If LeBron James never wins a ring in Cleveland what becomes of his legacy

[JohnMax]

discuss

[Cocaine80s]

If OP doesn't get hired by TMZ what becomes of his legacy?

[J Shuttlesworth]

If OP doesn't get hired by TMZ what becomes of his legacy?
:roll:

[mehyaM24]

i don't know, but winning even ONE ring in cleveland would boost his legacy tenfold.


think about it. this SAME city hasn't won jack since the 60s, and the cavs as a franchise nothing. ever. if lebron were to bring one title to cleveland it would be worth 2 maybe 3 titles historically. he's already a top 5 all-time impact player, but his career legacy would also be top 3-5 with just 1 title in cleveland.


i don't really go off that stuff, though. too much is made about TEAM play - i already have him as a legitimate goat candidate, or at least on par with any perimeter player that's ever played the game.

but to the people that do? they would be forced to put him there with the greatest.

[JT123]

Still about 20 spots ahead of Kobe on the all time list :rockon:

[pauk]

What becomes is what he already is, a top 10 all time player who climbs perhaps even higher up than wherever people rank him there considering he will be adding even more of everything else by the time he retires.... :confusedshrug:

[fiddy]

What becomes is what he already is, a bordeline top 10 all time player who climbs perhaps even higher up than wherever people rank him there considering he will be adding even more of everything else by the time he retires.... :confusedshrug:
fxd

[Bay Area Baller]

fresh take alert: For a player Not everything is defined by what he does on the court. Sometimes its there character and attributes they exude off the court. So for Lebron James he has a pretty solid legacy going. Additionally he is partnered in helping in city kids accomplish their goals at college. Sounds like a stand up dude. :applause:

on the other hand take Gilbert Arenas legacy, great player but considered trash

[raprap]

a 2 time nba champ, 2 time finals mvp, 4 time league mvp and arguably the best player in the nba for 5-7 years. might even break the all time scoring list and the all time scoring list in the playoffs. No criminal records and a great family man.

you tell me. :confusedshrug:

[Midnite89]

i don't know, but winning even ONE ring in cleveland would boost his legacy tenfold.


think about it. this SAME city hasn't won jack since the 60s, and the cavs as a franchise nothing. ever. if lebron were to bring one title to cleveland it would be worth 2 maybe 3 titles historically. he's already a top 5 all-time impact player, but his career legacy would also be top 3-5 with just 1 title in cleveland.


i don't really go off that stuff, though. too much is made about TEAM play - i already have him as a legitimate goat candidate, or at least on par with any perimeter player that's ever played the game.

but to the people that do? they would be forced to put him there with the greatest.

Chicago has won 0 rings before MJ. 0 rings after MJ. He did it 6x.

[kamil]

He'll just be remembered as the guy that needed to collude to win a ring.

That asterisk next to his name will be permanent.

[mehyaM24]

Chicago has won 0 rings before MJ. 0 rings after MJ. He did it 6x.

not quite.

once jordan got drafted, they did make the playoffs, but they made them going -.500 in the regular-season. a weak bottom half of the conference. the bulls were 1-9 in the playoffs during that span with jordan leading the way.

that was until scottie pippen got drafted in 1988, and led the team to its first second round appearance, and first since 1980-81 prior to jordan being drafted.


pippen, in an ELIMINATION game, took charge and broke the drought, finishing with 24/6/5/3 and DPOY-level defense


seriously.. checkout that do-or-die game 5 vs cleveland. during the broadcast, the commentators knew pippen would become an all-time great and leader of a team (scottie was later named the bulls captain, and ran their offense).

[DonDadda59]

In Miami- GOAT carpetbagger.

In Cleveland-

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.470902.1314629943!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/alg-burning-lebron-jersey-jpg.jpg

[sdot_thadon]

He's already top 10 alltime and likely higher once the dust settles with or without more rings. Guys who've accomplished less in entire careers are criticized less than he is for his gaudy accomplishments @ 30. He'll likely be fringe top 5 to top 3 by the time he sits for good. No objective fan will see him outside the tip 10. Only people who really question his place do it due to their love interests.

[Hey Yo]

The picture above just proves the OP right.

Fans of Cleveland sports are so starved for a championship.

So starved......... that they embraced LeBron's comeback.

They don't give a fat rats ass who brings them a title, regardless of the sport.....just do it!!

[KnittingRyu]

He'd drop out of the top 15.

