Lebron has won my respect.

[rav123]

"Lebron has won my respect"

i lost even more respect for the guy (if that's possible) with that nauseating walk to the bench on the late time-out - dragging his leg like he was Willis Reed.

i'm sure he sprained his ankle or cramped up or whatever, but he played it for all it was worth

At least he didn't ask for a wheelchair...

Personally, I don't think Pierce was hamming it up in the '08 finals, nor was Lebron now. No real competitor will risk his team losing just for the sake of attention like that.

Is it common for world class athletes in their prime to just suddenly cramp up at the end of a long game?

Haven't really seen it in the NBA, but it happens in soccer and running (the longer distances e.g. 10,000m+) often-ish.

Even Jordan said it: "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'"

Ignoring the oft-repeated fact that almost every championship team has had multiple superstars, let me ask you this: who is the greater winner/competitor - the one who maximizes his chances of winning, or the one who doesn't (i.e. refuses all offers of effective help/declines to join up with possible allies etc.)?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Cramps ... gimme a break. He's supposedly cramping but comes down the court with no issues and drills a three -- then starts limping as he's going back on D. He's just playing possum. Just like Mike Miller a couple games ago -- dude's limping and holding his back on D, then comes down and nails a three without a hitch.  

[bandonox]

. Even Jordan said it: "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'"

Nobody would EVER...repeat... EVER... compare the trio of Bosh, LeBron, and Wade to Jordan, Bird and Magic..

If it were Rose, Kobe, and LeBron.. Or Lebron, Durant, and say... Howard... Different Story.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Cramps ... gimme a break. He's supposedly cramping but comes down the court with no issues and drills a three -- then starts limping as he's going back on D. He's just playing possum. Just like Mike Miller a couple games ago -- dude's limping and holding his back on D, then comes down and nails a three without a hitch.  

Just like Wade, falls to the ground as if he can't walk but after 20secs of rest he comes in playing just as he had before the "fall"! This is why I respect Bosh (I don't like him either)... at least when he falls down in real pain, he actually has to be out of the game(s) for a real injury! Everyone gets hurt and it takes a minute to regain themselves but REALLY, you act like you been shot and 30secs later you are playing just fine and only when you remember you are suppose to be hurt is when you act again!

[Freebo]

Yea, i still don't respect him. He is simply a media product, nothing else. This will be the year known as "Let's give LeBron a ring" year. And I'm confident there won't be a second one. Why? cause if he gets his ring, other ringless superstars will be born, they will be in the "Let's give some random superstar a ring" thing; I just hope, this trend doesn't carry on for long

[pp34isthe1]

I will NEVER respect LeBron James. He betrayed an entire city and basically showed he wasn't good enough to win without 2 other major superstars. Even Jordan said it: "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'"

Lets put it this way, you are Lebron James in the decision. This is your first real decision you have been able to make for your career since you declared for the NBA draft (even college took away that decision rendering you ineligible). Since you were 16 years old people have been capitalizing off of your talent and accomplishments. You have revitalized an organization and city. Some predict that your true value per season could be as much as 50mil. The franchise has grown in every area possible just because of YOU. And what is there to show for it. A joke for management that had barely fielded a mediocre team at best the years you have been there (oh and you took the worst team in who knows how long to the 2007 NBA finals). So there you are, the biggest decision of your career and it is finally in your hands. You can either a make less money (overall) and go through more years of management "trying" to put a supporting cast around you. Or you can capitalize on your true market value (endorsements,endorsements,endorsements), live in South Beach Miami and oh yeah play with 2 other players of all star caliber that would never happen in a million years in Cleveland. So more money, more potential championships, and its on a nice warm beach.

I think your decision Mr. James is quite clear.
_____________________________________________________________

1. I dont think Lebron handled the situation right and Cleveland should have got something more than what they did for him.

2. This is not Jordan, Bird, Magic days, its a new age and new NBA.

3. Its a game, people take this too serious. Not respecting someone because he made the best decision for his career and family is just ridiculous.

4. If you really dont respect Lebron James for what he did to Cleveland. I cant imagine how you respect the OKC Thunder for what they did to Seattle.

[Smutzy#9]

Is it common for world class athletes in their prime to just suddenly cramp up at the end of a long game?

