Yahoo!: LeBron's unbearable attitude with Team USA and Nike's warning...

[Jordan-esque]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Asisw0B7dxxElRE6rxc2p.C8vLYF?slug=aw-heatfreeagency071610


A different discussion had played out within the NBA and USA Basketball: What should we do with LeBron?

From Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski to managing director Jerry Colangelo to NBA elders, the issue of James’ immaturity and downright disrespectfulness had become a consuming topic on the march to the Olympics. The course of history could’ve changed dramatically, because there was a real risk that James wouldn’t be brought to Beijing based on fears his monumental talents weren’t worth the daily grind of dealing with him.

When the mandate had been to gather these immense egos and get the NBA’s greatest players to fit into a program, no one had a more difficult time meshing into the framework than James. Other players made it a point to learn the names of staffers and modestly go about their business without barking orders and brash demands.

No one could stand James as a 19-year-old in the 2004 Athens Olympics, nor the 2006 World Championships. Officials feared James could become the instigator of everything they wanted to rid themselves for the ’08 Olympics.

For as gifted as James was, Krzyzewski and Colangelo subscribed to a belief that with Kobe Bryant(notes) joining the national team in 2007, they could win a gold medal in ’08 with or without LeBron James. Behind the scenes, officials had taken to calling James’ inner circle, “The Enablers.” No one ever told him to grow up. No one ever challenged him. And yet, James was still a powerful pull for his teammates, and everyone had to agree they could no longer let his bossy and belittling act go unchecked. These weren’t the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Team USA wasn’t beholden to him.

After the NBA witnessed the behavior of James and his business manager Maverick Carter during the 2007 All-Star Weekend, the commissioner’s office sent word to USA Basketball the league wouldn’t force James on them for the Olympics.

Before Team USA gathered for the 2007 Tournament of the Americas in Las Vegas, an unmistakable message had been delivered to James through Nike: Unless you change, we’re serious about leaving you home.

“Legacies were on the line,” one league official said, “and they weren’t going to let LeBron [expletive] it up for everyone in China.”

Through Nike, James ultimately heeded the message and made himself more tolerable to coaches, teammates and staff. Team USA assigned Jason Kidd(notes) to babysit him at the Tournament of the Americas in 2007, to try to teach him something the Cavaliers never had a veteran to do: professionalism.


Whoa! Even Nike had to tell LeBron to change his attitude or they'd drop him!?

Apparently this piece coincides with ESPN's Henry Abbott:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/print?id=17297


Way back in Team USA 2006, Mike Krzyzewski's coaching staff -- D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Jim Boeheim -- were asked to vote on which players to cut first to get down to the 15-player traveling roster. They ended up cutting Shawn Marion, Adam Morrison and Luke Ridnour.

But, as I reported in 2006, three out of four members of that staff voted to make LeBron James the first player cut. It has never been made public which coach voted which way, and Mike D'Antoni would not comment on the topic now.

[game3524]

:roll:

And everyone said AI and Marbury were the cancers on the 2004 team.....

[Mr Clutch Melo]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer

[heyhey]

:roll:

And everyone said AI and Marbury were the cancers on the 2004 team.....

Lebron is the biggest cancer in the NBA. That's just real brah.

[TheLogo]

I love it.

This article just prove that he is Lebronze.

They can win gold because Kobe joined the team, as quoted from above by the coaching staff.

[TheLogo]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer

there is no proof that Coack K loved this guy.

Coack K is a good guy and he won't say anything bad on camera. I think Coack K really dislikes Lebron.

Let's be honest, Lebron isn't a Duke type of player. He's childish and selfish.

[D-Rose]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer
:roll:

That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard. Woj is one of the best NBA writers in the world and is highly respected by others in the media all around the league.

Get out of here with your BS just because Woj is rippin LeDiva a new one.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

somehow... this does not surprise.

[Mr Clutch Melo]

:roll:

That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard. Woj is one of the best NBA writers in the world and is highly respected by others in the media all around the league.

Get out of here with your BS just because Woj is rippin LeDiva a new one.

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers :roll: Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers :oldlol:

[joyner82]

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers :roll: Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers :oldlol:

Actually WOJ is probably the best NBA journalist there is..he breaks every story

[Andrei89]

I love it.

This article just prove that he is Lebronze.

They can win gold because Kobe joined the team, as quoted from above by the coaching staff.

Another post about kobe

so insecure:lol

[Batz]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?

[Steve212]

Would this have came out if he stayed in Cleveland?

[D-Rose]

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers :roll: Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers :oldlol:
Haha, get a clue. Forget LeBron or this story at all, Woj routinely writes some of the best pieces about the league and is one of the best insiders as well. not to mention he's a NY Times bestselling author. GTFO of here if you don't know what you're talking about.

Lol Nuggets fans, you will never win anything, Melo knows it too that's why he hasn't signed the enormous extension offer :roll:

[TheLogo]

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers :roll: Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers :oldlol:

lol @ you and the Lebron huggers....Every journalist is a bad writer if they write bad about Lebron.

lol @ calling people Kobe huggers because we agree on an article saying bad things about him.

[game3524]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?

Someone from the Cavs obivously leaked this or is just lying.......

[TheLogo]

Another post about kobe

so insecure:lol

stalking much?

[Andrei89]

Why so insecure?:lol

Just trying to see your ongoing streak of mentioning kobe in every thread that ain't related to him

Why so insecure?

[TheLogo]

Why so insecure?:lol

follow the crumbs my pet


.. . . .. .. . ............................. .... . . . ... ...... .. . . .... .......... ... . .... ........... .... ... . . . . .................. . . .. .. . . . ....... ....... ....... . . .. .. .

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?

I read that as being about the 08 olympics.
so, 2 years to come out.

[Andrei89]

Still insecure

god damn stop:roll:

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

why do I get the feeling that we are going to start seeing more "dirt" on Lebron.

I suppose the real insiders feel that they no longer have to protect his image?

[Jordan-esque]

More from the article:


Through Nike, James ultimately heeded the message and became more tolerable to coaches, teammates and staff. Team USA assigned Jason Kidd(notes) to babysit him at the Tournament of the Americas in 2007, to try to teach him something the Cavaliers never had a veteran to do: professionalism.


Baby sitter Kidd.

[Poodle]

whats pretty laughable about this article is he doesn't give any specifics. just generalizes how bad of an attitude lebron had, but i'd love to hear any confirmation of this from coach k, colangelo, or even anyone on that olympic team. it just doesn't make sense to me a 19 yr old lebron would act so cocky, and i honestly don't believe it.

its also a good point why this came out so late, and nobody ever read anything to this effect when it happened. it would've been a big talking about, and at least 1 of the players would've anon talked about it to some reporter. just really hard to believe this, doesn't add up.

[TheLogo]

.. . ... . . . . ... . ... ..... .... ... .. . ... ... .. . . . .. . . .

[jlitt]

:roll:

And everyone said AI and Marbury were the cancers on the 2004 team.....


AI a cancer? Him and Duncan were the only high profile players to actually want to represent their country at the olympics. AI played his guts out and was easily our most consistent performer. So just remember while kobe and tmac vince shaq garnett kidd ray allen elton brand all said no AI said yes.

[Batz]

More from the article:



Baby sitter Kidd.
:roll:

[Allstar24]

Why are Nuggets fans so obsessed with Kobe's nuts? Is it because he OWNS them year after year? Anytime they can't come up with a proper response, they bring up "Kobe ******gers". Not even one decent Nuggets fan on this forum...what a shame.

Anyways I think this article is full of shit. I've never heard anyone on team usa having an issue with Lebron. Interesting that they bring it up now...and not when it supposedly happened. Yahoo Sports sucks.

[game3524]

AI a cancer? Him and Duncan were the only high profile players to actually want to represent their country at the olympics. AI played his guts out and was easily our most consistent performer. So just remember while kobe and tmac vince shaq garnett kidd ray allen elton brand all said no AI said yes.

I know that, it is just funny how Iverson wasn't allowed to tryout for the 2008 team because he was a bad influence when the real jackass was Lebron James.:lol

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

Why so insecure?:lol

Just trying to see your ongoing streak of mentioning kobe in every thread that ain't related to him

Why so insecure?

pretty sure the article mentioned Kobe.... that if they had Kobe, they would feel more comfortable dumping Lebron..or something like that.

[twolvesfan]

:roll:

That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard. Woj is one of the best NBA writers in the world and is highly respected by others in the media all around the league.

Get out of here with your BS just because Woj is rippin LeDiva a new one.
:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: . Woj may be respected but he writes a lot more BS articles than factual articles.

[Cangri]

whats pretty laughable about this article is he doesn't give any specifics. just generalizes how bad of an attitude lebron had, but i'd love to hear any confirmation of this from coach k, colangelo, or even anyone on that olympic team. it just doesn't make sense to me a 19 yr old lebron would act so cocky, and i honestly don't believe it.

its also a good point why this came out so late, and nobody ever read anything to this effect when it happened. it would've been a big talking about, and at least 1 of the players would've anon talked about it to some reporter. just really hard to believe this, doesn't add up.
My exact thoughts, hope someone from Team USA comes out to talk about this...

[Indian guy]

Those are some very vague statements. He was "demanding" and had a "bad attitude"? Became "tolerable" to teammates and coaches? OK :rolleyes:. Are they talking about the same player who has never had a teammate say a single negative word against him? Coach K also went out his way to proclaim LeBron the leader of Team USA in Beijing and couldn't stop gushing about him the entire tournament.

Woj IS respected, but anyone familiar with his history knows he has a serious axe to grind when it comes to LeBron. He's been obsessed with tearing the guy down for a very long time.

[craiye]

I think this cements my theory that LeBron ****ed Adrian Woj's mother and this is his way of getting back. Everything he writes about LeBron is childish and immature. This man has some serious hate.

I like most of what he says if it's not a Lebron article. He clearly can't keep his bias in check and has been writing about Lebron nonstop this summer. He needs to get laid.

[Lakers13]

Well we already knew this kid was like this, but why did it take this long to come out? Its like dog pile on LeBreezy now lol

[King Lebron LBJ]

:oldlol: What a load of BS.

[cotdt]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?

In 6 more years, I wouldn't be surprised if Lebron is seen as a cancer.

[game3524]

And here comes the Bron fanclub........