[kennethgriffin]

2004 - misses playoffs
2005 - misses playoffs
2006 - loses in 2nd round
2007 - swept in nba finals ( 0 for 1 )
2008 - loses in 2nd round
2009 - chokes best record in the nba
2010 - chokes best record in the nba
*quits on cleveland*
2011 - sabotages nba finals ( 0 for 2 )
2012 - Lockout season title ( 0.5 for 3 )
2013 - bail out do or die shot by ray allen saves lebrons career ( 1.5 for 4 )
2014 - loses finals mvp to a role player he's matched up with ( 1.5 for 5 )
*quits on Miami*
2015 - loses finals mvp to a role player he's matched up with ( 1.5 for 6 )
2016 - loses in ECF with most stacked roster in the nba
*Miami Heat nba champions, wade finals mvp*
*quits on cleveland after losing tristan thompson*
*creates super team with max free F.A. + d'angelo, julius, clarkson*
2017 - loses in 1st round with lakers
2018 - loses in 2nd round with lakers
2019 - loses in 3rd round with lakers
2020 - loses in nba finals with lakers ( 1.5 for 7 )



*retires*

[DonDadda59]

The picture above just proves the OP right.

Fans of Cleveland sports are so starved for a championship.

So starved......... that they embraced LeBron's comeback.

They don't give a fat rats ass who brings them a title, regardless of the sport.....just do it!!

Cleveland = Greatest beta city of all time. Cuckold capitol of America.

[Naero]

This upcoming season is his last plausible chance of winning a championship as a team-leader

[WayOfWade]

Stating the obvious, it wouldn't be anything good for his legacy. His purpose in returning was to bring a Title to Cleveland. Not doing so wouldn't be so good for him, in fact it would lower his all-time ranking. I mean, how couldn't it?

[Beastmode88]

kenny :facepalm

[imdaman99]

Should not be a legend in the city of Cleveland. Yes he might be the greatest player that played in Cleveland (Jim Brown?) in professional sports, but he ditched the city high and dry to win championships elsewhere. He didn't go to a place that was starving for a championship, they had won 4 years earlier. He helped another city, another franchise win 2 championships.

What I don't understand is how easily forgiven he is in Cleveland. I know if Ewing had ditched the Knicks in his prime, and was the biggest reason to win championships with another team in the East... he would not be forgiven UNTIL he helped the Knicks win a championship. But then again, that's New Yorkers for you.

[ShawkFactory]

Same as it is now. But maybe you won't be around to make shit threads :lol

[kamil]

2004 - misses playoffs
2005 - misses playoffs
2006 - loses in 2nd round
2007 - swept in nba finals ( 0 for 1 )
2008 - loses in 2nd round
2009 - chokes best record in the nba
2010 - chokes best record in the nba
*quits on cleveland*
2011 - sabotages nba finals ( 0 for 2 )
2012 - Lockout season title ( 0.5 for 3 )
2013 - bail out do or die shot by ray allen saves lebrons career ( 1.5 for 4 )
2014 - loses finals mvp to a role player he's matched up with ( 1.5 for 5 )
*quits on Miami*
2015 - loses finals mvp to a role player he's matched up with ( 1.5 for 6 )


Pretty accurate, actually.

[Hey Yo]

[QUOTE=Naero]This upcoming season is his last plausible chance of winning a championship as a team-leader

[AnaheimLakers24]

He will never win one. Bonafide baby dick loser who couldnt succeed

[Derka]

Not like anyone else has won a ring in Cleveland, so no big whoop. Still has a few years to cement his place in the top 10.

[305Baller]

The best player of the 2010s. Next question.

[plowking]

In Miami- GOAT carpetbagger.

In Cleveland-

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.470902.1314629943!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/alg-burning-lebron-jersey-jpg.jpg

The most frustrating thing about this picture is trying to work out what race the guy on the far right is.

[305Baller]

The most frustrating thing about this picture is trying to work out what race the guy on the far right is.

He's olive skin mediterranean or latino probably you ignoramus.

[mehyaM24]

Stating the obvious, it wouldn't be anything good for his legacy. His purpose in returning was to bring a Title to Cleveland. Not doing so wouldn't be so good for him, in fact it would lower his all-time ranking. I mean, how couldn't it?


what? lol


why would that lower his all-time ranking?


he's already a top 5-10 player, on most lists. injuries like last year, trades, etc. are possible. anything can happen so its stupid to suggest that not winning a title would effect the individual.

there are CLEAR extenuating circumstances out of the individuals grasp.


just look at this past finals where his second and third best players were injured and DNP. nobody expected lebron to win, yet he still got 2 games from that roster.


lebron has already proven he can carry bums to the finals. he's led multiple teams to championships, and nearly by himself e.g. 2013. like i said, most people have lebron firmly in their top 10. one title in cleveland and he's a top 3-5 player for most - easily.

[plowking]

He's olive skin mediterranean or latino probably you ignoramus.


