Self-Proclaimed King Has Become the Court Jester

The Game Room
1

This season, and especially the post season Timberwolves series, has been a fitting punishment for the arrogant LeBron James who has become a faded caricature of the great player he once was. The self-proclaimed “Greatest” has become an old man who fakes getting fouled, flops and rolls on the floor, and screams at the refs. This quote from ESPN:

> The Timberwolves, who had been one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooting teams in the regular season, won despite one of the worst shooting performances in NBA history. The Wolves finished 7-of-47 (14.9%) from beyond the arc, the worst 3-point percentage in a playoff game in NBA history (minimum 40 attempts). Minnesota missed 18 straight 3s between the second and fourth quarters, tied for the second-most consecutive missed 3s in a playoff win since at least 1998.
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> Edwards was 0-for-11 from 3-point range, tied for the most attempts without a make in a playoff game all time.

Yet, the Lakers couldn’t win that game at home. The man who desperately wants the title of “The Greatest” needs to retire before he embarrasses himself any further and leaves that image in the eyes of the fans.

2

Thinking LeBron James has been the problem with the Lakers is definitely one of the thoughts of all time.

3

I absolutely love a statement of criticism that is based on absolutely nothing I said. My post wasn’t about “problems with the Lakers”, it was about HIM and what he has become and why he has become it.

If you want to go there, however, 4th quarter stats for LeBron James over games 4 and 5 of the Timberwolves series were horrible. In game 4, he was 0 for 2 with zero points. Game 5 wasn’t much better. That IS a problem.

4

It’s small and unbecoming of LeBron - 40 years old by now - to be whining and flopping to draw fouls. That’s not what an “old great” should do. That’s what some 22-year old second-stringer out of college should be doing.

5

In soccer and basketball, using theatrics to gain advantage has a long history. It may be immature, sportsmanlike or disgraceful, but team fans are unlikely to be complaining about it. It does not have great stigma, even though I agree with the original post.

6

True, but the Lakers and their fans do not define the health of the entire NBA and, according to the statistics and the NBA Hall of Fame commentators who have been discussing them, NBA viewership has declined sharply. Besides shameful theatrics, their regular season has become “load control”, which is a fancy term for taking numerous games off even though you are healthy, “lazy basketball” comprised of running up and down the court hoisting 3-pointer after 3-pointer even if they aren’t going in, and players who have one outstanding season and expect a guaranteed max contract that sets them up for life. The Bulls former player, Zach Lavine, is a prime example of that. We finally found a way to get rid of him.

7

The Lakers wouldn’t have been in the playoffs at all without James. It’s a common thing in sports, for some reason, for a team’s best players to get the most shit.

8

True, but for those held in high regard, and especially for those who hold themselves in the highest regard, much is expected. Many months ago, when he stated why he was going to play this year, he stated that he is still the best player in the NBA. So, he is being held to that standard.

9

Like how we think of Jordan we think about his time with the Wizards?

10

I was in high school, lived in a totally different region of the country, and didn’t really follow the NBA, so I can’t really address that. It is an interesting question, though. Perhaps others here could address it knowledgeably.

11

you just described like half the league. Draymond Green, Brunson, Harden, etc.

There is no doubt Lebron is not what he once was, and it is clear he now needs considerable help for any chance to win an NBA title. But the dude is literally 40 years old! He has been doing this a long time, and is still undoubtedly a top 30 player in the NBA. That in itself is amazing.

12

I disagree. He has carried this nonsense to a height all its own.

13

his hands are far from clean, but that is absurd. He’s not even the worst on his own team, that would be Luka!

14

James Harden has made a career out of it. LeBron does a lot of good off the court, so I give him some slack for that, but yeah, he needs to retire.

15

What he has become? He’s been just like this for the last decade, at least.

LeBron James is still the best player on the Lakers, cherry-picked criticisms aside. Doncic might be that guy next year, but he’ll have to figure out how to guard someone better than a rec league all-star before then.

16

It’s very clear the majority of the greatest athletes hold on after they’re not very good anymore, and that it’s apparent history doesn’t really care.

17

Did he borrow a coat from James Dean?

18

It’s amazing to me that, having come into the league at 18, he has now been an NBA player MOST OF HIS LIFE! He’s clearly not close to being “the best player in the league” anymore, but he’s also nowhere near “Jordan with the Wizards”-level embarrassing.

19

Jordan averaged 21.2 PPG in his two years with the Wizards. Hardly embarrassing.

20

Yes, and he didn’t flop all over the floor like a dying fish.