[YouGotServed]

I'm starting to believe LeBron had an even bigger ego than Kobe Bryant as a teenager.

[JM720]

why do I get the feeling that we are going to start seeing more "dirt" on Lebron.

I suppose the real insiders feel that they no longer have to protect his image?

Always happens sooner or later, the media turns. Next you will be hearing the random cheating and women stories pop up...

[Poodle]

And here comes the Bron fanclub........


sorry being a lebron fan right now is being ballsy, considering the bandwagon is with the haters.

[Dwade305]

Perfect timing to print this garbage article.

NBA switching on Lebron is the new marketing tool. Hey it worked on Kobe right:confusedshrug:

[game3524]

Always happens sooner or later, the media turns. Next you will be hearing the random cheating and women stories pop up...

All we need is Mike Brown to write a book "The last season"......

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

Laker fans so happy they get some dirt on Lebron

Maybe then ppl forget Kobe rapes white girls and has beefs with everyone:lol

funny?? :confusedshrug:

[InsideGame]

Laker fans so happy they get some dirt on Lebron

Maybe then ppl forget Kobe rapes white girls and has beefs with everyone:lol

umad?

btw, accused is not the same as being guilty. Kobe has his fair share of haters because he competes with rivals, he doesn't join them.

[wang4three]

Haha, this article makes Riles look like the league's Calipari.

[game3524]

The most telling statement was how Lebron was surprised Rose didn't kiss his ass and beg for him to come to Chicago. ****, is this what has happen to superstars in the NBA today, you think Bird or Magic would want someone to beg for them?

[jlitt]

Haha, this article makes Riles look like the league's Calipari.


IMpossible. Riley unfortunately has 6 nba ring, and because of that he can't be held in the same regard as Calipari. If only riley would have lost more..... damn shame.

[Poodle]

The most telling statement was how Lebron was surprised Rose didn't kiss his ass and beg for him to come to Chicago. ****, is this what has happen to superstars in the NBA today, you think Bird or Magic would want someone to beg for them?


rose just didn't want someone to take all of his shots away i bet.

[game3524]

rose just didn't want someone to take all of his shots away i bet.

:roll:

I doubt that, Rose coaches had to convince him to take shots. The dude sounds like he has marbles in his mouth, but he is really unselfish.

[Jordan-esque]

Apparently this is not the 1st time.

From ESPN's Henry Abbott who recently wrote a LeBron > Kobe article.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/print?id=17297


Team USA way back in 2006, Mike Krzyzewski's coaching staff -- D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Jim Boeheim -- were asked to vote on which players to cut first to get down to the 15-player traveling roster. They ended up cutting Shawn Marion, Adam Morrison and Luke Ridnour.

But, as I reported in 2006, three out of four members of that staff voted to make LeBron James the first player cut. It has never been made public which coach voted which way, and Mike D'Antoni would not comment on the topic now.

[Poodle]

:roll:

I doubt that, Rose coaches had to convince him to take shots. The dude sounds like he has marbles in his mouth, but he is really unselfish.


i find that hard to believe. Rose shot a LOT last season. seemed he had little to no faith in his teammates, and i don't believe the coaches made him do that more than him. a lot of times he looked frustrated and took it himself :confusedshrug:

[wang4three]

IMpossible. Riley unfortunately has 6 nba ring, and because of that he can't be held in the same regard as Calipari. If only riley would have lost more..... damn shame.

It has nothing to do with the rings. It has to do with potentially offering jobs to LeBron's friends as a recruitment tool and other possible foul play during the recruitment process. I could care less of Riley won 15 rings, that's not what I'm trying to compare here.

[Carbine]

People evolve. Why does it matter what LeBron was like in 2004, or 2006? He became a great leader.

Read up.


MACAO, July 30, 2008 -- LeBron James is the third youngest player on the U.S. Men's Senior National Team roster. But he's definitely the most vocal.

When asked about his team's leaders on Tuesday, Coach Mike Krzyzewski mentioned the two obvious (and the two oldest) ones, Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant, but also included James.

"This is his sixth NBA season," Krzyzewski said of James' growth as a leader. "There's a big difference there."

And there's a difference to any observer who's been around this team for the last three years. James was a not-so commanding leader in 2006 before Bryant and Kidd joined the team, and deferred to them somewhat last year, but as they prepare for the 2008 Olympics, he has clearly taken the reigns as an informal captain of the squad (no formal captain will be named).

"He's talking a lot more," said Chris Bosh, who played on the '06 team. "He's been very active and very vocal."

As can be seen in this video, Krzyzewski wants LeBron to lead. And as can be seen by observing practice, Krzyzewski is getting what he wants.

Including the 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Championships and 2007 FIBA Americas Tournament, James has played in 27 games for the U.S. Senior National Team. That's more than any of his teammates except Kidd. And James, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony are the only ones to have played each of the last three years under Krzyzewski.

"He knows Coach K's system," Carlos Boozer said today. "He's very familiar with it and he's taken it by the horns."

Watching James take control of this team, you forget that he's 23 years old. You forget that Michael Jordan had already won Olympic gold when he was born. You forget that he could easily be leading the U.S. Team four and eight years from now, and still be in his prime at the 2016 Olympics, wherever they may be.

You forget it because of how he acts. He's the first to pick up the intensity when practice begins. He's the first to tell a teammate where he needs to be on the floor. He's the one they ask when they forget a play.

"I think a big plus for our team is how vocal he is and how much he talks," Deron Williams said, "especially on defense."

The entire U.S. Team, from top to bottom, will tell you that defense is what will determine how they do at in Beijing. And with only one true big on the floor at a time, James size and presence is key in keeping opponents out of the paint. And with communication being a key to team defense, his willingness to talk can only be beneficial.

"When he's keying our whole defense from the baseline and being vocal like that," Williams continued, "it helps [the guards] out."

James could easily take the role of the best player on the team (or second-best, depending on your viewpoint) and cite his youth or the presence of nine older guys as a reason not to be vocal. He could just be the talented and fun-loving kid who keeps his teammates loose while more intense guys like Bryant keep them focused. It's likely that no one would complain if that was the case.

But it's not. He's the one keeping them both loose and focused. And he's certainly focused himself.

With disappointing third-place finishes with the national team in both '04 and '06, critics have given James a certain label by adding a "ze" to the end of his first name. He's clearly determined to remove it this summer.

And he's making sure that his teammates will help him out.

[game3524]

i find that hard to believe. Rose shot a LOT last season. seemed he had little to no faith in his teammates, and i don't believe the coaches made him do that more than him. a lot of times he looked frustrated and took it himself :confusedshrug:

Because Vinny told him to take more shots, shooting is not something Rose likes to do.

[ReturnofJPR]

LeB!tch strikes again! :roll:

[Poodle]

Because Vinny told him to take more shots, shooting is not something Rose likes to do.


lmao you can't be serious. now you've lost credibility with that statement. Rose is a score first guard, he sure as hell isn't nearly the distributor as he is scorer. its one of my biggest criticisms of his decision making actually...

[game3524]

lmao you can't be serious. now you've lost credibility with that statement. Rose is a score first guard, he sure as hell isn't nearly the distributor as he is scorer. its one of my biggest criticisms of his decision making actually...

You haven't been following the Bulls then, Rose doesn't like to shoot first, he isn't comfortable in that role. Vinny had to convince him to take more shots, the whole notion he was upset that Lebron would take his shots his away is absurd.

[ReturnofJPR]

The most telling statement was how Lebron was surprised Rose didn't kiss his ass and beg for him to come to Chicago. ****, is this what has happen to superstars in the NBA today, you think Bird or Magic would want someone to beg for them?


Where did you get this from? Sounds like BS...

[Lakers13]

People evolve. Why does it matter what LeBron was like in 2004, or 2006? He became a great leader.

Read up.


Are you Maverick Carter? :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[Basketball Fan]

Would this have came out if he stayed in Cleveland?



No but I also think it wouldn't have come out had he not done that epic fail of a special either. Which is the real problem here.

That being said I don't care for LeBron as much as the next person but honestly I can't really cheer on the media for piling on when in reality they knew this and covered for him to begin with. Now they want to flip the script. Typical build them up then tear them down.

But difference is LeBron let himself be torn down to begin with.

[ReturnofJPR]

Are you Maverick Carter? :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

He sold his Bron charm for $5 at a garage sale in Akron. :lol

[OldSchoolBBall]

Look who wrote the article. HUGE Kobe homer right there, does Kobe fluff pieces once per week during the season. Not surprising that he'd want to tar Lebron in any way possible. In fact, before I even clicked on the link, I said to myself "I bet this is Adrian Woj-a-whatever". Seriously, I knew it'd be him.

[game3524]

Where did you get this from? Sounds like BS...

For everything the Bulls tried to sell

[Poodle]

You haven't been following the Bulls then, Rose doesn't like to shoot first, he isn't comfortable in that role. Vinny had to convince him to take more shots, the whole notion he was upset that Lebron would take his shots his away is absurd.


honestly i've watched the bulls a LOT. you aren't going to tell me what isn't true. to say Rose doesn't like to shoot is like saying AI doesn't like to shoot. there is no way you can seriously say Rose is a pass first guard, or even thinks of himself that way given the way he plays. just no way. thats absurd.

[ReturnofJPR]

[QUOTE=game3524]For everything the Bulls tried to sell

[niko]

Cleveland has seven years of Lebron acting like a tool (and them rewarding it which they probably won't mention). This stuff is goign to be flowing out for quite a while.

[Carbine]

Are you Maverick Carter? :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

It's just sad that people care about what LeBron was like 4-6 years ago. Why should anyone be surprised a 19 year old and 21 year old doesn't have great leadership skills?

I guess if you're a dumbass or hater, you would make a big deal of it and create a thread.

[game3524]

honestly i've watched the bulls a LOT. you aren't going to tell me what isn't true. to say Rose doesn't like to shoot is like saying AI doesn't like to shoot. there is no way you can seriously say Rose is a pass first guard, or even thinks of himself that way given the way he plays. just no way. thats absurd.

I never said he was a pass first PG, I said he is not comfortable taking a ton of shots, that is why it is stupid to say he was afraid Lebron would take shots away from him, he would most likely welcome it.