Play AFL and you will see that athletes in their prime cramp like mofo's

[bfrombleacher]

I will NEVER respect LeBron James. He betrayed an entire city and basically showed he wasn't good enough to win without 2 other major superstars. Even Jordan said it: "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'"

Lets put it this way, you are Lebron James in the decision. This is your first real decision you have been able to make for your career since you declared for the NBA draft (even college took away that decision rendering you ineligible). Since you were 16 years old people have been capitalizing off of your talent and accomplishments. You have revitalized an organization and city. Some predict that your true value per season could be as much as 50mil. The franchise has grown in every area possible just because of YOU. And what is there to show for it. A joke for management that had barely fielded a mediocre team at best the years you have been there (oh and you took the worst team in who knows how long to the 2007 NBA finals). So there you are, the biggest decision of your career and it is finally in your hands. You can either a make less money (overall) and go through more years of management "trying" to put a supporting cast around you. Or you can capitalize on your true market value (endorsements,endorsements,endorsements), live in South Beach Miami and oh yeah play with 2 other players of all star caliber that would never happen in a million years in Cleveland. So more money, more potential championships, and its on a nice warm beach.

I think your decision Mr. James is quite clear.
_____________________________________________________________

1. I dont think Lebron handled the situation right and Cleveland should have got something more than what they did for him.

2. This is not Jordan, Bird, Magic days, its a new age and new NBA.

3. Its a game, people take this too serious. Not respecting someone because he made the best decision for his career and family is just ridiculous.

4. If you really dont respect Lebron James for what he did to Cleveland. I cant imagine how you respect the OKC Thunder for what they did to Seattle.

Yes. To tell the GM in private that I'm leaving Cleveland, sorry things haven't quite worked out.

[pp34isthe1]

I will NEVER respect LeBron James. He betrayed an entire city and basically showed he wasn't good enough to win without 2 other major superstars. Even Jordan said it: "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'"

Lets put it this way, you are Lebron James in the decision. This is your first real decision you have been able to make for your career since you declared for the NBA draft (even college took away that decision rendering you ineligible). Since you were 16 years old people have been capitalizing off of your talent and accomplishments. You have revitalized an organization and city. Some predict that your true value per season could be as much as 50mil. The franchise has grown in every area possible just because of YOU. And what is there to show for it. A joke for management that had barely fielded a mediocre team at best the years you have been there (oh and you took the worst team in who knows how long to the 2007 NBA finals). So there you are, the biggest decision of your career and it is finally in your hands. You can either a make less money (overall) and go through more years of management "trying" to put a supporting cast around you. Or you can capitalize on your true market value (endorsements,endorsements,endorsements), live in South Beach Miami and oh yeah play with 2 other players of all star caliber that would never happen in a million years in Cleveland. So more money, more potential championships, and its on a nice warm beach.

I think your decision Mr. James is quite clear.
_____________________________________________________________

1. I dont think Lebron handled the situation right and Cleveland should have got something more than what they did for him.

2. This is not Jordan, Bird, Magic days, its a new age and new NBA.

3. Its a game, people take this too serious. Not respecting someone because he made the best decision for his career and family is just ridiculous.

4. If you really dont respect Lebron James for what he did to Cleveland. I cant imagine how you respect the OKC Thunder for what they did to Seattle.

Yes. To tell the GM in private that I'm leaving Cleveland, sorry things haven't quite worked out.

If you really wanted to play devils advocate here, everything else in Lebron James life is under a light and camera. Why should his biggest career move be any different?

The decision is still the same either way. It could be hush hush for a few hours until the story breaks. I said I didnt think he handled it right, and he didnt it was a disaster. Ill agree it should have been a private ordeal but you cant blame the guy for going to Miami.

[Bahku]

He acts relatively maturely as long as he keeps getting away with murder when it comes to fouling other players, getting a whistle in his favor every time he goes to the hoop, and travelling whenever he feels like it without ramifications, (via his self-dubbed "crab dribble").

As long as the officials are in his pocket and not bothering his "flow", he's as happy as a pig-in-poop, and gracious as all get-out, (while he's winning) ... but as soon as calls start being made fairly and he gets into foul trouble, (which is about once a season), he throws a tantrum, or stares down the refs with a "How dare you!" look, (that would get anyone else a tech).

