What does another NBA Finals loss do to Lebron's Legacy ?

[PhoSita]

In the present, as long as he's employed by ESPN it does nothing.  He'll still be the top story on every Sports Center and he'll be on their webpage every second of every day.

In the future, it tarnishes his legacy quite a bit.  A day will come when LeBron isn't the "hot story" he is right now.  Other players will take his place as he ages.  And, in a decade or two, when people look back on his playing career, they'll see a championship (maybe two), but they'll also see one Finals loss, two Finals loss, three Finals loss...

This is all dependent on the Spurs winning this year's Finals, but... Duncan will be 5-0 in the Finals.  Even if they lose, he's 4-1.

We all know Jordan is 6-0.

Kobe is 5-2.

Bird is only 3-2.  Magic is only 5-4.

The point is that they ALL have winning records.  So, it's not so much that LeBron will have lost a Finals or two, it's that he'll potentially have a losing record in the Finals.  That tarnishes a legacy quite a bit.

I think it matters when you look at Bird and Magic that though they each lost a number of Finals, they were usually winning at the expense of the other.  That was an epic rivalry.  LeBron doesn't really have a rival like that yet.  If LeBron were meeting Durant in the Finals each year and they were taking turns winning, that would be different.

If LeBron loses this year he'll have been outplayed by Parker / Duncan twice and Nowitzki once, with his sole win coming against an inexperienced though very talented Thunder team.

[CelticConcourse]

Duncan, 5-0

KG, 1-0

Champs

[rondohondo]

Duncan, 5-0

KG, 1-0

Champs

kg 1-1

[LooseCannon]

It means that Lebron would replace Latrell Sprewell as the biggest choking hazard in NBA history.

[manl_lui]

1/4 in NBA Finals

He may use this as "At least I got 1 championship" vs the greats who never got one (Barkley, Stockton and Malone, Reggie Miller, etc, etc)

BUT

he can never be mentioned with the GREAT champions

Jordan (6/6)
Kobe (5/7)

etc

[Greenback]

All time great begin and end with Bill Russell.  11 titles in 13 years.

[CelticConcourse]

Duncan, 5-0

KG, 1-0

Champs

oops

kg 1-1

[Greenback]

Don't forget Bill Russell: 11 championships in 13 year - and one year he was hurt.

[sed522002]

I think it would be more a reflection against the Heat franchise. Lebron will get the brunt of the blame, but as a team it would say that they can only win against inexperienced teams in the Finals.

OKC was talented, but made crucial mistakes (especially Westbrook in game 1 or 2 can't remember)that inexperienced teams make. It wasn't a coincidence that the Heat's hardest series was against the C's (an experienced team).

It will also, bring Lebron back to human status and not this basketball cyborg sent to wreak havoc on the NBA.

[slamtheking]

it depends on how many he wins in his career (hopefully it's only the 1) but if he continues to lose in the finals regardless of how he tries to finagle having the team with the most impressive roster, IMHO his superhuman/best-in-the-world reputation will take a real hit.

a record of 1-2 with the Superfriends in the finals would certainly bring him back down to human levels since he can't point to a weak supporting cast as the reason he's losing (like he did in Cleveland)

winning establishes a player's greatness.  Losing on the biggest stage tears that down (if it occurs repeatedly).

I strongly disagree with this. Lebron is the best player in basketball right now, hands down. His team is just significantly overrated. Wade is showing his age and Bosh is nothing but a 7ft streaky jump shooter. I never really believed in the Heat, they cannot handle dominate post players, and putting all of the blame on Lebron isn't exactly fair. I don't think his supporting cast is really suited for his playing style. Lebron would thrive playing with a dominate 2 way big, someone like Duncan or KG and a sharpshooting 2-gaurd. Instead he has Bosh Spice and Dwayne "My body is giving up on me" Wade.

Lebron has elevated his game, he is one of the most complete basketball player to ever play the game. He can literally play all 5 positions. All of the greats had better teams built around them, yes Lebron chose to go to Miami and he thought it would be easy. Cleveland could of had a much better team if they drafted better from '04-'09. They picked Luke Jackson (over Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, JR Smith and Kevin Martin), Shannon Brown (who they basically traded away after 2 seasons), took JJ Hickson over Serge Ibaka....ect. Point being the Cavs organization had some major wiffs in building a contender around Lebron. So he grew impatient and left.

I agree he's the best player in the world right now however that doesn't make him 'great' and certainly doesn't make him a winner.   

He's had a lot of leeway/star-treatment from the league and the refs to help him get away with blatant fouling and other violations on the court as well as being allowed to collude with Wade and Bosh to form a 'superteam'  to try to ensure multiple titles (per their post signing interviews -- their own words on winning multiple titles).  His alibis for losing championships are losing credibility with each loss.   Critique the performance of his teammates (certainly valid) but the fact is that roster is loaded with players that are considered quality players including 2 all-stars (a top player in the NBA in Wade regardless of health and a top PF in the game in Bosh).

Great players win titles or overcome tremendous odds/obstacles to get the chance to try.  Lebron doesn't fit that description (at this time).  no sympathy for him either.  hard to root for the best player on the playground that handpicks his team of other great players and still fails to win.   

[blink]

I am not sure how much it will hurt his legacy.  Too soon to tell right now.  To me it seems like Wade and Bosh have both played pretty poorly for most of the playoffs.  Not really sure how 'super' LBJ's superfriends are anymore. 

[Celtics4ever]

It means that Lebron would replace Latrell Sprewell as the biggest choking hazard in NBA history.

He used to be a choke artist in 08-09.  I thought this was behind him.

I am not sure how much it will hurt his legacy.  Too soon to tell right now.  To me it seems like Wade and Bosh have both played pretty poorly for most of the playoffs.  Not really sure how 'super' LBJ's superfriends are anymore. 

When you claim to be the king and you fail, you take the blame.  You can't have it both ways. Almost of the time, he gets praise and told how great he is but when they lose, whether he has done his part or not, he will take the blame.

He is very arrogant and America loves to have a hero ( even a propped up one) fail.  That being said the series is far from over.

The league is under scrunity right now for the officiating.  So without his normal help and subsidy, he has failed before.

I would say without dubious calls in our series he would not be a champion.   

[Fafnir]

How did he choke in 08-09? He was amazing that post-season, even hit an insane game winning 3 in the ECF...

09-10, 10-11 I can see the case for....