[Jordan-esque]

Look who wrote the article. HUGE Kobe homer right there, does Kobe fluff pieces once per week during the season. Not surprising that he'd want to tar Lebron in any way possible. In fact, before I even clicked on the link, I said to myself "I bet this is Adrian Woj-a-whatever". Seriously, I knew it'd be him.
Truth vs Homerism

Henry Abbott = huge LeBron homer

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/print?id=17297


Team USA way back in Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski's coaching staff -- D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Jim Boeheim -- were asked to vote on which players to cut first to get down to the 15-player traveling roster. They ended up cutting Shawn Marion, Adam Morrison and Luke Ridnour.

But, as I reported in 2006, three out of four members of that staff voted to make LeBron James the first player cut. It has never been made public which coach voted which way, and Mike D'Antoni would not comment on the topic now.

[game3524]

It's just sad that people care about what LeBron was like 4-6 years ago. Why should anyone be surprised a 19 year old and 21 year old doesn't have great leadership skills?

I guess if you're a dumbass or hater, you would make a big deal of it and create a thread.

He is 25 and he still apparently acts like this, really just look how he handled himself with "The Decision".

[RedBlackAttack]

How about this over-looked part of the article...

[QUOTE]The franchise was in complete upheaval, and Gilbert had the Cavaliers trying everything possible to impress a non-responsive James. The Cavaliers star had started to fully distance himself from the organization. He refused to get on the phone and discuss his future with Michigan State

[Carbine]

He is 25 and he still apparently acts like this, really just look how he handled himself with "The Decision".

What he does off the court has no reflection of his leadership in the locker room and on the court.

And there is no evidence that he is a poor leader right now - in fact everything I have seen or read from people around him is that he's a GREAT leader at this point in his career, at 25 years old.

[chazzy]

Look who wrote the article. HUGE Kobe homer right there, does Kobe fluff pieces once per week during the season. Not surprising that he'd want to tar Lebron in any way possible. In fact, before I even clicked on the link, I said to myself "I bet this is Adrian Woj-a-whatever". Seriously, I knew it'd be him.

Ripping Lebron is the trendy thing to do right now. He was the same with Kobe a couple years ago: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-kobe052907

[bagelred]

Haven't even read article yet, but this guy Adrian Woj HATES Lebron James, so of course, I was not surprised to see him as author.

Now I'll read it......:lol

[Funnyfuka]

great, profound read. Says it all. Lebron is as selfish and egoitstical as riley and wade, they should do well together.

Sex, money, who*res and beaches, drugs and dunks.

[DropStep]

First Kobe, now Lebron. The media will make you or break you. Lebron better start winning some championships while scoring 40 ppg or he is gonna have alot of more articles like this.

Guy rising popularity like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose should be very afraid.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

It's just sad that people care about what LeBron was like 4-6 years ago. Why should anyone be surprised a 19 year old and 21 year old doesn't have great leadership skills?

I guess if you're a dumbass or hater, you would make a big deal of it and create a thread.

that was 2 years ago.

[Carbine]

that was 2 years ago.

The original article posted in this thread is basically ripping on LeBron for being a terrible, immature, full of himself 19 and 21 year old.....

Since then, at 23, which was the 2008 Olympics, and two years later at 25... he has become a great leader. Is he still full of himself and an attention whore? Yeah, but that's not a surprise to anyone. So basically, this is just another hate LeBron thread which should be deleted by the mods.

I can't wait for LeBron to sh!t on everyone. He's the type of guy to make an opposing team crumble if you chalenge him verbally, like most fans will do via chant.

[crisoner]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer


And just how the f*ck do you of all people know that?

You're pathetic.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

The original article posted in this thread is basically ripping on LeBron for being a terrible, immature, full of himself 19 and 21 year old.....

Since then, at 23, which was the 2008 Olympics, and two years later at 25... he has become a great leader. Is he still full of himself and an attention whore? Yeah, but that's not a surprise to anyone. So basically, this is just another hate LeBron thread which should be deleted by the mods.

I can't wait for LeBron to sh!t on everyone. He's the type of guy to make an opposing team crumble if you chalenge him verbally, like most fans will do via chant.

I think the point of the article was that 2 years ago, Lebron was an asshole and they considered throwing him off the team...and had Kidd babysit him.
So has he changed in 2 years? If so, not very much, imo.

[Mr Clutch Melo]

And just how the f*ck do you of all people know that?

You're pathetic.

You dumb f*ck . The writer is just like you, a Kobe dickrider and he HATES Lebron. He is trying to take advantage of the situation and raise Kobes status.

STFU now

[RedBlackAttack]

The original article posted in this thread is basically ripping on LeBron for being a terrible, immature, full of himself 19 and 21 year old.....

Since then, at 23, which was the 2008 Olympics, and two years later at 25... he has become a great leader. Is he still full of himself and an attention whore? Yeah, but that's not a surprise to anyone. So basically, this is just another hate LeBron thread which should be deleted by the mods.

I can't wait for LeBron to sh!t on everyone. He's the type of guy to make an opposing team crumble if you chalenge him verbally, like most fans will do via chant.
I've been one of James' biggest critics over the last few months, but the idea that him winning in Miami will surprise me or devastate me... On the contrary, I will be shocked if the Heat don't win titles almost immediately.

For all of his faults, James is still far-and-away the best basketball player on the planet in my eyes and his talent on the court can not be overstated.

As for deleting the thread... I'm trying my best to stay on top of redundant threads, but there is an active discussion going on, here... You would probably be surprised at how many LeBron and/or Heat related threads I delete each day.

Just to keep the forum as cleaned up as it is now, it is almost a full-time job. :oldlol:

[kentatm]

did anyone actually read the article or are there just a ton of people talking about something they didn't even read?

There is some really interesting stuff in there.


Within an hour of the Cavaliers’ season ending in Boston, James’ inner circle, including power broker William Wesley, agent Leon Rose and business manager Maverick Carter, stood outside the visiting locker room grumbling about coach Mike Brown.

James had wanted Brown gone a year earlier after the Cavs lost in the Eastern Conference finals to the Orlando Magic – despite Brown guiding Cleveland to 66 victories while winning the league’s Coach of the Year award. Ferry debated Gilbert to keep Brown. He won out, but Ferry knew it would be tough to make that case again in 2010. Every decision the Cavaliers made had to be run past James. He didn’t always get to decide, but he had to be consulted.

This time, Gilbert believed he had to fire Brown to have a chance of re-signing James. When he was fired, Brown purposely left his star’s name out of a public statement of thanks. He knew James had led the movement for his dismissal for more than two years and Brown no longer needed to pretend that he liked, or respected James.



Before the Cavaliers ever reached out to him, Izzo turned down a less lucrative offer to coach the Chicago Bulls. James wasn’t returning Gilbert’s calls and messages – never mind willing to talk with Izzo. Before Izzo finally turned down Gilbert, he was delivered a direct line to two of James’ close NBA friends, who told him he should only take the job with an expectation he’ll never coach James in Cleveland. Gilbert tried to sell Izzo, but the coach feared there wasn’t a single influential official in the Cavs organization who truly had a relationship with James.



For everything the Bulls tried to sell – from owner Jerry Reinsdorf to GM Gar Forman to coach Tom Thibodeau – there had been one thing that troubled James’ about the Bulls pitch: Derrick Rose(notes) never called and tried to recruit him.

Chicago officials never directly requested Rose to reach out with a call, and the young point guard felt James could’ve always reached out to him had he wanted to discuss the possibility of playing together. James needed to be courted, needed to be wooed and apparently it surprised him there was a star who wasn’t falling over himself to do that.



Wade wasn’t allowed to recruit for the Heat before the end of the NBA Finals, because he was still a Heat employee. Yet before the end of the Finals, there were two June meetings that involved Wade and members of James’ inner circle – one in Ohio and another in Chicago. The NBA doesn’t seem interested in pursuing a tampering probe, but a senior NBA official wants the league to investigate whether Riley promised James employment and benefits to members of his camp.

“The bigger issue is salary-cap circumvention,” one top NBA front-office executive told Yahoo!. “You can’t promise jobs or preferential services outside of a contract or a job for a friend. If that’s part of the deal, it’s a violation.”


Wade and Bosh made public their choices on July 7 and waited for word that would soon quietly come to them: LeBron was on his way to Miami , the greatest coup in free-agent history complete. Later that day, Carter was on the phone with free agent Mike Miller(notes) telling him that James was going to Miami and that he needed to join them as a sharpshooter playing off the three stars.

Back in Akron, James still wanted to go through his live hourlong television show on July 8 to announce his decision. This had been Maverick Carter’s big idea, his production, and still people around him worried about the fallout in Cleveland. Several friends told James this was a bad idea to do to his hometown, that leaving the Cavaliers live on national television would make this a public-relations disaster for him.


The TV event had delivered hope to the Cavaliers that they would keep James because they never believed he would go on air and open himself to such a visceral reaction.

Better than anyone, they knew LeBron James could sometimes be so unaware of the world outside his own needs, his own yes men. Nearly two years later, the whispers in the back of the bus rolling through Beijing had become the loudest statement in free-agency history. The telephone call to the Cleveland Cavaliers came minutes before the 9 p.m. show, and somehow the news still shocked them. LeBron James was leaving, and the truth finally washed over owner Dan Gilbert and his front office: James had been gone a long time. They just never wanted to believe it.

[Carbine]

I think the point of the article was that 2 years ago, Lebron was an asshole and they considered throwing him off the team...and had Kidd babysit him.
So has he changed in 2 years? If so, not very much, imo.

Please show me where it says anything about LeBron in 2008.

All I see are comments about him when he was 19 and 21 years old.

"No one could stand James as a 19-year-old in the 2004 Athens Olympics, nor the 2006 World Championships. Officials feared James could become the instigator of everything they wanted to rid themselves for the

[PP34Deuce]

My perspective on the situations people talk about...

Derek Rose is not a guy who wants to take 20-25 shots, hes a guy who will do whats best for the team in that his defensive potential shows in a close game, and his Must win attitude. Lead a final four Memphis team as a freshmen. I do think hes a combo guard with good PG skills.

I dont know about the lebron thing, but I do know the bulls do not tolerate diva's. Its been well known by people within that organization that James already was 75percent Miami Bound and Chicago would not accomadate his entourage of people like he wanted.

