Lebron James is one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball and anyone can make a very strong case that he’s first.
Things kind of changed when he made the move to take his talents to South Beach and win a couple of championships. There are a lot of people who thought he couldn’t win one after failing for so many years in Cleveland but he was still a great player and he likely at least wins one or more if he never leaves.
There are certain things that are canon in life and Lebron eventually winning a championship whether he goes to Miami or not is probably one of them.
And he believes that also.
With the Lakers on the road in South Beach, Lebron was asked about his time there via ESPN and said
“I think I would still be at this level no matter if I would’ve came here or not,” said the Los Angeles Lakers star, now in his 21st season, said. “Let’s not get it twisted: The four years I was here, it was amazing. I loved everything about it. Loved this franchise, this franchise is top tier, it’s one of the best franchises in the world.”
“But as far as my career, my career was going to be my career as far as individually, because I know how much I put into the game and I know how much I strived to be as great as I can be. [But] as far as what I was able to learn here was second to none, that’s for sure.”
“I came here for one reason and one reason only, and that was to win championships,” James said. “That was my only goal. That was the only reason I teamed up with [Dwyane] Wade and [Chris] Bosh. Because I felt like I couldn’t do it in Cleveland. We couldn’t. … I tried to recruit guys to come to Cleveland. I tried to go and help the upstairs and it wasn’t happening. So I had an opportunity to be a free agent so I did what I thought was best, not only for my career but for me at that point in time.”
“It was a culture change for me,” James said. “People talk about ‘Heat Culture’ — it was a culture change, period. I was changing everything about my life for the first time in my life. To be able to be here and be able to learn and be alongside D-Wade, UD [Udonis Haslem] and Spo [Erik Spoelstra] — those guys who had won it already — it definitely was great to be a part of, for sure.”
There is no doubt that going to Miami helped Lebron but he’s right, he would have been great anyone.
Doesn’t change Twitter (X) disagreeing though.
.@stephenasmith disagrees with LeBron's recent comments saying he'd be the same player without his Heat stint 👀
"What the hell is wrong with you LeBron? … Because he got to Miami and learned what it took to be a champion, he's been unstoppable since." pic.twitter.com/3FYN0QzPJr
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 7, 2023
@undisputed @RealSkipBayless
Lebron, if he never went to Miami… pic.twitter.com/lIsu1VpHEi— Ishur Will Knot (@IshurWillKnot) November 7, 2023
Lebron was always on the 🐐 trajectory. The Miami trip just facilitated it by perhaps one year. Jordan had stars on his team as well. Lebron’s Miami stint was an equivalent of what Jordan had in Chicago. Lebron would have 8 rings by now if he spent his whole career with Wade.
— Afro City (@Naijasvery) November 7, 2023
Micheal Jordan NEEDED Phil Jackson
LeBron didn’t Need Pat Riley, Erik, David Blatt, Mike Brown, Frank Vogel,, NONE of them..!
LeBron was gone be LEBRON with or Without Goin to Miami..!.!@FirstTake @ShannonSharpe @stephenasmith
— L1pp (@Tony_Lippett14) November 7, 2023
I agree with Shannon and Stephen A on this LeBron/Miami thing. Miami is where he learned to win. Had he not gone there and learned from D Wade, Riley, and them he might not have the rings.
— LBMD (@LBrothersMedia) November 7, 2023