While speaking in the Netflix docuseries ‘Starting 5’, LeBron James noted that he became the face of the NBA when he was 19 or 20 years old, pretty much when he entered the league. He added that the Cleveland Cavaliers gave him the keys to their franchise at a very young age, as soon as he was drafted by them.
“At around 19 or 20 years old, I realized I was the face of the NBA. I was given the keys to a franchise at 18 years old.”
LeBron James was made the franchise cornerstone by the Cleveland Cavaliers when he was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. It was an incredibly fortunate time for the Cavaliers, who were given the first overall pick in the lottery, and the best player in the pool was an incredible 18-year-old who happened to be from Akron.
LeBron James elevated the Cavaliers as soon as he arrived. He won the Rookie of the Year award, after averaging 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds. He then made his first All-Star and All-NBA team the following year and has yet to miss either selection since then.
In just four years after getting drafted, James took the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Unfortunately, James had no help, and the Cavaliers would be swept by the dominant San Antonio Spurs. This would be the final time James reached the NBA Finals with the Cavaliers in his first stint.
After an acrimonious exit from the Cavaliers in 2010 to join the Heat, James returned to the Cavaliers just four years later, and went on an incredible run with them, taking them to four consecutive NBA Finals, and leading them to overcome a 3-1 deficit and win the 2016 NBA championship.
James was undoubtedly the face of the NBA from the moment he entered the league. He took the throne from Michael Jordan, who retired for the third time just a few months before James entered the league. And one can argue that he has held that mantle to this day.
James continues to be the face of the NBA and still delivers performances worthy of that title. For his career, James has averaged 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, and has been able to do so while winning major accolades like 4 NBA championships and Finals MVPs, 4 MVPs, an NBA Cup and Cup Finals MVP, making 20 All-Star and All-NBA teams, along with 6 All-Defensive teams.
LeBron James Opens Up About Early Struggles
In the same segment, LeBron James also spoke about the struggles and difficulties the fame that the NBA brought him early in his career. While James was making a lot of money, and had the resources to do whatever he wanted, he wasn’t able to find any activity that he could enjoy without being scrutinized or harassed in public.
“Can you imagine being 18, 19, 20, or 21, having a bunch of money, able to do whatever you want, but not even being able to walk into a movie theater or amusement park?”
While people may glorify the life of an NBA superstar, perhaps due to the wealth or the fame, it cannot be easy to adjust to the incredible lack of privacy and increased media focus, especially at such a young age as LeBron James.
Luckily, James was able to manage this very well, and was able to find a healthy balance, while still working around his public and media commitments. Any future face of the NBA can look at the way James handled himself and learn from the blueprint he set.
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