The articles about Team USA doesnt make me think less of him. Its sad how the media is, but they do cover things up like the mafia. James hasnt been in trouble with the law but I have heard hes just as much a partier as other nBA players. hes cheats, and he smokes weed. hes just a functional partier that knows when to get down to business.

People forget Michael Jordan was a big asshole. He didnt do charity for the city of chicago.Any type of charity(goodwill) Chicago had was by BJ Armstong,Pipp,Grant. Michael was a womanizer(True story he hit on my aunt at a CHicago Bar) And he was a gambler who I truely believe gambled on NBA games. He gave Chicago 6 championships and did his job.

Lets just forcus on Lebron James doing his job, because the HOF guys like MAgic,Jordan,Barkley, dealt with SERIOUS skeletons.

Lebron needs to seriously watch out for his "inner circle" because when shit hits the fan, loyalty is gone. Look at MC Hammer, Michael Vick....

[RedBlackAttack]

Please show me where it says anything about LeBron in 2008.

All I see are comments about him when he was 19 and 21 years old.

"No one could stand James as a 19-year-old in the 2004 Athens Olympics, nor the 2006 World Championships. Officials feared James could become the instigator of everything they wanted to rid themselves for the ’08 Olympics."

That's basically the meat and potatoes of the article. It's all about what people thought of James at a 19, and 21 year old....nothing to do with 2008.
There are comments from sources about how Cleveland basically had to bend over backwards for him and about how he didn't have the concentration for normal film study, so Cleveland had to tailor those sessions around James... Make them brief.

Also, the thing about Mike Brown not included James when he went public after his dismissal.

Those aren't necessarily things that are indicative of a d!ckhead, but interesting nonetheless.

[kentatm]

That's basically the meat and potatoes of the article. It's all about what people thought of James at a 19, and 21 year old....nothing to do with 2008.

no it isn't. did you even read the whole thing?

the article is mainly about the Cavs never having a shot at keeping LeBron in the first place.

[Fatal9]

You guyyyz, LeBron has matured a lot since then.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/nbacardDOTnet/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/z%20Funny%20NBA%20Photos/0%20Players/Lebron%20James/Dancing/2009-12-082.gif

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/nbacardDOTnet/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/z%20Funny%20NBA%20Photos/0%20Players/Lebron%20James/Dancing/2009-12-083.gif

http://i30.tinypic.com/5d5mat.jpg

http://www.ticketloot.com/blog/uploads/cavaliers-team-photo.jpg

I'm sooo surprised Cavs have collapsed in the playoffs with the demanding and tough brand of leadership LeBron's been providing. And it's not like he was immature or acted like a diva throughout the free agency process. Not like teams who met with him reported that he and his team were unprofessional and acted like "kids". Not like he demanded a 1 hr TV special to attention whore. Not like he quit on his team in the middle of a series.

Not at all. He is mature now.

[game3524]

no it isn't. did you even read the whole thing?

the article is mainly about the Cavs never having a shot at keeping LeBron in the first place.

This.

And it makes Lebron look more and more like attention seeking asshole.

[brooks_thompson]

none of this is surprising. all you have to do is listen to the guy talk in interviews.

it's great what good PR can do for you until you **** up.

[KoRn]

yeah, this was surprising news. NOT!!

[Fatal9]

The telephone call to the Cleveland Cavaliers came minutes before the 9 p.m. show

That's awful, wow. Thought he might have told them a day earlier. Why fk them over like this after 7 years? Not only had most of the free agents committed by then, but you and I knew 10 minutes after the Cavs organization did.

[The_Yearning]

Lol LBJ is done for. Just wait until D-Wade flails out with an injury or CB4 is too soft, or Erick Spolestra is too inexperience as a coach etc..

Who is LBJ going to blame then? Better yet, LBJ has yet to receive any type of injury that requires surgery...with the way he plays and the karma that has yet to sink in...

Next thing you know, Mike Brown and Dan Gilbert writes a tell-all book about LBJ with the book being dedicated to Delonte West...I can't wait until they reveal this guy has been taking HgH...

[RedBlackAttack]

That's awful, wow. Thought he might have told them a day earlier. Why fk them over like this after 7 years? Not only had most of the free agents committed by then, but you and I knew 10 minutes after the Cavs organization did.
Not only that, but he had some lackey in his entourage make the call. He didn't even do it himself... He could have at least given Carter the job of telling them.

[game3524]

One thing Lebron needs to do is dump the posse, never let your high school buddies run your career, it is bound to **** up.

[RedBlackAttack]

One thing Lebron needs to do is dump the posse, never let your high school buddies run your career, it is bound to **** up.
The guys from Akron in his entourage were the ones telling him not to do it this way. They actually seemed like the voice-of-reason throughout that PR disaster. Mav Carter is an idiot, obviously... But those other Akron guys may be the only ones keeping him grounded in the least (and even they don't seem successful in doing that).

[game3524]

The guys from Akron in his entourage were the ones telling him not to do it this way. They actually seemed like the voice-of-reason throughout that PR disaster.

Yeah, your right I just reread the article. Jesus Christ! Lebron is either really self-absorbed or is just a plain dumbass, this is just common sense. Yeah, Cavs fans are going to hate you no matter what, but this was just adding fuel to the fire by doing it on TV.

[sbw19]

Well, good thing they have Wade in Miami to balance things out. Besides, LeBron should be more mature and serious about winning by now.

[PejaNowitzki]

The **** did people think would happen if you took a father-less kid out of the projects,threw millions at him after high-school all while he's surrounded by an entourage of feeble-minded enablers and opportunists. LeBron acts like an ass because he never learned how to or even had to actually grow up.

[barbaroi]

Interesting article. For those who are hating on Adrian Wojnarowski maybe you should actually read the damn thing before you talk. All he does it outline the major events that led to Lebron choosing the heat. He leaves the judgment to you.

[KingsFan416]

Honestly I think this is BS. Coach K has always loved Lebron + Adrian Wojnarowski is a garbage writer

Actually, Adrian Wojnarowski is a pretty good writer.

[DavisWarriorsFan]

Why so insecure?:lol

Just trying to see your ongoing streak of mentioning kobe in every thread that ain't related to him

Why so insecure?
Well, Kobe was mentioned in the article. People reading this thread are gonna talk about Kobe then.

[KenneBell]

Not surprising. Of course, Cavs fans on RCF used to think Woj was crazy until LeBron left. Now his insight was 100% correct. :oldlol:

Also have to laugh at OldSchoolBBall. He just better be glad Jordan wasn't playing in this era. The internet is serious business.

[DirkLegend41]

People evolve. Why does it matter what LeBron was like in 2004, or 2006? He became a great leader.

Read up.
"The leader" became a quitter.

[Mgamer20o0]

threw millions at him after high-school all while he's surrounded by an entourage of feeble-minded enablers and opportunists
also it seems the cavs never stood up to him. he is good but you cant let a kid run the show. they do not know enough. maybe if someone was there to put him in his place in day one things would have gone differently.

[Heilige]

Those are some very vague statements. He was "demanding" and had a "bad attitude"? Became "tolerable" to teammates and coaches? OK :rolleyes:. Are they talking about the same player who has never had a teammate say a single negative word against him? Coach K also went out his way to proclaim LeBron the leader of Team USA in Beijing and couldn't stop gushing about him the entire tournament.

Woj IS respected, but anyone familiar with his history knows he has a serious axe to grind when it comes to LeBron. He's been obsessed with tearing the guy down for a very long time.


Why did he write this article praising him if he has a serious axe to grind with LeBron:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebrongarden020509

[dr8ked]

My perspective on the situations people talk about...

Derek Rose is not a guy who wants to take 20-25 shots, hes a guy who will do whats best for the team in that his defensive potential shows in a close game, and his Must win attitude. Lead a final four Memphis team as a freshmen. I do think hes a combo guard with good PG skills.

I dont know about the lebron thing, but I do know the bulls do not tolerate diva's. Its been well known by people within that organization that James already was 75percent Miami Bound and Chicago would not accomadate his entourage of people like he wanted.

The articles about Team USA doesnt make me think less of him. Its sad how the media is, but they do cover things up like the mafia. James hasnt been in trouble with the law but I have heard hes just as much a partier as other nBA players. hes cheats, and he smokes weed. hes just a functional partier that knows when to get down to business.

People forget Michael Jordan was a big asshole. He didnt do charity for the city of chicago.Any type of charity(goodwill) Chicago had was by BJ Armstong,Pipp,Grant. Michael was a womanizer(True story he hit on my aunt at a CHicago Bar) And he was a gambler who I truely believe gambled on NBA games. He gave Chicago 6 championships and did his job.

Lets just forcus on Lebron James doing his job, because the HOF guys like MAgic,Jordan,Barkley, dealt with SERIOUS skeletons.

Lebron needs to seriously watch out for his "inner circle" because when shit hits the fan, loyalty is gone. Look at MC Hammer, Michael Vick....

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: This is a big fat lie...

[dr8ked]

Those are some very vague statements. He was "demanding" and had a "bad attitude"? Became "tolerable" to teammates and coaches? OK :rolleyes:. Are they talking about the same player who has never had a teammate say a single negative word against him? Coach K also went out his way to proclaim LeBron the leader of Team USA in Beijing and couldn't stop gushing about him the entire tournament.

Woj IS respected, but anyone familiar with his history knows he has a serious axe to grind when it comes to LeBron. He's been obsessed with tearing the guy down for a very long time.

I've never liked woj. He's been looking to tear down lebron everytime but has never found any loopholes to do so.. I respect guys like skip bayless for not hiding their hate for lebron, woj is worse.

[yeaaaman]

I'm starting to believe LeBron had an even bigger ego than Kobe Bryant as a teenager.

I dunno, you have to have a pretty big ego to think you can rape someone and get away with it.. just saying.

[Shax]

Does not compute with what other writers were saying about Lebron during the Olympics. I would think this shit would come out much sooner, and at least 1 teammate would say something bad about him.

Even Kobe constantly sticks up for Lebron in interviews, etc.

[SEEBASS1234]

nice post

[RazielTheWolf]

so we are gonna hate a guy for what he was 4 years ago? lol funny ****

[oh the horror]

Lol @ you and the other Kobe- nuthu*gers :roll: Every jornualist that rips Lebron is among the best writers :oldlol:



And those same "Kobe ******gers" can always count on you following them around, quoting them.


