
Queen of the Chessboard
Before he becomes a free-agent next summer, LeBron is already dictating the NBA’s landscape.
Last Friday, ESPN reported the bombshell of the NBA’s offseason: Kyrie Irving is demanding a trade from Cleveland. Granted, Kyrie Irving is one of the ten-best players in the NBA, as well as a superstar who possesses one of the three-best offensive skill-sets in the league. At 25 years-old, he is one of the NBA’s top-five most valuable assets; and for his position, Kyrie is arguably the best at-the-rim finisher in NBA history. The possibility that a player of Kyrie’s status is on the move, is enough to send shockwaves through the NBA. But his teammate, LeBron James, is the reason it’s become the biggest sports story at the moment.
LeBron shouldn’t have been more than a featured player in this story. But it’s LeBron, so he’s at the center of it. Following the initial report, we learned that LeBron was blind-sided by Kyrie’s requests. Subsequently, Stephen A. Smith’s sources told him that Kyrie’s camp believes LeBron had a hand in leaking the rumors; while LeBron’s camp has allegedly said that the star wants to “beat Kyrie’s ass.” And so, in four days, a seemingly friendly relationship has developed into this decade’s version of the Shaq and Kobe divorce.
In the summer of 2004, it was obvious that the Lakers had to choose between their two stars. Like LeBron and Kyrie, Shaq and Kobe were 32 and 25 years-old, respectively. The Lakers chose age and potential (Kobe), over past accomplishments and a known ceiling (Shaq). Unlike LeBron and Kyrie, the Lakers’ duo publicly despised one another. Further, the story surrounding trade talks was naturally dictated by the star with an age advantage; as Kobe held leverage in the franchise’ decisions. Although only Kyrie has expressed his distaste for playing with LeBron, the latter has remained quiet regarding his opinion of his teammate. Whether LeBron has had a hand in orchestrating the situation or not, it’s fascinating that a superstar at the end of his prime holds more power than one at the cusp of his. Then again, this is LeBron.
At a time when the NBA usually enters a period of dormancy, LeBron, by his unmatched influence, has once again claimed sole position of the NBA’s throne. Durant and the Warriors usurped him on the court six weeks ago. The fact that we’ve spent the entire offseason talking about LeBron, though, proves he has no peers.

Seven years on, “The Decision” remains one of the three most impactful off-court events in NBA history. With Magic’s AIDS-induced retirement in 1991, and Jordan’s first retirement in 1993, being the other two. In hindsight, LeBron’s decision to join the Heat has had far more impact on the league than those two combined. Simply, it’s paved the way for the Super-team era. Without it, we’ll never know if Dwight goes to LA, Durant leaves for GS, or if this summer’s superstars — Paul, George, and Butler — would’ve found new homes on championship contenders.
LeBron established the blueprint for the league’s current landscape — an environment in which superstars feel entitled to demand a trade the second they don’t like their current situation. It’s what we’re seeing right now with Kyrie. Ironically, the young star has stated that he wants to get out of LeBron’s shadow. In doing so, it simply shows how much he’s been influenced by his mentor.
It’s fascinating that this situation has been directly influenced by LeBron’s impending free-agency, considering that he is still one year away from being on the market. Based on talks around NBA circles, LeBron is leaving Cleveland next summer. Most likely, to join the Lakers. And so, it’s understandable why Kyrie wants to sever ties with the Cavs now, for he doesn’t want to be in a similar situation as Westbrook was following Durant’s departure last summer — alongside a collection of win-now veterans and bad contracts, which left the team in no-mans-land.

That being said, we forget this is all speculative. Yes, LeBron hasn’t dismissed the rumors. If he wasn’t leaving, he would’ve said so. Considering he hasn’t alluded to leaving, though, either, solidifies the power he has over the league. In other words, LeBron is the only player in the NBA who controls the entire landscape by his actions. As the rest of the league chases after an invincible opponent in the Warriors, LeBron possesses an ability to turn any team into an overnight contender. It’s the reason why Kyrie’s inevitable departure hasn’t led to us trying to find the Warriors’ closest combatant outside of Cleveland. Even at 32 years-old, potentially without a top-ten player playing alongside him, LeBron is still in power.
At the end of Game 5 of the NBA Finals, immediately after winning his first championship, Durant wasted no time praising LeBron. “He’s the only one I’ve been looking at since 2012,” Durant said. The moment solidified something fans have always known to be true. The generation of stars who came into the league at the beginning of LeBron’s prime — Durant, Harden, Westbrook, Curry, & Kawhi — would never admit it. But this much is indisputable — every one of them measures themselves against one guy. LeBron. Period.
Rightfully so, LeBron’s generational basketball skills has led us to overlook his transcendent abilities off-the-court. We’ve always known he’s possessed the power to command his own career trajectory. We’re now just understanding how significant this power is. Wherever LeBron goes, the rest of the league follows. Amidst the current Super-team era, there’s still one constant. Call him the King of the court, or Queen of the chessboard. More than anything though, LeBron’s still the only guy who can dominate the overarching sports conversation in late July. Just as it’s been for the last ten years, the fate of the NBA is determined by LeBron James.
