A step-by-step breakdown of the similarities between the life of LeBron James and Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth.
Imagine a place called The Land: a once beautiful haven by the sea, where its best days are a distant memory, and its people have lost all hope for redemption. Now, picture an ordinary kid living on the wrong side of the tracks, knowing only stories of what the city once was. Unexpectedly, the kid meets a wise elder who tells him of a secret treasure that could cure his home forever. A treasure that is hidden far, far away. At first, the kid is scared to leave his home but eventually understands he must in order to save his people. On his adventure, the kid encounters many strange characters — some of whom help him on his quest but most who wish nothing but to see him fail. Before he reaches the treasure, the kid defeats his toughest enemies and overcomes his darkest fears. Through pain and adversity, the kid discovers who he truly is. He finally finds what he’s after and returns home with the treasure held high in his grasp. The ordinary kid has changed into the hero that will save The Land.
So what were you picturing? An ancient myth? An epic sci-fi adventure? A tale about a boy wizard? It’s a story you’ve probably heard a thousand times, right?
“The latest incarnation of Oedipus, the continued romance of Beauty and the Beast, stand this afternoon on the corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, waiting for the traffic light to change.” — Joseph Campbell
In 1949, scholar and mythologist Joseph Campbell released his seminal book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In it, Campbell studies the structure of many ancient myths throughout history and discovered that many of them share a similar storytelling pattern. They all followed one person’s journey from the ordinary to the transcendent. He called this template the Monomyth (which was later described as the Hero’s Journey) and detailed the societal importance of these epic quests in his book.
Once you know the steps of the hero’s journey (screenwriter Christopher Vogler condensed them down from 17 to 12, which I will use because I’m lazy) you will begin to see them everywhere — from the story of the Buddha to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). From Homer’s Iliad to Homer Simpson.
But not all heroes must be found in ancient myths or popular movies. If you look closer, they can be witnessed today in the real world. Maybe not standing on the corner of 42st Street and 5th Avenue as Campbell suggests, but instead, standing at center court in Cleveland, tossing their chalk up in the air before tip-off.
Act I. Separation
1. The Ordinary World: This is where the story begins, the only place the hero has ever known. The hero has no idea what adventures lie ahead.
On December 30, 1984, LeBron James is born to his 16-year-old mother Gloria, and to a father he will never meet. Gloria and LeBron struggle to find a stable home life and are forced to move around a dozen times before LeBron even reaches the age of 9. Since his birth, Gloria has been battling demons that make her incapable of providing the support her son needs. This would leave LeBron alone a lot of the time, and he would often find himself crashing on several of his family and friend’s couches.
The chances for most poor black kids in America making it out of the projects are, unfortunately, very slim. Studies show over 51% of black men who are born stay poor. Becoming a professional athlete is merely a pipe dream for many. The odds were stacked against LeBron. Just look at his situation. He was just another statistic.
Everything changed in the fourth grade when a local coach welcomed LeBron into his family. He joined the school’s football and basketball teams the next year and began to show real promise. As LeBron started to acclimate himself into a stable home life, his interest in organized sports started to develop and his athleticism soon followed suit. (He actually still preferred to play football over basketball.) It wasn’t until his junior year in high school that it became obvious to scouts, that LeBron had not only the potential to play in college but to jump straight to the NBA.
2. The Call to Adventure: This is where the hero is presented with adventure and has to choose whether they want to take on the challenge.
Cleveland, Ohio or “The Land” has not seen a professional championship since their Browns won the Super Bowl in 1964. The people of Cleveland needed a hero — a brave figure who would bring some pride back to the desperate city. A leader who could spark the hope that dwindled each time one of their teams lost in heartbreaking fashion.
So when the kid from Akron started making national headlines as a junior at St. Mary’s St. Vincent prep school, the people of Northeast Ohio felt they may have found their chosen one. But they still remained cautiously guarded. Even when LeBron decided to enter the draft, there was still no guarantee the struggling Cavaliers would end up with the first pick. (It was already a foregone conclusion around the league that he would be the top choice.) They did all they could to “achieve” the worst record in the league, but still tied with the Denver Nuggets at 17 wins, and had to share a 22.5% chance at the first pick. At the draft lottery, the Nuggets shockingly dropped to the third spot, leaving Cleveland and the Memphis Grizzlies as the only remaining teams. As deputy commissioner Russ Granik opened the envelope marked #2 he slowly revealed to the audience the Grizzlies’ bear logo. Cavaliers fans could finally relax. They had their kid and knew he would be staying in Northeast Ohio.
It didn’t take much time for LeBron’s athletic skills to reveal themselves as unmatched in the league. (In his first season, he lead his team in points and minutes played and won the Rookie of the Year award.) LeBron’s combination of playmaking ability and lockdown defense instantly brought on comparisons to Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan — two legends from the past whose legacies still haunted the NBA. He showed he was as good as the hype and eventually went beyond it.