You're like some weird parasite that grows in the collective asses of every LA fan.

[oh the horror]

so we are gonna hate a guy for what he was 4 years ago? lol funny ****



I dont think anyone that is sane "hates him" for this, or anything in general, but it is yet another example of why people have a general distaste for Lebron, and his overall image/attitude.

[RazielTheWolf]

I dont think anyone that is sane "hates him" for this, or anything in general, but it is yet another example of why people have a general distaste for Lebron, and his overall image/attitude.makes sense

[SinJackal]

honestly i've watched the bulls a LOT. you aren't going to tell me what isn't true. to say Rose doesn't like to shoot is like saying AI doesn't like to shoot. there is no way you can seriously say Rose is a pass first guard, or even thinks of himself that way given the way he plays. just no way. thats absurd.

You haven't watched enough if you didn't know he was constantly being criticized for not shooting enough. Chicago media has been whining and moaning for him to take more shots and "be a leader" for the entirety of every season he's been in the NBA.



First Kobe, now Lebron. The media will make you or break you. Lebron better start winning some championships while scoring 40 ppg or he is gonna have alot of more articles like this.

Guy rising popularity like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose should be very afraid.

Doubt it for Durant. That dude's saying and doing everything right. He's going to be the next NBA darling, probably starting this season. So long as he matches what he did last year, or at least stays close, and his team does well. . .Durant's easily going to be the most hyped played in the league, taking Kobe and LeBron's places.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

I dont think anyone that is sane "hates him" for this, or anything in general, but it is yet another example of why people have a general distaste for Lebron, and his overall image/attitude.

The greater problem is that it perpetuates the negative NBA player image, which is keeping the NBA from becoming increasingly popular.

[SSSTRESSS]

WTF - this is getting way out of hand. Can we just all STFU and play basketball please? You know today's society is one that is in love with building some up, watching them train wreck, taking advantage of them, and then passively watching them try to pick up the crumbles to rebuild themselves all over again.

Its sick.

[Funnyfuka]

I like following white nba players cause they just seem more mature, more serious, i can identify with them...black players? not so much, they all scream immaturity.

[SSSTRESSS]

I like following white nba players cause they just seem more mature, more serious, i can identify with them...black players? not so much, they all scream immaturity.

:confusedshrug:

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

I like following white nba players cause they just seem more mature, more serious, i can identify with them...black players? not so much, they all scream immaturity.

Derek Fisher, Deron Williams and Brandon Roy would like to have a word with you.

[game3524]

Derek Fisher, Deron Williams and Brandon Roy would like to have a word with you.

Also Grant Hill

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

Also Grant Hill

and many many others.

[YAWN]

Coach K also went out his way to proclaim LeBron the leader of Team USA in Beijing and couldn't stop gushing about him the entire tournament.

Only thing I remember about LeBron and leader being used in the same sentence back then was in another one of his self proclamations... "im the #1 leader" i believe he said. Kobe and Kidd just smirked.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

Only thing I remember about LeBron and leader being used in the same sentence back then was in another one of his self proclamations... "im the #1 leader" i believe he said. Kobe and Kidd just smirked.

was it Kobe who said, "Well, Lebron talks the most."
Lebron talks, Kobe walks.

[YAWN]

How about this over-looked part of the article...



:eek:

Izzo turned down $30 million... Wow.

30 million over how many years? 10? :oldlol:

[game385]

Given what free agency has recently revealed about LeBron, I don't find this surprising at all.

[brooks_thompson]

Only thing I remember about LeBron and leader being used in the same sentence back then was in another one of his self proclamations... "im the #1 leader" i believe he said. Kobe and Kidd just smirked.

yeah, that was the breaking point for me trying to support him.

and it's staggering how many people did not read the full article and are using the argument that the first half of the article was 2, 4, 6 years ago. then you actually assert, after all that has gone down in the last 2 weeks, that he has matured?

i'm still stuck on the gen y argument. lebron just provided a damning example to support all the elder generations' perceptions of us as spoiled kids who expect to be handed the world without any hard work.

plus, he has only marginally improved since his third season in the league. i wonder how much time he spends in the gym in the offseason.

[mattevans11]

there is no proof that Coack K loved this guy.

Coack K is a good guy and he won't say anything bad on camera. I think Coack K really dislikes Lebron.

Let's be honest, Lebron isn't a Duke type of player. He's childish and selfish.


are you really questioning the proof that Coach K love the guy...... then coming in with an "i think" statement to say the opposite....

god you are annoying......

i made it 5 pages through the thread untill it became unbearable about kobe vs bron once again......

yes kobe was mentioned in the article... but not for comparison purposes... he was simply on the team could have won with or without bron...... it did not say that kobe was all they needed to send bron packing.....

but somehow the thread because every kobe lover vs the bron lovers AGAIN....

i have lost a tremendous ammount of respect for bron for joining the heat, but i can see through this type of nonsense as being magnified by the most current events...... if you cant see that then you are a striaght up HATER......

interesting articale with a possiblity of being a good thread, but once again ruined by the kobe vs bron argumentm theat seems to never want to die.

[Fatal9]

Only thing I remember about LeBron and leader being used in the same sentence back then was in another one of his self proclamations... "im the #1 leader" i believe he said. Kobe and Kidd just smirked.
haha, he was proclaiming himself a better "leader" than Kobe all the way back in 2006...


James said "Kobe has the scoring power and will to score anywhere on the court. Since both Kobe and I have the wills to win, it's very fun to play games with him. But I'm inherited to lead and also born with the leadership. That is my greatest advantage compared to Kobe."

From the Olympics in 2008...

"With So many leaders on the team, who has the loudest voice in the huddle?"

King James answered confidently:

"It's pretty much me. Being loud, getting our guys ready. I'd say it's me. But there's a lot guys that speak out and are very active. But I think it starts with me."

:roll:

[brooks_thompson]

"I'm under a super microscope. I

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Most of the Team USA is disgustingly arrogant and ignorant. There is a reason why the team is so hated in the world. The ONLY national basketball team that is hated more and is considered lower class is Spain.

[TryToBeUnbias]

Damn, When it rains it pours ..

[AK47DR91]

haha, he was proclaiming himself a better "leader" than Kobe all the way back in 2006...


James said "Kobe has the scoring power and will to score anywhere on the court. Since both Kobe and I have the wills to win, it's very fun to play games with him. But I'm inherited to lead and also born with the leadership. That is my greatest advantage compared to Kobe."

From the Olympics in 2008...

"With So many leaders on the team, who has the loudest voice in the huddle?"

King James answered confidently:

"It's pretty much me. Being loud, getting our guys ready. I'd say it's me. But there's a lot guys that speak out and are very active. But I think it starts with me."

:roll:

Why didn't he show that leadership skills in Cleveland?

[RedBlackAttack]

Come on, guys. At least keep it semi-on-topic. What is this devil worshiping sh!t?

[gts]

Damn, When it rains it pours ..
that's what happens when you expose yourself to the world...

the king has no clothes

[DetroitPiston]

I like following white nba players cause they just seem more mature, more serious, i can identify with them...black players? not so much, they all scream immaturity.

http://www.ep.tc/problems/seven/thats_racist.gif

[ShowtimeHoops]

Not surprising in the least. With that said, why wasn't this article written in 2006? Obviously it wasn't a huge deal then since nobody talked about it, so it shouldn't be a huge deal now.

[DetroitPiston]

Lebron is just proof that idiots will be idiots. After reading that it's not much of a surprise.



i'm still stuck on the gen y argument. lebron just provided a damning example to support all the elder generations' perceptions of us as spoiled kids who expect to be handed the world without any hard work.


Dude, every generation thinks that or something along those lines of the next generation. We're going to be like that when we're in our 60s complaining about those damn kids not getting off our lawns.

[Lebron23]

:roll:

That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard. Woj is one of the best NBA writers in the world and is highly respected by others in the media all around the league.

Get out of here with your BS just because Woj is rippin LeDiva a new one.


You are a dumb @$$. You Kobe N*thugger hated WOJ when he was on LeBron's nuts.


LeBron played the most minutes in the 2007 Fiba Americas and 2008 Olympics.

If Coach K hated LeBron he would definitely bench LeBron in the Olympics and FIBA Americas.


Check you facts @$$hole.

[Lebron23]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?

It's cool to hate LeBron.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Come on, guys. At least keep it semi-on-topic. What is this devil worshiping sh!t?

No worries, the mods delete any mention of it.

[brooks_thompson]

Lebron is just proof that idiots will be idiots. After reading that it's not much of a surprise.



Dude, every generation thinks that or something along those lines of the next generation. We're going to be like that when we're in our 60s complaining about those damn kids not getting off our lawns.

yes, you're right, but that doesn't make it any less valid. i'm not trying to say that this is different from any other generational gap, BUT

as someone who's the same age and followed his career trajectory with great interest, it's really disappointing to see someone who is so prominent, and who was hailed as such a smart and mature person from the beginning, make such an asinine mistake and decision at this stage of his career.

[BC Eagle]

Why is all this crap coming out NOW?

I just think it's funny, in this day in age, athletes can't fart crosswise without having it become a big media circus.

A massive attitude of this kind would have been widely reported. They didn't protect LeBron THAT much. They protect noone that much.

[DetroitPistonFan]

Why is all this crap coming out NOW?

I just think it's funny, in this day in age, athletes can't fart crosswise without having it become a big media circus.

A massive attitude of this kind would have been widely reported. They didn't protect LeBron THAT much. They protect noone that much.
Cause he has so much power. He'll have you fired.

[kentatm]

Why is all this crap coming out NOW?

I just think it's funny, in this day in age, athletes can't fart crosswise without having it become a big media circus.

A massive attitude of this kind would have been widely reported. They didn't protect LeBron THAT much. They protect noone that much.


I bet you they would. Reporters hold information all the time for a variety of reasons. Most of all, they do it to keep their sources. You have to remember that reporters are nothing without access.

Its the same thing as political reporters or local news people sitting on stories until it is no longer useful for them to do so.

When that Rolling Stone reporter put out that story on all the things General McChrystal was saying, the TV media were all shocked he would report all of that b/c he would never gain the same kind of access with the military again.

Investigative journalism by the "legitimate" media is pretty much dead.

