It’s been just over 24-hours since the end of the 2016 NBA Finals and you can still feel the effects of what happened at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.
If you close your eyes and listen closely you can hear two distinct things. First you can still here the noise resonating from Cleveland as the city celebrates its first professional sports championship since Jim Brown was lacing up for the Cleveland Browns in 1964.
The second thing you can notice is a deafening silence. A hush has fallen on the keyboards and voices of LeBron James haters across North America. Why? By bringing a championship back to his hometown two years after returning from Miami, LeBron has once again rewritten his chapter in the history books. This time though, he’s solidified himself as one of the greatest players to ever step foot on a basketball court. Whether you love him or hate him, his legacy has permanently changed.
Like many NBA legends, LeBron James’ career has been a series of narratives that has led him to this moment. We all know the story by now, LeBron was the prodigal son from Akron, Ohio fresh out of high school, destined to go #1 overall to his hometown Cavaliers in 2003 and turn everything around for his city by winning a title. Only to become the biggest villain in professional sports by taking his talents to south beach to win championships that he wasn’t able to deliver in Cleveland. Fans outside Miami booed relentlessly as LeBron lead the Heat to two championships, saying that LeBron took the easy way out, while the Cavaliers averaged a .311 win percentage.
But it would be his most recent chapter that will define LeBron for the rest of his life. Two years ago it seemed the writing was on the wall about how LeBron could only win with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh at his side. However, with three simple words LeBron once again rocked the basketball world “I’m coming home.” It’s remarkable how quickly things can unexpectedly change in the crazy world of sports.
The King returned home, as a more mature, developed super star looking to right his wrongs and finally deliver that elusive championship to “The Land.”
The stats have always been in James’ favour for being an all-time great. Among the countless accolades LeBron is the only player in NBA history to average at least 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists for their career and is the only player in NBA history to be in the top 10 all time in career playoff points, rebounds, assists and steals. But what always struck a nerve with fans and critics was never getting the job done in Cleveland.
The King was back in “The Land” leading the Cavs immediately to the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. LeBron averaged a MVP-like 35.8 points per game, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists against the Warriors despite losing teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to injuries. But once again it wasn’t enough as the Cavs fell 4-2 to Golden State. The critics came out in droves about how LeBron can’t finish games in the playoffs, how he doesn’t have the killer instinct as Michael Jordan and how LeBron can’t be in the same comparison as Jordan. All the comments and tweets just seemed to pour more fuel onto the fire.
This past season LeBron’s quest for a ring took a back seat in the minds of NBA fans as Kobe Bryant went on his farewell season and the Golden State Warriors won a record 73 wins with Steph Curry becoming the leagues first unanimous MVP. LeBron looked to prove to everyone that he was the more deserving MVP and put the notions to rest that Curry was surpassing him as the best player in the league. And what better way to do that than in the NBA Finals
LeBron once again guided the Cavs to the NBA Finals and began to take over against the Warriors averaging 29.7 points per game, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks. However, it still didn’t seem to be enough as the Cavs faced the brink of elimination down 3-1.That’s when LeBron showed everyone why he’s the King averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 3.5 steals and 3 blocks in Cleveland’s game 5 and 6 wins. LeBron was playing like a man possessed getting in the face of all who got in his way. Then to cap things off, in game 7 LeBron recorded his 15th career playoff triple-double (second to Magic Johnson) scoring 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. In doing so the Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to comeback from a 3-1 deficit and win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. He was named Finals MVP and became the second player next to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win Finals MVP for two different teams.
Winning changes everything, and in the blink of an eye 52-years of pain disappeared from the city of Cleveland and the weight of Cleveland was lifted off LeBron’s shoulders. After 13 years LeBron finally accomplished the one thing that has always eluded him, breaking the Cleveland curse with his third championship. His story has been rewritten from prodigal son, to villain, and now hero.
The King is back on his throne and no one can knock him off it.