LeBron Is Not A Ring Chaser

[DuMa]

Break it down however you like, but this move cements the fact that LeBron should never be in discussion as the GOAT player in the NBA or anything close to it. Getting the ring isn't just about the act of winning it, the journey is also a huge part of things.

The fact that Jordan tried and failed so many times, was beaten up by the Pistons year-after-year, seemingly unable to get over the hump, facing questions about his ability to win and his selfishness... But, to stick with it and eventually get over that hump, that is part of what made him so great.

LeBron just quit on winning a title as the unquestioned best player on the team... He quit and decided to take a short-cut.

His legacy should and will reflect that.

that is true but i wouldnt said it in those 'quit' and 'shortcut' words. i believe he, wade and bosh SACRIFICED their legacies for a greater goal.

All in all, what he did today doesnt really define ring chaser at all, IMHO. theres a big difference what he is doing than Clyde, Charles, Gary and Karl did.

[PleezeBelieve]

There's a human on earth who doesn't believe what LeBron just did didn't cement his legacy as a quitter and the most weak-minded player in generations?

Seriously?

[Fatal9]

Dude...

Russell would never join Wilt. Kareem would never join Walton. Bird would never join Magic. MJ would never join Malone, Ewing, Hakeem, Barkley etc. Kobe damn sure would never join Wade or Lebron. And the way he did it...it wasn't a trade or through a draft but through free agency in his prime. Lebron had an option to win just as much with the Bulls, and take on other greater challenges and BEAT his contemporaries but instead he joined them on a super team. I wouldn't be surprised if Lebron threw that Celtic series on purpose just to get the chance to play with his buddies.

He showed that he is not a competitor. He doesn't want to beat his rivals, he wants to have a good time with them and chase rings. This type of ring chasing AT THIS AGE is unprecedented. Get the fukk outta here with defending his decision.

[Soundwave]

I guess the bigger picture is ... what difference does it make if you "luck" into a great situation like Magic/Kobe/Bird did where they were surrounded by other Hall of Fame level players right from day 1 ... versus getting to that another way?

That's not skill or talent on the player.

That's up to the front office and quite frankly luck.

So LeBron bypassed that, but the end result is you want a great player to play with other great players.

Who really cares how they get there. Now you can compare LeBron more fairly to "legacy" players because now he is in a situation comparable to Bird/Magic/Jordan/Kobe/Kareem etc.

Now he actually has a real no.2 and no.3 option to play with. Lets see what he can do.

[RedBlackAttack]

I'm shocked that anyone is actually defending LeBron's move, here. It is akin to Bird and Magic joining forces in the mid-80s. There is no justification for it, other than a misguided drive for rings.

I just can't believe it...

[mrhoopfan]

Hey, Lebron is 25 years old and technically single. Why spend your time in Cleveland when you could be in sunny Miami with beautiful weather, hot women, and no state taxes.........He'd be dumb to stay in cold Cleveland.

[RedBlackAttack]

Who really cares how they get there.

I care... And all fans that are schooled in the history of the game should care.

LeBron is an all-time great talent. Unfortunately, he doesn't even have high school junior varsity level competitiveness and that just became abundantly clear.

Through all of the contrived rivalries in the league like LeBron and Kobe, which has never been a 'real' rivalry and the guys never played well against each other, Wade-James was an actual, real, great rivalry.

They brought it against one-another each and every time.

So... Let's join the same team? Really?

Nice job, fellas.

[justin43]

Lets see . . . .

1. Leaving a franchise that you promised to win a ring with because you can't win there.

This doesn't make Lebron a ring chaser, only a quitter.

2. Joining a team with 2 other legit superstars and planning to take less money to do it in order to give franchise money for acquiring better players.

This doesn't sounds like a ring chaser?

[Soundwave]

I care... And all fans that are schooled in the history of the game should care.

LeBron is an all-time great talent. Unfortunately, he doesn't even have high school junior varsity level competitiveness and that just became abundantly clear.

Through all of the contrived rivalries in the league like LeBron and Kobe, which has never been a 'real' rivalry and the guys never played well against each other, Wade-James was an actual, real, great rivalry.

They brought it against one-another each and every time.

So... Let's join the same team? Really?

Nice job, fellas.

If you know anything about the history of the game, then tell me this ... how many players as good as LeBron James have had Mo Williams as their best 2nd option their first 7 seasons in the league?

Even Jordan had Pippen by this time.

[Soundwave]

Lets see . . . .

1. Leaving a franchise that you promised to win a ring with because you can't win there.

This doesn't make Lebron a ring chaser, only a quitter.

2. Joining a team with 2 other legit superstars and planning to take less money to do it in order to give franchise money for acquiring better players.

This doesn't sounds like a ring chaser?

Lemme ask you this ... are the Heat NBA champions with just Wade + Bosh?

Would you bet on them winning an NBA title?

*crickets*

[endandout]

This would be like Michael Jordan teaming up with Barkley and Malone, because he couldn't get past the Pistons.

Lebron is a chump, and history will view him as such.

u mad?

[DuMa]

Some more ring chasers.

Shaq in 2009-2010 (failed)
Ron Artest in 2009-2010 (succession)
Rasheed Wallace in 2009-2010 (failed)

[tpols]

soundwave how do you not understand man?

It's all about the competitive spirit. Thats why the 90s were so great. They're were one or two great players on a bunch of teams and they were all battling it out.

Lebron just gave up on being the leader, the messiah for a city in need, a champion, and possibly the GOAT title to join the heat and play with his buddies. His buddies!? He's supposed to be fighting to beat these guys like it's life or death, and he joins them? Thats messed up man. I can't respect that.

All of your comparisons with magic and bird and whatnot don't relate because those guys were placed in a situation and they made the best of it. They were all leaders that, if absent, their respective teams would have lost. Lebron, however, is teaming up with the number one player in the league! Do you understand that? That has NEVER happened before. The number one and number two top players in their primes have never been on the same team in the league. Then you throw in arguably the best PF in the league to play with them. There's just no comparison.

Face it, after this decision it has been shown lebron doesn't have the heart of a champion.

[Fatal9]

Barkley: "When you are 25, you shouldn't be piggybacking on other players"

[Sarcastic]

Anyone who defends this decision has no understanding of the history of the game, and what winning titles really means.