[sbw19]

The crux of the matter is, LeBron seems to have changed little if at all. He's always done or said things to draw attention to himself. Be it gimmicky powder throwing, dancing during games, imitating taking pictures, teasing people with innuendoes regarding joining certain teams eg NY vs remaining at Cleveland, hinting he's joining the slam-dunk contest and then finding an excuse out of it, running the show in Cleveland and basically wanting to do so wherever he goes.

If a change of attitude doesn't happen within the next couple of years, Heat fans might be in for a major surprise.

[brooks_thompson]

The crux of the matter is, LeBron seems to have changed little if at all. He's always done or said things to draw attention to himself. Be it gimmicky powder throwing, dancing during games, imitating taking pictures, teasing people with innuendoes regarding joining certain teams eg NY vs remaining at Cleveland, hinting he's joining the slam-dunk contest and then finding an excuse out of it, running the show in Cleveland and basically wanting to do so wherever he goes.

If a change of attitude doesn't happen within the next couple of years, Heat fans might be in for a major surprise.


this guy gets it

CRUX

[KissMySwag]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?
This.^ :confusedshrug:

[indiefan24]

It's cool to hate LeBron.

apparently it's cool to ****** as well

[brantonli]

So they wait like 6 years to say this?

That's what I thought at first, but it looks like all that negative stuff about James was really in the 07-08 when the US team gets heated up for the Olympics. They obviously wouldn't want any negative publicity to get out at that time, and it's only been 2 years since the Beijing Olympics, so I don't think it's that late for them to break this.

But I do wonder if James had stayed in Cleveland, would this story be published?

[Se]

Actually WOJ is probably the best NBA journalist there is..he breaks every story

I agree., ESPN would love to have him.

[niko]

[QUOTE=Se

[The_Yearning]

You are a dumb @$$. You Kobe N*thugger hated WOJ when he was on LeBron's nuts.


LeBron played the most minutes in the 2007 Fiba Americas and 2008 Olympics.

If Coach K hated LeBron he would definitely bench LeBron in the Olympics and FIBA Americas.


Check you facts @$$hole.

He mad.

[Hamburgers]

ITT: Mad Lebron nut huggers.

[markymark]

I've been one of James' biggest critics over the last few months, but the idea that him winning in Miami will surprise me or devastate me... On the contrary, I will be shocked if the Heat don't win titles almost immediately.

For all of his faults, James is still far-and-away the best basketball player on the planet in my eyes and his talent on the court can not be overstated.

As for deleting the thread... I'm trying my best to stay on top of redundant threads, but there is an active discussion going on, here... You would probably be surprised at how many LeBron and/or Heat related threads I delete each day.

Just to keep the forum as cleaned up as it is now, it is almost a full-time job. :oldlol:


So we're supposed to let your devastated emotions dictate what goes on in this board?

There are a LOT more worthless threads than Lebron/Heat related ones.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

So we're supposed to let your devastated emotions dictate what goes on in this board?

There are a LOT more worthless threads than Lebron/Heat related ones.

I think he is a MOD and trying to explain his position on deleting.

ps. yup, there are a lot of worthless threads

[LA KB24]

First Kobe, now Lebron. The media will make you or break you. Lebron better start winning some championships while scoring 40 ppg or he is gonna have alot of more articles like this.

Guy rising popularity like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose should be very afraid.

Why?

[Jasun]

when you look when this article is being dropped, which is a period where alot of people are harboring negative feelings for lebron, you dont have to wonder the true intentions and validity of the article. Also it says nike was gonna drop lebron? aside from commiting a major felony or doing something completely out of left field its NOT GONNA HAPPEN. he makes them millions and as long as he is doing so they will keep him even if its so he cant endorse a competing brand. I might believe an assistant coach wanted him gone, like phil wanted kobe gone, but only a fool would make an actual attempt to take him off the team...


:roll: :roll: :roll: nike dropping him because he didnt know a few names of the staff... some people believe anything.

[Mr. Jabbar]

RIP Lebron :violin:

[Kobe8]

i'M Not Surprised , Although The Media And , ETC.. Are over-reacting based on this article..

Leave the diva alone , He just want more attention,..

[KIRA]

so if 3/4 coaches voted to cut Lebron, why did he still make the team?

I see Lebron tearing apart the Heat from the inside with ego issues, Riley shouldnt have set the precedent of enabling by giving his entourage all those privledges.

This doesn't surprise me, the only thing that surprises me is the story was published. I don't think this story would have gotten out of Lebron was still a loyal Cav

[KIRA]

whats pretty laughable about this article is he doesn't give any specifics. just generalizes how bad of an attitude lebron had, but i'd love to hear any confirmation of this from coach k, colangelo, or even anyone on that olympic team. it just doesn't make sense to me a 19 yr old lebron would act so cocky, and i honestly don't believe it.

its also a good point why this came out so late, and nobody ever read anything to this effect when it happened. it would've been a big talking about, and at least 1 of the players would've anon talked about it to some reporter. just really hard to believe this, doesn't add up.
Really? it doesn't make sense to you that a 19 year old with a "Chosen 1" tattoo across his back and "King James" crown tattoos would act so cocky?

[KIRA]

What he does off the court has no reflection of his leadership in the locker room and on the court.

And there is no evidence that he is a poor leader right now - in fact everything I have seen or read from people around him is that he's a GREAT leader at this point in his career, at 25 years old.
Great leaders give up on their team in game 5s and disrespect their coach when down in game 6s, by clearly giving up and refusing to foul the opposing team even when the coach is yelling at him to with a minute left in the game.

Lebron is a great leader.

[chopchop20]

Not surprising... the guy's ego is as big as lake Erie. I mean after all, he confiscated a tape of him getting dunked on like a little diva, so I could imagine some of the stories we hear might be true

[cavsfanatic]

As much as I dislike lebron now I don't believe this. You've seen the footage of him at practice with the 08 team.

[KIRA]

Does not compute with what other writers were saying about Lebron during the Olympics. I would think this shit would come out much sooner, and at least 1 teammate would say something bad about him.

Even Kobe constantly sticks up for Lebron in interviews, etc.
Propaganda. I remember those olympics. ESPN and the announcers kept saying that Lebron had asserted himself as the clearcut leader of Team USA but when I watched those games I saw Kobe, Jason Kidd and especially Dwayne Wade looking like the leaders of that team on the court.

This happened in the gold medal game where Lebron disappeared and Wade and Kobe dominated and stepped up.

[ivogetghost]

:roll:

And everyone said AI and Marbury were the cancers on the 2004 team.....
whoever said iverson was are idiots, that team put together sucked. Didnt richard jefferson or lamar odom start?

[ivogetghost]

Propaganda. I remember those olympics. ESPN and the announcers kept saying that Lebron had asserted himself as the clearcut leader of Team USA but when I watched those games I saw Kobe, Jason Kidd and especially Dwayne Wade looking like the leaders of that team on the court.

This happened in the gold medal game where Lebron disappeared and Wade and Kobe dominated and stepped up.

To be honest, I dont think no one played close to the level of wade, not even kobe.

[BarberSchool]

:roll:

And everyone said AI and Marbury were the cancers on the 2004 team.....They were.

[The_Yearning]

whoever said iverson was are idiots, that team put together sucked. Didnt richard jefferson or lamar odom start?

Marbury
Iverson
Jefferson
Odom
Duncan

Boozer
Marion
Carmelo
Lebron

SmH

[KIRA]

You haven't watched enough if you didn't know he was constantly being criticized for not shooting enough. Chicago media has been whining and moaning for him to take more shots and "be a leader" for the entirety of every season he's been in the NBA.




Doubt it for Durant. That dude's saying and doing everything right. He's going to be the next NBA darling, probably starting this season. So long as he matches what he did last year, or at least stays close, and his team does well. . .Durant's easily going to be the most hyped played in the league, taking Kobe and LeBron's places.
agreed. only reason he didn't get more hype last season was his acne. It's hard to market a pizza face, Durant gets that sorted and he is the new face of the league and ESPN will jump on his nuts harder than they did on Lebron's.

[KIRA]

To be honest, I dont think no one played close to the level of wade, not even kobe.
I definatly agree with you here.

[LBJ4MVP23]

I didnt even have to click the link to guess who wrote that propaganda, spin trash... Im obviously an LBJ fan, but realize the man is not god and has a multitude of flaws, but anything ADrian WajowsiuhnfSKI writes in relation to LBJ is always biased nonsense. Its actually laughable...

Case in point, and im going to paraphrase his actual quote so I dont have to read through that filth again. But he said essentially that its a joke that LBJ is donating the proceeds from the decision, equating it not to the hundreds of thousands or millions he raised in his ill-conceived Decision idea, but to a couple of foozeball tables. Yes Adam, let me see you go into your pocket you ignorant, bigot and donate some money.

BOO THIS MAN!

[KIRA]

haha, he was proclaiming himself a better "leader" than Kobe all the way back in 2006...


James said "Kobe has the scoring power and will to score anywhere on the court. Since both Kobe and I have the wills to win, it's very fun to play games with him. But I'm inherited to lead and also born with the leadership. That is my greatest advantage compared to Kobe."

From the Olympics in 2008...

"With So many leaders on the team, who has the loudest voice in the huddle?"

King James answered confidently:

"It's pretty much me. Being loud, getting our guys ready. I'd say it's me. But there's a lot guys that speak out and are very active. But I think it starts with me."

:roll:
Link this up homie. As someone very critical of Lebron and his massive entitled ego, even I can't believe he would say things like this.

[brooks_thompson]

Link this up homie. As someone very critical of Lebron and his massive entitled ego, even I can't believe he would say things like this.

why, the crappy grammar and word usage is on par with the usual idiot stuff the guy says

[kentatm]

when you look when this article is being dropped, which is a period where alot of people are harboring negative feelings for lebron, you dont have to wonder the true intentions and validity of the article. Also it says nike was gonna drop lebron? aside from commiting a major felony or doing something completely out of left field its NOT GONNA HAPPEN. he makes them millions and as long as he is doing so they will keep him even if its so he cant endorse a competing brand. I might believe an assistant coach wanted him gone, like phil wanted kobe gone, but only a fool would make an actual attempt to take him off the team...


:roll: :roll: :roll: nike dropping him because he didnt know a few names of the staff... some people believe anything.

why don't you read the article before you comment so you don't look like a moron?

