LeBron has gained my respect. I hate to admit that, but he did.
He officially filed to change his number from 23 to 6, in honor of Michael Jordan. Classy move, Lebron, and even though I still don't think you are the best player in the NBA, you are now one of my most respected players (even if that doesn't count for much).
On a side note, does this mean LBJ is planning on staying in Cleveland? If he left for another team this summer, he could have just picked a new number for the new team. Only if he stays with Cleveland does he need to file a change of number with the NBA. Interesting...
LBJ would be stupid to stay in Cleveland. Right now, the only way he has a chance to be talked among the greatest to ever play the game would be to start winning some titles. And Cleveland is not well setup to do this.
Sure, they made some trades to help this season, but we must remember that their two main trades are 33 (Jamison) and 37 (Shaqtus). Does that look like they are set for the future? And the fact that the Cavs win a lot each year (without getting those titles) means that they will never get a high draft pick to help out LeBron.
The Bulls have a much better nucleus, they just need a star to push them over the top. The Knicks could sign two mega free agents. The Heat could keep Wade and sign LBJ. The Clippers could put LeBron with Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin.
Oh, and all of those cities are an infinite amount better than Cleveland, and provide the four largest markets in the NBA.
So while there is a good chance he stays, it would keep him out of the same breath as MJ, Kobe, Magic, Bird, and Wilt.
7 years ago
Can I just say that I am the one that gave you the idea for this blog... i was asking you all about it sunday
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that I read another sports blogger (from Yahoo, sorry if you feel like I betrayed you by reading another sports blogger, it just kind of popped up on the news section), and this character thinks that LBJ changed his number solely for jersey sales. He said that he saw how much it helped Kobe's sales, and did it for the same reason. He then went on to point out that number 6 also belongs to a pretty epic basketball player, who may or may not be considered the greatest defensive player of all time. Question: Did LBJ do this out of respect to MJ, out of jersey sale greed, out of both, or out of the closet?
ReplyDeleteI think he did it for both. But the fact that part of the reason was for MJ, which is the respectable part. LBJ even called out other players wearing 23 to change their numbers so that no player ever wears it again. Was that request for his jersey sales? I think not. So while there will be a definite boost in the sale of his jersey now, I still think a part of him did it for MJ.
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