The People v. Lebron: A Defense of the GOAT
On Tuesday morning, the 4-time MVP-winning, soon-to-be 30,000 point-scoring, self-appointed King of Akron took to Instagram with this congratulatory message to himself:
Looking past his oft-atrocious grammar, what stood out to most about this particular specimen of self-praise was that he posted it 7 points shy and 7 hours before that night’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, who boast the second-best defense in the NBA, but who would also — James presumed — allow him to score the last 7 points he needed to reach the milestone.
Ok sure, it’s been 11 years since the guy dropped less than 10 in a game (Cavs v. Bucks, Jan 6, 2007) — and sure, the only other player in league history with that kind of streak was the guy who probably prompted the G.O.A.T. acronym in the first place (see: Jordan, Michael)… but still, does he have to be so damned sure of himself?
More predictable than James’ perceived arrogance was the ruthless sports media’s response:
“The height of egomania,” cried Skip Bayless of Fox Sports.
“The ever-humble Lebron James congratulates himself … as the Cav’s continue to flounder,” echoed the editors of Barstool Sports (The Cavaliers lost 7 of their last 10 games).
Some Twitter fans got in on the mockery, too:
“Humility,” Confucius wrote, “is the solid foundation of all virtues.”
While it’s hard to argue with the Godfather of Eastern Ethics, one might not have to when reconciling Lebron’s braggadocio with a nearly-universal truth of all who strive for greatness. “Greatness,” great guy of note Frederick Douglass famously asserted, “consists in [one’s] ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.” It’s the italicized half of that sentiment that should redeem Lebron in the eyes of his many critics.
That James is a preternaturally able athlete, no one will deny.
He was being pro-scouted as a middle schooler in Akron, Ohio, which — I probably don’t need to point out — isn’t exactly the sexiest stopover on pro-scouting circuits.
He led his Saint Vincent-Saint Mary’s High School squad to 3-out-of-4 Ohio State Championships while earning every honor and magazine cover they could throw at him (and the year they didn’t win, they placed 2nd).
To list even a fraction of the accomplishments and records he’s set since entering the NBA would be exhausting, so I’ll pick 3 of the most impressive:
- Youngest player ever to win Rookie of the Year (age 19)
- 1st Place all-time in Career Plus/Minus (9.19; which basically means that when he’s on the floor, his team is always much better for it. 2nd place all-time is Jordan — more than a whole point below James at 8.09)
- Only player in NBA History to win the NBA Player of the Month Award 5 times in a single season (a season is only 6 months long).
But look beyond the stats and sensations — and see the story.
You’re a poor kid from a poor city; the only child born to a 16 year-old single-mom raising you on welfare. Your first 9 years are spent bouncing from one of mom’s friends’ couches to the next until — in the 4th grade — a local football coach looking for players takes notice of your abilities (and needs) and starts to become the father figure you’ve never known. You are small and meek and thus the world expects nothing of you, which means you’ll have to expect everything for yourself.
“The proper application of his powers to the things needed to be done.”
Ask anyone who ever coached him, Lebron’s the first to arrive at every practice and the last to leave — having also worked the hardest throughout.
Ask any teammate he ever had, he shoots only when he’s the best option. It’s no accident he’s the 12th all-time leader in assists (and 1st all-time as a forward).
Ask the forgiving fans of Cleveland — whose hearts were broken in 2010 when he left — how quickly they were restored 4 years later when he returned with 2 Championship trophies in-tow and a promise to deliver more to his home city (which he did, 2 seasons later).
Off the court, Lebron has been a loyal husband, father of 3, and friend — having employed or partnered with many of the guys he grew up with, all of whom are now multi-millionaires.
And yes, while he has sometimes made statements or appeared in press conferences that didn’t paint himself in the humblest of lights (‘The Decision’ has been dissected and retreaded aplenty), he’ll be far-better-remembered for raising many-millions of dollars for charities like the Boys and Girls Club, Children’s Defense Fund, After School All-Stars, and his own Lebron James Family Foundation in Akron, which — in addition to its regular charity work — recently partnered with the University of Akron to provide 2,300 children with full college scholarships… all while very-regularly taking very-public stances on social issues affecting disenfranchised communities.
“I always knew I was destined for greatness,” Oprah Winfrey has famously said. And she’s continued, “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
Why we’re so quick to sanctify a self-made TV mogul and vilify a self-made athlete — both of whom are ferociously loyal, charitable, confident, and above all grateful — escapes me. Why one is lauded for generosity while the other condemned for pomposity must boil down to gender or profession, for these 2 American heroes have carved remarkably similar paths and deserve all the self-praise they’ll afford themselves.
So I say to you, sports fan or nagging critic, get over yourself. I’d take a self-anointed King who remembers where he came from and who works tirelessly to empower future kings and queens over a jealous zealot any day.
Long live the King! #Lebron2020.
Thoughts? Feelings? Love to hear them in the comments section below!