[Doranku]

haha, he was proclaiming himself a better "leader" than Kobe all the way back in 2006...


James said "Kobe has the scoring power and will to score anywhere on the court. Since both Kobe and I have the wills to win, it's very fun to play games with him. But I'm inherited to lead and also born with the leadership. That is my greatest advantage compared to Kobe."

From the Olympics in 2008...

"With So many leaders on the team, who has the loudest voice in the huddle?"

King James answered confidently:

"It's pretty much me. Being loud, getting our guys ready. I'd say it's me. But there's a lot guys that speak out and are very active. But I think it starts with me."

:roll:

:oldlol: The guy has no shame.

[Steve212]

To be honest, I dont think no one played close to the level of wade, not even kobe.

I agree. Wade had somethin' to prove that Summer.

[jjayfive]

i don't care if the article is true.. but it's hilarious how some of you lebron fans get so but hurt and overreact... sorry to break it to you, lebron doesn't give a flying fcuk about you..

[Soundwave]

LeBron reminds me a lot in terms of attitude/demeanor of a young Shaq (1992-99) ...

- Dominant in the NBA from day 1
- Generational level of talent
- Marketing machines from day 1 (remember Reebok, Pepsi, Taco Bell, etc. for Shaq)
- Like to goof around with friends/teammates rather than being focused/intense all the time.
- Early career playoff disappointments
- Made their first NBA Finals around the same point in their careers with identical results (swept out).
- Critics said Shaq could never win the big one. LeBron has similar critics now.

Only difference is Shaq has played on far better teams from day 1.

I think LeBron's time is coming, just like Shaq's time eventually came, but he probably will always irk some people who want him to have the killer tenacity that Jordan or Bird or Russell did ... and Shaq had the same issue I think too (people thought he could've had more of a killer instinct/work ethic).

[The_Yearning]

LeBron reminds me a lot in terms of attitude/demeanor of a young Shaq (1992-99) ...

- Dominant in the NBA from day 1
- Generational level of talent
- Marketing machines from day 1 (remember Reebok, Pepsi, Taco Bell, etc. for Shaq)
- Like to goof around with friends/teammates rather than being focused/intense all the time.
- Early career playoff disappointments
- Made their first NBA Finals around the same point in their careers with identical results (swept out).
- Critics said Shaq could never win the big one. LeBron has similar critics now.

Only difference is Shaq has played on far better teams from day 1.

I think LeBron's time is coming, just like Shaq's time eventually came, but he probably will always irk some people who want him to have the killer tenacity that Jordan or Bird or Russell did ... and Shaq had the same issue I think too (people thought he could've had more of a killer instinct/work ethic).

You forgot the most important thing fool, is that Shaq didn't bolted for a team to chase a ring with 2 superstars with 1 who is virtually better then he is.

Shaq came to the Lakers to be the man of tinsel town. To be a superstar. To be the best. And he accomplished it.

Lol this is a pathetic comparison...

[KIRA]

why, the crappy grammar and word usage is on par with the usual idiot stuff the guy says
James said "Kobe has the scoring power and will to score anywhere on the court. Since both Kobe and I have the wills to win, it's very fun to play games with him. But I'm inherited to lead and also born with the leadership. That is my greatest advantage compared to Kobe."

Yeh but no way he is stupid enough to say something like that. If he actually did say that, there is no way he will be able to peacefully coexist on the same team as Dwayne Wade for an entire season.

[cotdt]

You forgot the most important thing fool, is that Shaq didn't bolted for a team to chase a ring with 2 superstars with 1 who is virtually better then he is.

Shaq came to the Lakers to be the man of tinsel town. To be a superstar. To be the best. And he accomplished it.

Lol this is a pathetic comparison...

Shaq couldn't win it all even with an elite guard in Penny Hardaway. He had to wait until he got super-elite guards in Kobe and D-Wade to win it. To me that is not very impressive.

[Jasun]

why don't you read the article before you comment so you don't look like a moron?

I read it einstein. I was commenting more so on the idea of nike dropping him since thats what the thread title implys. it said nike was gonna leave him home which makes even less sense being as though they dont control team usa or fiba.

[jaydacris]

Shaq couldn't win it all even with an elite guard in Penny Hardaway. He had to wait until he got super-elite guards in Kobe and D-Wade to win it. To me that is not very impressive.

shaq not that impressive to you eh? high standards you have

[LA_Showtime]

James said "Kobe has the scoring power and will to score anywhere on the court. Since both Kobe and I have the wills to win, it's very fun to play games with him. But I'm inherited to lead and also born with the leadership. That is my greatest advantage compared to Kobe."

Yeh but no way he is stupid enough to say something like that. If he actually did say that, there is no way he will be able to peacefully coexist on the same team as Dwayne Wade for an entire season.

Ah, I remember those types of quotes from James. Even though he probably was the leader of Team USA, it got annoying after he said it 1000 times. Every damn quote started with "My team...".

[SourGrapes]

Ah, I remember those types of quotes from James. Even though he probably was the leader of Team USA, it got annoying after he said it 1000 times. Every damn quote started with "My team...".

??

did you read the article?

[LA_Showtime]

??

did you read the article?

I was responding to someone's post...?

[KIRA]

Ah, I remember those types of quotes from James. Even though he probably was the leader of Team USA, it got annoying after he said it 1000 times. Every damn quote started with "My team...".
Good to know Wade was content letting Lebron going around to the media saying he was leader of the team when he wasn't.Wade just let his game do the talking and his game showed he was leader of the team and best player on the court-he even sacrificed himself to be a 6th man so the old vets Kobe and Kidd could start.

Wade can do the same thing with the heat, let Lebron claim leadership off the court but then take over as leader on the court whenever Lebron gets scared. Real maturity on Wade's part

[SourGrapes]

I was responding to someone's post...?

according to the article he clearly was no leader in any sense on team usa... just liked to play the part i guess

[Calabis]

To the OP article...this is what happens when you hype up players, without letting them earn it. His been a spoiled dude since 14 years of age

[Ikill]

:lol
To the OP article...this is what happens when you hype up players, without letting them earn it. His been a spoiled dude since 14 years of age

[Soundwave]

You forgot the most important thing fool, is that Shaq didn't bolted for a team to chase a ring with 2 superstars with 1 who is virtually better then he is.

Shaq came to the Lakers to be the man of tinsel town. To be a superstar. To be the best. And he accomplished it.

Lol this is a pathetic comparison...

You're right. He left for even dumber reasons.

He was jealous of a puppet in a Nike commercial getting attention over him, and left a perfectly great situation in Orlando (one year removed from the NBA Finals) to further his sh-tty movie career.

"Being the man" was just a nice side benefit, one that he soon bristled at when he realized by ironic fate that he just got teamed up with a punk kid from Philly who had an ego possibly even bigger than his.

[hawksdogsbraves]

So Lebron is cancer now? You learn something new every day I guess...

Team USA's biggest mistake was obviously cutting Adam Morrison though :no:

[LosBulls]

I think it is time the media destroys LeBron's career like they id AI and almost Kobe.

[Soundwave]

I think it is time the media destroys LeBron's career like they id AI and almost Kobe.

I think this is a cop out.

The media can't do sh-t.

The media didn't tell Kobe to go get some nookie outside of his marriage with some girl that turned out to be a psycho (and that's *if* his side of the story is even true).

The media didn't do anything to AI. AI killed his own career.

Winning and performing at a high level tends to shut up your critics.

That's really the only way Tiger is ever going to get out of his current situation as well.

[Rowe]

I think this is a cop out.

The media can't do sh-t.

The media didn't tell Kobe to go get some nookie outside of his marriage with some girl that turned out to be a psycho (and that's *if* his side of the story is even true).

The media didn't do anything to AI. AI killed his own career.

Winning and performing at a high level tends to shut up your critics.

That's really the only way Tiger is ever going to get out of his current situation as well.
I strongly disagree.

The media picks & chooses who to destroy and who to build up. This is what they have done for decades, and the sports media is nothing different than any other media outlet which have their own agenda they're trying to push.


The media built Kobe up and just as quickly tore him down. This is why Kobe treats the media like shit, because he knows that there is a thin balance between good & evil and media influences too many peoples opinions.


What did Allen Iverson do or say that hadn't been done before in the NBA? Do you see how the most famous comment Iverson made is regarding practice? This man basically said he doesn't even need practice to play in a game. If Kobe said the same thing, who would care? The media turned it into an example of him being a team cancer who doesn't play hard, practice, or care about being a team player. Anybody who knows about Iverson knows each 1 of those is false and he is one of the most serious players in NBA History when it comes to basketball. They want Iverson to go somewhere & die, then they do their rebuilding effort to say he was just "misunderstood". That bullshit.:rant They tore this man down in the midst of MVP caliber seasons, and they did so to create a villain for dramatic purposes.

What did LeBron do differently that hasn't been done by hundreds of NBA players before him? A TV special. Michael Jordan called a press conference out of the blue to retire from basketball to pursue a baseball career, where was the massive outcry/hatred? Didn't he at one point "cheat out of his legacy"?

Now the media is going to use every chance they get to tear him down. I've been waiting for this to happen btw. Do you know why so many people hated LeBron before he joined the Heat? Its because David Stern and Nike have done their best to force-feed the public LeBron James as the perfect basketball player and person who will eventually follow and shatter Jordan's records. They crowned him King James at Age 19 when he was barely shooting over 40% from the Field. LeBron already had his legacy written out and fed to people, he never went out and proved that he deserved the title "King James". People dont respect LeBron because he never took the time to build that respect up, instead he just tried to back up the respect Nike & the NBA built up for him.


LeBron made the worst decision of his life picking the Miami Heat. He turned himself into a villain without anybody to back him up, because most of his fans(Cavs fans) now hate him.

He should've went to the Knicks or Bulls. The NY or Chicago media is strong enough to paint anybody in a favorable light when being attacked from all angles. They each have strong enough fanbases to defend him as well.

[game3524]

The whole "practice" thing with AI was all Larry Brown's fault more so then the media, Billy King even said Iverson had been at practice and only missed one that entire year, and he had an excuse. Brown just threw AI under the bus, because it took away from the fact Jim O'Brien was outcoaching him in the 2002 playoffs.

[triangleoffense]

How old is this post? I remember reading an article like this in 06/07.

No wonder a lot of people have jumped off Lebandwagon.

