Yahoo!: LeBron's unbearable attitude with Team USA and Nike's warning...

[Jordan-esque]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...eeagency071610

A different discussion had played out within the NBA and USA Basketball: What should we do with LeBron?

From Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski to managing director Jerry Colangelo to NBA elders, the issue of James’ immaturity and downright disrespectfulness had become a consuming topic on the march to the Olympics. The course of history could’ve changed dramatically, because there was a real risk that James wouldn’t be brought to Beijing based on fears his monumental talents weren’t worth the daily grind of dealing with him.

When the mandate had been to gather these immense egos and get the NBA’s greatest players to fit into a program, no one had a more difficult time meshing into the framework than James. Other players made it a point to learn the names of staffers and modestly go about their business without barking orders and brash demands.

No one could stand James as a 19-year-old in the 2004 Athens Olympics, nor the 2006 World Championships. Officials feared James could become the instigator of everything they wanted to rid themselves for the ’08 Olympics.

For as gifted as James was, Krzyzewski and Colangelo subscribed to a belief that with Kobe Bryant(notes) joining the national team in 2007, they could win a gold medal in ’08 with or without LeBron James. Behind the scenes, officials had taken to calling James’ inner circle, “The Enablers.” No one ever told him to grow up. No one ever challenged him. And yet, James was still a powerful pull for his teammates, and everyone had to agree they could no longer let his bossy and belittling act go unchecked. These weren’t the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Team USA wasn’t beholden to him.

After the NBA witnessed the behavior of James and his business manager Maverick Carter during the 2007 All-Star Weekend, the commissioner’s office sent word to USA Basketball the league wouldn’t force James on them for the Olympics.

Before Team USA gathered for the 2007 Tournament of the Americas in Las Vegas, an unmistakable message had been delivered to James through Nike: Unless you change, we’re serious about leaving you home.

“Legacies were on the line,” one league official said, “and they weren’t going to let LeBron [expletive] it up for everyone in China.”

Through Nike, James ultimately heeded the message and made himself more tolerable to coaches, teammates and staff. Team USA assigned Jason Kidd(notes) to babysit him at the Tournament of the Americas in 2007, to try to teach him something the Cavaliers never had a veteran to do: professionalism.

Whoa! Even Nike had to tell LeBron to change his attitude or they'd drop him!?

Apparently this piece coincides with ESPN's Henry Abbott:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/print?id=17297

Way back in Team USA 2006, Mike Krzyzewski's coaching staff -- D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Jim Boeheim -- were asked to vote on which players to cut first to get down to the 15-player traveling roster. They ended up cutting Shawn Marion, Adam Morrison and Luke Ridnour.

But, as I reported in 2006, three out of four members of that staff voted to make LeBron James the first player cut. It has never been made public which coach voted which way, and Mike D'Antoni would not comment on the topic now.

[game3524]

And everyone said AI and Marbury were the cancers on the 2004 team.....

[Mr Clutch Melo]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer

[heyhey]

And everyone said AI and Marbury were the cancers on the 2004 team.....

Lebron is the biggest cancer in the NBA. That's just real brah.

[TheLogo]

I love it.

This article just prove that he is Lebronze.

They can win gold because Kobe joined the team, as quoted from above by the coaching staff.

[TheLogo]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer

there is no proof that Coack K loved this guy.

Coack K is a good guy and he won't say anything bad on camera. I think Coack K really dislikes Lebron.

Let's be honest, Lebron isn't a Duke type of player. He's childish and selfish.

[D-Rose]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer

That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard. Woj is one of the best NBA writers in the world and is highly respected by others in the media all around the league.

Get out of here with your BS just because Woj is rippin LeDiva a new one.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

somehow... this does not surprise.

[Mr Clutch Melo]

That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard. Woj is one of the best NBA writers in the world and is highly respected by others in the media all around the league.

Get out of here with your BS just because Woj is rippin LeDiva a new one.

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers

[joyner82]

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers

Actually WOJ is probably the best NBA journalist there is..he breaks every story

[Andrei89]

I love it.

This article just prove that he is Lebronze.

They can win gold because Kobe joined the team, as quoted from above by the coaching staff.

Another post about kobe

so insecure

[Batz]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?

[Steve212]

Would this have came out if he stayed in Cleveland?

[D-Rose]

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers

Haha, get a clue. Forget LeBron or this story at all, Woj routinely writes some of the best pieces about the league and is one of the best insiders as well. not to mention he's a NY Times bestselling author. GTFO of here if you don't know what you're talking about.

Lol Nuggets fans, you will never win anything, Melo knows it too that's why he hasn't signed the enormous extension offer

[TheLogo]

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers

lol @ you and the Lebron huggers....Every journalist is a bad writer if they write bad about Lebron.

lol @ calling people Kobe huggers because we agree on an article saying bad things about him.