Sorry, but I will never respect this guy on any level until the league starts treating him with the same indifference, (or even moderation), that it does his opponents, (which will not happen in this century). It's easy to be magnanimous when things are going your way, and that's the only change taking place with Lebron, not some sudden transformation into maturity.

Please.

[bfrombleacher]

I will NEVER respect LeBron James. He betrayed an entire city and basically showed he wasn't good enough to win without 2 other major superstars. Even Jordan said it: "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'"

Lets put it this way, you are Lebron James in the decision. This is your first real decision you have been able to make for your career since you declared for the NBA draft (even college took away that decision rendering you ineligible). Since you were 16 years old people have been capitalizing off of your talent and accomplishments. You have revitalized an organization and city. Some predict that your true value per season could be as much as 50mil. The franchise has grown in every area possible just because of YOU. And what is there to show for it. A joke for management that had barely fielded a mediocre team at best the years you have been there (oh and you took the worst team in who knows how long to the 2007 NBA finals). So there you are, the biggest decision of your career and it is finally in your hands. You can either a make less money (overall) and go through more years of management "trying" to put a supporting cast around you. Or you can capitalize on your true market value (endorsements,endorsements,endorsements), live in South Beach Miami and oh yeah play with 2 other players of all star caliber that would never happen in a million years in Cleveland. So more money, more potential championships, and its on a nice warm beach.

I think your decision Mr. James is quite clear.
_____________________________________________________________

1. I dont think Lebron handled the situation right and Cleveland should have got something more than what they did for him.

2. This is not Jordan, Bird, Magic days, its a new age and new NBA.

3. Its a game, people take this too serious. Not respecting someone because he made the best decision for his career and family is just ridiculous.

4. If you really dont respect Lebron James for what he did to Cleveland. I cant imagine how you respect the OKC Thunder for what they did to Seattle.

Yes. To tell the GM in private that I'm leaving Cleveland, sorry things haven't quite worked out.

If you really wanted to play devils advocate here, everything else in Lebron James life is under a light and camera. Why should his biggest career move be any different?

The decision is still the same either way. It could be hush hush for a few hours until the story breaks. I said I didnt think he handled it right, and he didnt it was a disaster. Ill agree it should have been a private ordeal but you cant blame the guy for going to Miami.

That's the only gripe I have against him. That and the welcome party.

I don't think I've ever really changed my view on him. He's a good player but Stern is using him. And I agree with another poster in that if Stern weren't protecting him so much, the basketball would be so much better.

As always. Blame Stern. He's the worst.

[ACF]

I really, truly and seriously want to see what James can do when playing by the same rules as everyone else. No one is saying he is not a very gifted basketball player and if they are, they're just doing it to tease you. I want to see James be the best he can be, with calls on both ends and no superstar treatment. But, with Stern in charge, you just know it'll never happen. It's sad because it tarnishes the game of basketball. If I didn't love my Celtics so dang much, I would've walked away from all of this a loooooong time ago.

When LeBron is treated like everyone else, only then will I respect him.

PS. When he gets the ring, I'm going to make a list of all the players that have two rings and post it 

[Celtics4ever]

I agree, TP.

At this point it seems the league is so desperate for him to wim that they are subsidizing his play with the refs.   He is an elite talent of that there is no doubt.   But he has his own set of rules.

What I see alot is a spoiled brat that hasn't grown up despite being what 27?

[myteamisbetterthanyours]

You know who has won my respect? That kid on the playground who never wanted to risk losing so he always made sure to play with the other kid who was about as good as him, then they picked the next best guy and would say "What? You got Melvin! Melvin is good!"  That kid has won my respect.
Also those small countries that allied with Hitler even though he didn't need them. Hungary and Mussolini. They played a good game. They fought hard. They totally won my respect. And Jar Jar Binks.  And the Arab Sheik that bought every horse in the Kentucky Derby. And those guys on Wall Street that hedged their hedges with more hedges and then hedged some more and needed to be bailed out, then used the money to give themselves bonuses. They all earned my respect. Good game. Good effort.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

[twinbree]

The only thing he's winning from me is a Razzie for for that laughable attention grubbing performance.