LeBron James said he’s concerned with chasing Michael Jordan, but the Golden State Warriors are coming for him.
LeBron James just had one of the most incredible NBA Finals series we’ve ever seen.
He led an inferior team to mount an improbable comeback, down 3-1, over the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. I say “inferior” because, top to bottom, the Warriors really were the better team. But the Cavaliers had the best player on the floor. It was a special one-in-a-lifetime performance.
More from Blue Man Hoop
- 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
- Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
- 7 players Golden State Warriors might replace Klay Thompson with by the trade deadline
- Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court
And he’ll need to repeat it to beat the revamped Warriors.
James is one of, if not, the greatest to ever step on a court. In my opinion, he’s the best talent in NBA history. Thirteen years into the league, he is a three-time champion with four MVPs. He’s done pretty much everything that can be done in the game of basketball. And it’s still not enough.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, James said “my motivation is this ghost I’m chasing. The ghost played in Chicago.”
It seems like an odd thing to say. I guess it makes some sense that James wants to surpass Chicago’s former MVP and hero especially now that he’s formed his super team in New Yo–what? It’s not that ghost? Oh…
LeBron James is chasing Derrick Rose Michael Jordan.
That’s admirable. He should want to be the best. That’s how he will be measured. James is playing for more than just trophies; he’s playing for a chance to be called the greatest ever. He’s playing for his legacy.
But before he chases ghosts, he has the living in front of him.
The Warriors have upgraded their roster in a major way. James’ Cavaliers barely bested Golden State in an incredible seven game series. A large part of their strategy was to double-team that hobbled Stephen Curry, pressure Klay Thompson, and collapse on the driving Draymond Green effectively forcing Harrison Barnes to be the hero.
And he couldn’t do it. So they replaced him with Kevin Durant.
James won last year’s Finals by just playing basketball. He didn’t worry about legacy or his record or any of it. He got down to basics and just hooped.
The Warriors are gunning for the top spot again. They have an incredible core four that are looking for revenge for all summer sixteen (if you read that in Drake’s voice, I love you so much). They have all the talent in the world (or, at least, most of it) and the drive to win.
They want James to get caught up in his legacy and get in his own head. Worrying about Jordan and trying to be like him won’t help James figure out how to guard two MVPs at the same time. Being concerned with Jordan–who isn’t at all–won’t help him figure how to shake the Warriors’ elite defense.
A rivalry has started and it can make or break him.
LeBron James is not Michael Jordan and that’s fine. He doesn’t play like him and his career path isn’t like his. He can strive to have Jordan’s success or, at least, something close to it.
Next: 5 reasons why Cousins will be a Warrior
James is 1-1 against Curry’s Warriors in the NBA Finals and a rematch is imminent, barring something catastrophic. He did a hell of a job beating them. It took some of the most incredible basketball anyone has ever played plus the Warriors having their worst three-game stretch in over two years to do it. Barely, but he did. And it was incredible.
But he shouldn’t be chasing Jordan–he should be chasing Curry, Durant, and the Warriors who are light years ahead.