re: How is it possible to admire Lebron James?

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How immature is he? Honestly? He's managed to make the transition from most hyped basketball prodigy ever to a successful pro without any real speed bumps. People give him crap for the Decision, which was a marketing miscalculation, but if the worst thing you ever do is exercise your free agent rights in a made for TV special that donates a million bucks to charity... you've done a great job in life.

honestly, it seems like he is remarkably well-adjusted for a guy who has lived his entire life as a public figure.

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+1


I don't understand this who "immature" argument. Because ESPN suckered him into "The Decision" - an event that raised $2.5 million for charity? If he had gone to Chicago, New York or stayed in Cleveland, nobody would have criticized it. But since he decided to play with 2 of his best friends in a city that people love to hate, he's a villain? Shaq, Wilt and Kareem all ran off to LA without being criticized. Kareem demanded a trade because Milwaukee didn't fit "his cultural needs". Wilt threatened to jump to the ABA. Wilt went to LA to date white women, because it was socially acceptable there. Shaq left Orlando for the bigger market, bigger contract, bigger endorsements and an opportunity to act in movies.

Where is the hate for Kobe who as a HS player had an agent that told the Charlotte Hornets it was "an impossibility" that he would ever play with them. And everybody likes to look past his philandering ways too.....just like Michael Jordan. Do you think MJ would have stuck around a small market like Cleveland or Charlotte while management surrounded him with shitty role players? Hell no. Both of those players stayed with their teams because they had support to win championships and that's where they could get their MAX contracts. LeBron took a paycut to come to Miami...but nobody talks about that. Where's the immaturity in that. And the stats he puts up are even more incredible when you think about the fact that whenever he handles the ball as a point forward he plays with a pass first mentality. I'm constantly amazes at what he is asked to do defensively whether it is shut down Derrick Rose at the point or play the 4 or 5 in a small lineup. I grew up a Celtics fan and Larry Bird is my favorite player of all time....but LeBron is the best all around player I have ever seen play the game and has never been in a lick of trouble. All the guy wants to do is hang with his friends and win.