Nothing has changed about the NBA All-Star game. It’s the 24 best basketball players in the world (for the most part) playing a game of basketball. Sure, in recent years they’ve switched it up, having “captains” pick teams, playing with an alternate scoring system, etc…but this year they went back to the old format – East vs. West playing 4 quarters of basketball.
So how did it all get so boring and non-competitive?
My theory? One man is responsible – LeBron James.
See, since Michael Jordan became the face of the NBA in the late 80’s, taking the torch from Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the game and the powers that be realized that having a “face of the NBA” was an extremely profitable endeavor. Jordan not only sold shoes, he sold a brand. Having one single man rise above the rest, so clearly better than the competition, made Jordan, AND the NBA, have a sort of magical, untouchable like quality to it. Nobody could do what Jordan did, and it made him as close to a God on Earth as we’ve ever seen in the sports world.
But it wasn’t just because of how good Jordan was at basketball. It was the whole aura around him that made him so unique. His competitiveness. His drive. Yes, he was the most gifted athlete in his sport, but his will to win was second to none. THAT’S what gave Jordan his mystique. How could this one man get it done every single time when it mattered most? How could he be so invincible?
Fast forward to 2003. Michael Jordan had just retired for the 2nd time, a godsend to an NBA struggling for ratings after the 1st time he retired, and the game was looking for a new leader. Sure, you had Kobe, who was a humongous star in his own right, but most would argue he wasn’t even the best player/biggest star on his own team. Shaq was the one winning the Finals MVP. Shaq was the one starring in movies. Don’t get me wrong, Kobe was admired, but he wasn’t Jordan.
So here comes LeBron James, the “Chosen One.” The best high school basketball player since Lew Alcindor (later, of course, known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).
He was perfect.
His playing style was more like Magic than Jordan, and he was incredibly charismatic and mature for his age. Oh yeah, and he was built like a 10 year NBA vet by the time he was 16 years old.
Fast forward 20 years and there are many things you can say about LeBron James’ career. Bottom line – LeBron came into the NBA with the most pressure of any player that’s ever come into the league. And he’s going to leave the 2nd best basketball player to ever play the game. Not bad.
Ok wow, I’m glad that’s over. I puked in my mouth a little bit heaping that much praise onto LeBron. Let’s cut to the point, shall we?
LeBron James has made the NBA significantly worse in a number of important ways.
You can try and pretend like LeBron didn’t start the “Super Team” era, but I’m sorry, whatever point you try and bring up to counter that argument is bullshit. No, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joining a 24 win, Paul Pierce led Celtics team didn’t start this movement. The face of the league joining his best friend (who already led a team to a championship) in Miami did. It was a pussy move, plain and simple. It was a way for the heir apparent to Michael Jordan to chase rings. And it changed the competitive nature of the NBA forever.
Now look at what the NBA has become because of that. Kevin Durant chased rings. James Harden and Kyrie Irving demand trades every 6 months. The best basketball players in the world are afraid to compete. They take the easy way out because LeBron showed them how.
So think about what that does for a second? When the best player in the world takes the path of least resistance, what happens?
The rest of the league follows suit.
Their leader gave them permission to surrender their competitive integrity, and because of this, the league has gotten softer and softer as time goes on. The worst part? They’ve disguised it all under the blanket term, “Player empowerment.”
This inevitably trickles down to other areas as well.
“Player Empowerment” apparently also means these guys don’t have to actually do their jobs. Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, and James Harden get paid 50 million dollars a year to play basketball, yet this the first year in nearly half a decade any of these 3 will play over 60 games in a season. The biggest stars in the league playing 60 out of 82 games is suddenly something to celebrate. And the only reason they’re playing that many games is because there’s finally financial incentive to do so!
Yes, give LeBron credit, the man actually plays. But this mentality? The mentality that the stars deserve everything they get without working for it? Don’t get that part twisted. LeBron started that mindset.
Maybe I could learn to internalize this if it wasn’t for the incessant lying. Oh, the constant lying by this man.
Why LeBron? Why do you lie so goddamn much?
This latest lie might just take the cake:
Accepting praise? You have trouble ACCEPTING PRAISE?!?!? You call yourself the fucking “King” for fucks sake!!!
“The Godfather” lie is the funniest one by far. The man made it a point to get photographed holding “The Godfather” book as he walked into the locker room every game of the playoffs. A lot of people were then understandably confused when they saw he was only on the 1st page of the book every time he was holding it. Finally, it led to this hilarious lie (fast forward to 12 seconds in):
Why LeBron? What are you trying to prove?
This one is probably my favorite, just because of just how little self-awareness there must be inside this man’s brain:
Que one of the million of YouTube videos that exist of LeBron blatantly flopping:
Ok fine, LeBron lying constantly has nothing to do with the All-Star game sucking. I just wanted an excuse to call it out again. Sue me.
Thankfully, the “LeBron James Era” is coming to an end (we can only hope). Yes, he’s gonna stick around until Bronny undeservedly makes an NBA roster and he gets to play with/against him. And yes, he’s probably going to own an NBA team at some point. (The Las Vegas LeBron’s, anyone?) But now does finally seem like the appropriate time to start debating LeBron’s legacy.
I wanted to write this to make sure I was on the RIGHT side of history regarding that debate.
For all the “greatness” that LeBron imposed upon the NBA in his 20+ year career, there’s one thing that can’t be denied:
LeBron made the NBA soft.
So thank you, LeBron.
The NBA All-Star game (and the NBA in general) will forever be less competitive because of you.
-Mustache Man