[Soundwave]

The media seems to be quite kind to Kobe these days.

The media can't "tear" someone down. They have to do it themselves first. The "media" really is also just basically a reflection of general public opinion ... ie: Tiger Woods is no longer a "wholesome guy" .... well sticking your d-ck into 100 other ladies while you're married probably will do that to ya.

Iverson can't play at a high level anymore. That's why he's a non-story these days.

[KIRA]

The media saying AI is a team cancer didn't make AI a cancer. He was a cancer before that and his past 4 seasons have proven that. Nuggets couldn't even get out of the first round with AI and as soon as he leaves, first of all the ECF conference finals team he goes to doesn't even get out of the first round and the team he leaves goes to the WCF.

Then he took the Grizzlies to the worst record in the league, threw a tantrum and left

[Indian guy]

FWIW, LeBron led Team USA in mpg on the '06 team. Since he was also named team captain(along with a couple others), he must have got his sh!t together quick after the cut scare. LeBron's actually led team USA in mpg on all his stints save 2004. Whatever bothered them early in '06, it became a non-issue soon. Coaches don't give the most # of mins. to players they don't like. Of course, LeBron was also the best player on all 3 teams, so his on-court play alone could've earned him the minutes.

[KIRA]

FWIW, LeBron led Team USA in mpg on the '06 team. Since he was also named team captain(along with a couple others), he must have got his sh!t together quick after the cut scare. LeBron's actually led team USA in mpg on all his stints save 2004. Whatever bothered them early in '06, it became a non-issue soon. Coaches don't give the most # of mins. to players they don't like. Of course, LeBron was also the best player on all 3 teams, so his on-court play alone could've earned him the minutes.
In 2008, Lebron was worse than Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Team USA's leading scorer Carmelo Anthony.

Did you watch the olympics? Everyone called Lebron the leader but all he did was get fast break dunks. He was useless in the half court.

[hawksdogsbraves]

The media does suck and it does influence people's opinions, but it isn't like ESPN held a board meeting and decided that they were going to turn Lebron from their number one favorite guy to a terrible villain. All the media can do is blow things out of proportion, it can't just paint the picture.

Kobe was accused of rape, media backlash followed. AI actually WAS team cancer, media backlash followed. Lebron made a decision that no one outside of Miami agreed with, and the media backlash was appropriate.

[triangleoffense]

FWIW, LeBron led Team USA in mpg on the '06 team. Since he was also named team captain(along with a couple others), he must have got his sh!t together quick after the cut scare. LeBron's actually led team USA in mpg on all his stints save 2004. Whatever bothered them early in '06, it became a non-issue soon. Coaches don't give the most # of mins. to players they don't like. Of course, LeBron was also the best player on all 3 teams, so his on-court play alone could've earned him the minutes.

No, they give minutes to the best players on the team. Plus where is your source that Lebron was a captain? The captains on the team were Kidd and Kobe.

[Simple Jack]

In 2008, Lebron was worse than Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Team USA's leading scorer Carmelo Anthony.

Did you watch the olympics? Everyone called Lebron the leader but all he did was get fast break dunks. He was useless in the half court.

Didn't he shoot 3's at an abnormally high %?

I'm pretty sure after Wade, LeBron consistently performed the best on the team.

[Indian guy]

In 2008, Lebron was worse than Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Team USA's leading scorer Carmelo Anthony.

I hope worse means better here, otherwise you're way, way wrong. LeBron was easily Team USA's most productive player in Beijing. And if you had actually watched the games, you'd know he was our best player on BOTH ends of the court.


He was useless in the half court.

He was 2nd in 3pters made on the team. Had the 2nd best 3pt% too.

[Indian guy]

The captains on the team were Kidd and Kobe.

I was talking about the '06 team.

[triangleoffense]

I was talking about the '06 team.

still, you only quoted the last portion of my post. Where is your source regardless?

[hawksdogsbraves]

In 2008, Lebron was worse than Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Team USA's leading scorer Carmelo Anthony.

Did you watch the olympics? Everyone called Lebron the leader but all he did was get fast break dunks. He was useless in the half court.

Did you watch the Olympics? Lebron averaged 15.5ppg 5.3rpg 3.8apg. Compare that to Wade, (16/4/2) Kidd (lol 1.5/2.5/2) or anyone else and you will see that Lebron was the team's best player (you could argue for Wade, but no one else) and leader (even Kobe admitted this).

Looks like you are a Lebron hater talking out of his ass. Welcome to ISH, we need more people like you :cheers:

Also LOL at you saying Kidd with his 1.5/2.5/2 statline was better than Lebron who only got fast break dunks.

[KIRA]

Did you watch the Olympics? Lebron averaged 15.5ppg 5.3rpg 3.8apg. Compare that to Wade, (16/4/2) Kidd (lol 1.5/2.5/2) or anyone else and you will see that Lebron was the team's best player (you could argue for Wade, but no one else) and leader (even Kobe admitted this).

Looks like you are a Lebron hater talking out of his ass. Welcome to ISH, we need more people like you :cheers:

Also LOL at you saying Kidd with his 1.5/2.5/2 statline was better than Lebron who only got fast break dunks.
Why didn't you bring up Carmelo's numbers kid?

Wade was clearly better than Lebron.

Kidd was leading the team on the court. There's a reason he's never lost a game in FIBA, he has more impact on the court than just numbers.

[brooks_thompson]

I hope worse means better here, otherwise you're way, way wrong. LeBron was easily Team USA's most productive player in Beijing. And if you had actually watched the games, you'd know he was our best player on BOTH ends of the court.



He was 2nd in 3pters made on the team. Had the 2nd best 3pt% too.

and anthony led with most 3 pts and %? i'm pretty sure i remember that being the case.

wade was consistently incredible, and bryant, though inconsistent offensively throughout, took over when it mattered during the spain game and finished the deal.

[Indian guy]

still, you only quoted the last portion of my post. Where is your source regardless?

http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/national/mwc_2006.html


Showing heart and determination, the USA returned home with the bronze medal and an 8-1 record after handling Argentina 96-81 in the World Championship bronze medal game. USA tri-captains Wade, James and Anthony scored 32, 20 and 15 points respectively to account for 67 of the USA's 96 points. Carrying a seven point lead (69-62) into the fourth quarter, Wade scored 18 of the USA's 27 points in the fourth quarter to make sure that the USA did not let this victory slip through its fingers.

[Indian guy]

and anthony led with most 3 pts and %? i'm pretty sure i remember that being the case.

No, Kobe. 'Melo had a mediocre tournament in '08. He was great in '06 and '07.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Why didn't you bring up Carmelo's numbers kid?

Wade was clearly better than Lebron.

Kidd was leading the team on the court. There's a reason he's never lost a game in FIBA, he has more impact on the court than just numbers.

Kidd didn't do shit in the Olympics, his 'leadership' was a non-factor and he was clearly not talented enough any more to be on the floor. It was a sign of respect and if FIBA were more competitive (read: USA might not win) then Paul or Williams would have started. Why don't you post some Carmelo stats 'kid'?

Oh wait, you only talk out of your ass and probably couldn't find the Olympic stats if you tried. I'll do it for you.

Carmelo Anthony: 11.5ppg 4.3rpg .4apg

There you go, I didn't include his stats earlier because as you can see they are irrelevant for this conversation except now to make you look like an idiot.

[KIRA]

Mediocre Melo lead team USA in scoring

[hawksdogsbraves]

Mediocre Melo lead team USA in scoring

Are you kidding me?

[shawbryant]

Lebron is the biggest cancer in the NBA. That's just real brah.
Your avatar is adorable!:cheers:

[Pointguard]

whats pretty laughable about this article is he doesn't give any specifics. just generalizes how bad of an attitude lebron had, but i'd love to hear any confirmation of this from coach k, colangelo, or even anyone on that olympic team. it just doesn't make sense to me a 19 yr old lebron would act so cocky, and i honestly don't believe it.

its also a good point why this came out so late, and nobody ever read anything to this effect when it happened. it would've been a big talking about, and at least 1 of the players would've anon talked about it to some reporter. just really hard to believe this, doesn't add up.

Yeah if he was that bad at 19 when he wasn't playing, what did they think was going to mature into? And shame on the whole olympic team if a 19 year old bench warmer was running things. [I]"Officials feared James could become the instigator of everything they wanted to rid themselves for the

[Lebron23]

Are you kidding me?


He's a dumb @$$. Just put him on your ignore lists. Did you watch the 2008 Olympics Kira? LeBron was Team USA's 2nd leading scorer.

[Lebron23]

In 2008, Lebron was worse than Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Team USA's leading scorer Carmelo Anthony.

Did you watch the olympics? Everyone called Lebron the leader but all he did was get fast break dunks. He was useless in the half court.


Please stop posting in this forum.

[Rowe]

The media does suck and it does influence people's opinions, but it isn't like ESPN held a board meeting and decided that they were going to turn Lebron from their number one favorite guy to a terrible villain. All the media can do is blow things out of proportion, it can't just paint the picture.
True.

However ESPN loves to play to the underdogs, which is why they help villianize LeBron in defense of Cleveland fans. This is why they defended Big Ben twice in defense of Steeler/Big Ben fans.



Kobe was accused of rape, media backlash followed. AI actually WAS team cancer, media backlash followed. Lebron made a decision that no one outside of Miami agreed with, and the media backlash was appropriate.

What did Iverson do that any former/current NBA superstar has not done? Iverson is the ultimate team player on the court, he did anything and everything asked of him. You're no different than the millions of sheep who let ESPN and other media outlets create this mythical picture of Iverson being lazy, ballhog, and a quitter.

Team cancer my ass. There are few if any past NBA superstar who would come off the bench for the sake of winning. Elgin Baylor retired in the middle of a season over his role/contract.

[jrong]

I've never been shy about criticizing LBJ when it was warranted, but I swear Yahoo's NBA page has been taken over by Laker fanboys. Every day lately there is a new article shredding him.

(I'm not saying the reports are untrue. I'm just saying give it a rest. We get it.)

[The_Yearning]

He's a dumb @$$. Just put him on your ignore lists. Did you watch the 2008 Olympics Kira? LeBron was Team USA's 2nd leading scorer.

And who was the #1 leading scorer? Whose the Leader of the M-I-A Heat?

SmH

It's kay, pick a new player to support.