I Don’t Want LeBron James Back In Cleveland
Catchy title, eh? I usually stay away from clickbait-adjace content, but this felt like it needed to be said, and I’ll say it again, a little differently. After getting to watch him in person, I can say I'd be excited to see him back in Cleveland next year, but LeBron needs to hang it up. Rumors have been flying for months, if not years, that he is willing to come back to the wine and gold and that the team in Rocket Arena is looking to make it happen. And that’s all well and good, but can we please discard this as something that should happen?
His bag of tricks aren't working in the post like they used to, his stanky leg shots are clanging iron instead of swishing, the ups aren’t upping the way they used to. Yes, he still has the best court vision in the league, and can throw a piss missle of a pass across the court when he identifies a cutter that the defense missed, but he isn't what he was and it resembled elder abuse last night at times. Young players like Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Jaylon Tyson had him in the washing machine last night, and while I like both players as dudes to varying degrees on a contending team like Cleveland, they are not at the level to be doing so much damage to James.
I'm not saying he's "hurting his legacy", because you can still very much enjoy his body of work from his over 20 years of NBA dominance, but you can tell that body is breaking down. Nobody should be able to play at his level for as long as he has and it's incredibly impressive that he’s done this for as many seasons with as many games played as he has, but man...I felt bad watching it last night. I do think he could be a productive player in the NBA for two to three more seasons, but strictly as a part-time player, and not even someone who could or should start games. And that’s not how he or anyone would want him to finish out his career. So often we see guys string out years of mercenary work, clinging to the hope that maybe this year will be different or adding them to a good roster is the final piece of the puzzle, and someone of LeBron’s stature would be a big piece to add to a lot of rosters, but again…nobody wants to see him become this shell of a player. And yes, it is striking that even with LeBron averaging 22/6/6 per game for the season is “a shell of a player”.
I really think after the Bubble Title in 2020, something changed for LeBron. He saw the fans’ sentiment change on him. It didn’t have the same meaning as other trophies he hoisted above his head, and the urge to eclipse Jordan’s title number became a soft desire instead of the overwhelming drive it had been. He saw that he needed to change up the goal, and rather than be the mover and shaker to get his teams to the heights required of his talent, he instead became “your favorite players’ favorite player”. The Luka Doncic trade was the cap on that: it was made not because of LeBron but in spite of him, a way for LA to remain relevant after The King laid up his crown.
No matter what happens the rest of this season with LeBron and whatever shenanigans occur in the offseason, he will always have a home in Cleveland. There’s a reason the arena exploded when Bronny James came in; the “We Want Bronny” chants were sincere, not sarcastic. He’s the son of our son, Simba to LeBron’s Mufasa, if you will, and watching him hit two threes and get a flush off a steal was special. Cleveland will always be home to the Jameses, no matter what jersey they may wear, but after watching the 41-year-old go circle to circle and struggle at times to layup a basket…the memories will suffice.
