Has LeBron James Officially Reached GOAT Status?

Photo: USA Today

In the thirteen years that he has been in the NBA, LeBron James has been viewed in a variety of perspectives. He entered the league in 2003 as an 18 year-old phenom and the most promising star in what would be the final installment of players making the jump from high school to the pros. He even somewhat lucked up when he was drafted first by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who play just 40 minutes away from his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

During seven seasons with Cleveland — one of which included an unsuccessful title run — LeBron took the league by storm, and it was clear that he was who Kobe Bryant would be someday passing the torch to. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers front office couldn’t seem to put the right pieces around LeBron, so he spent his first tenure in Cleveland being the best player in the league on a team that was just never that good.

Like every other player in the NBA, LeBron James’ rookie contract would expire and he would be faced with the option of staying put or taking off. As we all know, he took off, (see The Decision) signed with the Miami Heat, and became the most vilified sports figure in Cleveland since Art Modell. Jerseys were burned. The big ‘Witness’ poster in downtown Cleveland was taken down. Hexes were put on LeBron. There was even the infamous Comic Sans letter written by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, calling LeBron a “coward” and promising that Cleveland would win a ring before he did.

That last part obviously didn’t happen.

In four seasons with Miami, LeBron James reached the NBA Finals every year — winning twice — and the Cleveland Cavaliers went back to being one of the worst basketball teams of all time. It was a rough four years for the city of Cleveland. Yeah, we got lucky and scored the #1 pick a few times. Kyrie Irving became the future of our franchise. But be clear, we still weren’t in the conversation when you talk about the best teams in the league; and we damn sure weren’t the juggernaut that LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were in Miami. But nonetheless, it was ‘Go Cavs’, unless you were one of those weirdos who left when LeBron did.

LeBron, of course, would eventually come back though, and he would come back with a mission: bring a championship to the city of Cleveland. This took him from despised villain to a hometown hero of sorts.

“First they love you, then hate you/Then they love you again/Same ones burnin’ your jersey/The same ones cheerin’ again” – Jerreau on “Make A Play”

The above line perfectly sums up Cleveland’s relationship with LeBron James, but what can you do? It’s Cleveland. We’re thirsty for a championship, even if it means pretending the hate we spewed toward LeBron never happened. In my best Rico (from Paid In Full) voice People get forgiven every day, b.

Speaking of championships, on June 19th, 2016, LeBron James and his Cavaliers knocked off the defending champion Golden State Warriors, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. If the Cavs had lost? LeBron might have had to pass the torch to Steph Curry. But since the Cavs won, LeBron’s legacy could very well trump the legacies of the two players people say he could never measure up to: Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

“But Michael Jordan has six rings. Kobe has five. LeBron is 3-4 in the NBA Finals.”

If you’re measuring greatness by how many rings a player has, well, that’s stupid. There are a ton of great players who have never tasted championship success. Allen Iverson doesn’t have a ring, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make a case as one of the best point guards to ever play. LeBron actually pulled this off against the Warriors, and now his legacy is arguably crazier than anyone’s. Take nothing away from Kobe and MJ — who is my favorite player of all-time — but with LeBron James, you have a guy who left town, because he wanted to win, came back home and PROMISED that he would bring a title back to the crib. He did that. He not only kept his word, but he did it after falling down 3-1 to the first ever unanimous MVP and the best team in NBA history.

There is no greater story.

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