decision on an ESPN special designed for the event. He was booed loudly and constantly when he was introduced and when he touched the ball during his time with the Heat.
Time and the 2016 championship have earned James forgiveness in the hearts of Cavs fans.
The visiting team is always introduced first at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. James was the last of the Lakers starters to be introduced on Nov. 25. The cheers for him were as loud if not louder than those for any Cavaliers starter.
During an early timeout, the Cavaliers showed a video tribute to James on the Humongotron. It featured everything from his rookie year in Cleveland, fresh out of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, to him passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring record and his many scoring milestones in between.
James was on the Lakers bench being rested when the tribute was shown. He waved to the crowd and then raised his arms and formed a heart symbol with the index finger and thumb of each hand.
Even with the game on the line, the fans at the FieldHouse were cheering James. He cut to the basket like a lightning flash from the right side of the court and slammed home a vicious dunk for a 117-112 Los Angeles lead with 1:12 to play. The Lakers won, 121-115.
The debate about whether the best player in NBA history is James or Michael Jordan has no answer. But these facts are undeniable: James has played the most minutes (11,690) of any player in league history — more than 2,000 minutes more than second place and retired Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. LeBron is the only player in NBA history with more than 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists.
James turns 39 on Dec. 30. He is the oldest active player in the NBA — 126 days older than P.J. Tucker of the Los Angeles Clippers. But James has 10 more years of wear on his tires. Tucker didn’t start playing in the NBA until 2012-13. And Tucker is averaging only 16 minutes a game this season.
James is averaging 34 minutes a game. He scored 22 points in 36 minutes against his former team on Nov. 25.
Seven Cavaliers have had their number retired: Austin Carr (34), Bingo Smith (7), Nate Thurmond (42), Zydrunas Ilgauskus (11), Mark Price (25), Larry Nance (22) and Brad Daugherty (43).
LeBron’s 23 will be retired someday. When that happens, he will have earned his own rafter.