There is no doubt where LeBron James lies on the spectrum of talent and ability. At 6-foot-8, weighing in at 250 pounds, James on physical stature alone is among the best athletes the NBA has ever seen, if not the best. Add that with two NBA titles and four MVP awards at the age of 29, James has already solidified himself as one of the all-time greats.
But when James alluded to adding himself to his own "Mount Rushmore" of NBA greats in a recent interview with NBA TV, it came across as defensive. Not only because he decided to personally insert his name into the conversation, but because of the timing of the situation. Though James is approaching 30, he still has a long career ahead of him that will surely make or break this ordeal and there is no reason why he couldn't have waited until later to delve into this debate.
This insecurity has stemmed from a career that has been filled with criticism and never-ending expectations. Since first stepping onto the NBA hardwood, James has been labeled with the nickname "King James" in hopes of becoming the Michael Jordan of this generation and in a lot of ways, he has carried this chip on his shoulder throughout his career. Following a rough seven years with Cleveland, James has found himself in Miami since controversially taking his talents to South Beach, but it hasn't come without complications.
Following "The Decision," James took a lot of Heat despite donating $2.5 million to the Boys and Girls Club and has since been trying to begin a new chapter with the Heat. Of course his list of accolades since making the move has eased the tension quite a bit, but it is something to be considered when analyzing one's legacy.
Having said that, James is arguably already among the top 10 players to have donned an NBA jersey. In addition to the aforementioned accomplishments and his career average of 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists, James' ability to play nearly every position on the court are among the things that make him great for a lack of a better word. This is why James' comments were premature and this is why they will come off as insecure.
For a player that will likely continue to carry the burden of being the best player on the planet for the better part of his career, James needs to understand that actions will eventually speak louder than words. It is somewhat understandable for James to want to put himself out there with all the criticism and hate he has received over the years, but there is a good reason why Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird (all players on James' list) chose to not get involved in these discussions until after they retired, if at all. James has shed his forgettable past with the Cavaliers and he should do all that he can to keep it that way.
Up and coming players like Kevin Durant may be getting under the continually developing skin of James, especially with the way Durant has been playing as of late, but it still doesn't give a good reason for him to revert back to the ways that resembled him in a Cavalier uniform. James will go down as one of the all-time greats, it's just going to be a matter of when and where.
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