The era of superteams may be over (for now), but its impact has left a permanent mark on the NBA.
Now, more than ever, players feel comfortable moving and hopping to environments that they feel are best suited to their talents. It’s becoming rare for a player to stick it out with a single franchise.
As for the community, there is still a negative stigma that gets attached to players who have teamed up with other stars in the past, and LeBron James is one of those who gets it the worst.
His decision to join the Heat in 2011 may be the most scrutinized free-agent move ever and it’s still considered a stain on his resume.
But one of James’ former teammates, Chris Bosh, recently defended Bron’s decision with some rather undeniable points…
(via The Old Man and The Three)
“The basketball fan base had an idea of how LeBron’s career was supposed to go,” Wade said. “And it was supposed to go like Michael Jordan’s career. Stay in Cleveland his entire time and win six to seven rings.
“(But) he had other ideas for his career and people, at that time, didn’t understand why would he do that. They looked at it as a weak move that he goes team up with another All-Star and another All-Star.”
“Free agency before that was not really sexy. When we made a decision as players and put the control in the players’ hands and change the dynamics of what people are used to, you’re always going to get hate.
“No one gives any backlash to the championships Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan won. Michael Jordan played with other Hall of Famers. You don’t win championships without playing with other guys that are great.”
Bron’s decision not only helped empower the players, but it also made free-agency more exciting the fans.
And while James had to move to team up with stars ( MJ allowed others to come to him), there’s nobody in league history who has won a Chip on his own. Jordan played with Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, and Kerr. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Kobe had Shaq. Stars coming together is just a part of the game.
So will this realization earn James any more respect? Probably not. But winning the title this year would certainly go a long way in making his case as the Greatest of All-Time. That may be the only way to silence the haters.