After only a couple of seasons, LeBron slowly turned the lowly Cavaliers into playoff contenders and was awarded the Most Valuable Player award in 2009. He also became the face of the league alongside the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. (The NBA’s marketing team was probably ecstatic to have another star less polarizing than Bryant.) Fans would fall in love with not only the triple-doubles but also his affable personality. LeBron played with an enthusiasm that reflected his understanding of how lucky he was. It’s the reason why LeBron’s personal mantra became, “I’m not supposed to be here.” It’s because no one thought he would. Not even him.
But most Cleveland fans wanted more than just all-star appearances and clever Nike commercials. For all the acclaim and support given over the years, they demanded a championship in return. He quickly learned that the sports ethos in Northeast Ohio was still bigger than him, and would eventually find it difficult to handle the increasing pressure.
3. The Refusal of the Call: The part of the story where the hero will start to doubt if they have what it takes to overcome the challenge. It’s the first true test of character and will result in a loss of confidence. (It’s also where the hero will confront a group of characters known as the “Threshold Guardians”, who act as formidable antagonists in the hero’s way. In some stories, these characters may even become allies to the hero once they see their worth.)
The greatest prize, the championship trophy, continued to elude LeBron. Year after year, he would come up short against the Boston Celtics — a team made up of three future Hall of Fame players (And Rajon Rondo, an intelligent but slithery foil.) But after earning his second MVP and winning a league-best 64 wins in the 2009–10 season, LeBron and the Cavaliers were the odds-on favorites to win the NBA Finals. (The sports world, including Nike, prayed for a showdown between LeBron’s Cavaliers and Bryant’s Lakers.)
After defeating the Chicago Bulls in the first round, the familiar Boston Celtics awaited the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Through the first four games, LeBron was at his best, using his sheer force of power to mold each game’s style to better suit his team. It appeared the mighty Celtics were finally ready to be slain by the King. But the Celtics had other plans. With the all-around playmaking of Rondo, the Celtics fought their way back and tied up the series at two games apiece. It was a valiant effort but the Cleveland fans didn’t worry. They felt they had the best player on their side for once, and besides, this was more than just basketball. It was destiny.
But then something bizarre happened in the second half of Game 5. Something inside LeBron stopped him from taking back control of the series. LeBron was all of a sudden disinterested and confused on the court. It left the fans and the announcers stunned. They couldn’t understand why the game’s best player was giving up right before the finish line. Every theory after the Cavaliers nine-point loss was debated on every sports talk show and blog. (Including some gossipy rumors that you can find if you wish.) LeBron was never the same, and the Cavaliers eventually lost the series in six. The second the game was over, the kid from Akron stormed off the court, and removed his team’s jersey in a fit of rage.
For the first time in the kid’s life, the idea of home does not bring comfort, but self-doubt. They will begin to long for something else and seek guidance elsewhere. Unfortunately for Lebron, he will soon discover that his darkest days have yet to come.
4. Meeting the Mentor: This where the hero meets the older, wiser mentor who will guide them on their adventure.
After the embarrassing loss to the Celtics in 2010, the general consensus around the league was that LeBron was going to leave Cleveland in free agency. The feeling was LeBron had grown tired of the Cavaliers’ inability to acquire another marquee player. (Their next best player was first time All-Star Mo Williams, a solid perimeter scorer, but in no way a reliable second option like Scottie Pippen or Kobe Bryant.) Worst of all, owner Dan Gilbert and his front office never provided LeBron with the coaching staff he needed to take his career to the next level. It was clear LeBron needed change, and more importantly, needed help. But who would he turn to?
Enter Pat Riley.
Pat Riley, is considered one of the great leaders in NBA History. A former player turned Head coach, Riley won 5 rings with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980’s. He was now the General Manager of the Miami Heat and had won as their Head coach in 2006. Riley had an incredible ability to acquire top-flight talent for his teams and adapting the style of play to match the personnel. He was also adept at finding personal motivations for his players while still having them play as a cohesive unit. During the summer of 2010, Riley’s Heat team was attempting to re-sign Dwyane Wade, a perennial All-Star guard (And very close friend of LeBron’s) who had won a ring with another future hall of fame player in Shaquille O’Neal. In sum, the situation in Miami had everything that was sorely lacking for LeBron in Cleveland.
So after hearing Pat Riley’s sales pitch, along with a handful of other teams, LeBron had to make the biggest choice of his career: should he stay in Cleveland out of sheer loyalty? Or should leave his home, and play for a team that could curate the perfect environment for him to grow into a possible champion?
5. Crossing the Threshold: This is a defining moment for the hero, where they finally decide to take a leap of faith and set off for their life-altering adventure.
On July 8, 2010, LeBron had to make the most important decision of his life.
Was our hero ready to accept the challenge?
And so our hero decides to leave The Land and bring with him trusted sidekick and teammate James Jones on his journey to South Beach, where he will join the mentor Riley and other new allies that will guide him on his path to transcendence.
The real journey begins now…
(End of Act I)