See... we just don't know.

Or is he a really tanned white guy. Or a really light skinned black guy.

I've gotta step away from the computer right now. Too many questions to be answered. Well... just the one.

[WayOfWade]

what? lol


why would that lower his all-time ranking?


he's already a top 5-10 player, on most lists. injuries like last year, trades, etc. are possible. anything can happen so its stupid to suggest that not winning a title would effect the individual.

there are CLEAR extenuating circumstances out of the individuals grasp.


just look at this past finals where his second and third best players were injured and DNP. nobody expected lebron to win, yet he still got 2 games from that roster.


lebron has already proven he can carry bums to the finals. he's led multiple teams to championships, and nearly by himself e.g. 2013. like i said, most people have lebron firmly in their top 10. one title in cleveland and he's a top 3-5 player for most - easily.
Alright, so repeatedly losing helps in your all-time ranking? Losing cannot be a good thing career wise. You are right that LeBron is already one of the top ten players of all-time, but repeatedly getting to the finals and finishing 2 for 8 or whatever is not going to help his case. Whereas if he can get at least one more in Cleveland, that will boost him a lot.
And I didn't mean he'd slide all the way down to #50 all time or something, but it'd be hard to put him in the Top ten for not getting it done. Yeah people were hurt, but in 40 years, all people are going to see is Warriors 4, Cavaliers 2.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Get the feeling he won't.

He's very clearly declining. As much hyperbole as there was about his good, not great post season run against putrid conference competition ... And an overrated Finals. He very visibly is inferior ability wise from even his 2014 self. In short he's past his prime and it is only going to get worse.

2009 to 2013 prime / peak LeBron is well out of the equation now. Less burst. Less athleticism. Less stamina. Regressed defender. Less consistent shooter.

Then we throw in a very young, very talented, but very fragile and often injured Kyrie Irving.

A prime / peak Love that doesn't totally fit Cleveland's roster, might've been overvalued based off hollow stats on bad basketball teams (Bosh lite) ... The decision to trade away Wiggins might bite them in the ass. Love is closer to his prime exit than he is peaking with a championship caliber team.

All lends itself to a bleaker future than any LeBron and Cav fan would've liked to admit.

This was a season they could've stole won without the lofty expectations and pressures LeBron led teams don't flourish under ... Yet they failed. Even with injuries, and a slumping MVP Curry they had an opportunity and blew it.

West keeps getting better and better as well. More and more stacked by the season.

[Kobe_6/8]

Cleveland has been a sports failure for 50+ years, nobody would be surprised.

[stalkerforlife]

Then he'll never be a top 10 GOAT.

Very simple.

[Naero]

Then he'll never be a top 10 GOAT.

Very simple.

:biggums:

I don't even like LeBron, but I don't see how any rationalist can say his inability to land a championship in Cleveland will outweigh his career's workmanship.

Are there more than 10 players in NBA history that you can cite who accomplished any semblance of the following resume?


Two MVPs.
Two Finals MVPs, while also seasonally overlapping with two regular-season MVPs.
Twice the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, while also being a two-way force to win MVP in the same seasons.
All-time PPG-leader for elimination games (albeit, we will need to see how well that's sustained moving into the future).
His astronomical stats that need no break-down.


There is no denying that he's cemented his way in the top 10, and Anthony Davis/Kevin Durant are the only active players who can riffle those top-10 standings out of any current players.

[Smoke117]

Who cares? Not all of us slave at the idol that is Lebron. This shit is so tiresome ffs. Whether you're a hater or fanboy...you can both **** off. Shut the hell up. Those of us fans of actual basketball don't care about this bullshit.

[stalkerforlife]

:biggums:

I don't even like LeBron, but I don't see how any rationalist can say his inability to land a championship in Cleveland will outweigh his career's workmanship.

Are there more than 10 players in NBA history that you can cite who accomplished any semblance of the following resume?


Two MVPs.
Two Finals MVPs, while also seasonally overlapping with two regular-season MVPs.
Twice the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, while also being a two-way force to win MVP in the same seasons.
All-time PPG-leader for elimination games (albeit, we will need to see how well that's sustained moving into the future).
His astronomical stats that need no break-down.


There is no denying that he's cemented his way in the top 10, and Anthony Davis/Kevin Durant are the only active players who can riffle those top-10 standings out of any current players.

I don't care about anything he did in Miami. Forming a super team, in your prime and in the weakest conference in NBA history, is useless. I'm a huge basketball fan and my intellect on the subject was not fooled by that BS.

He needs to win in Cleveland. I mean damn, his team is still the most stacked...but at least he'd get it done where he originally needed to get it done.

[Mike Armstrong]

The best player of the 2010s. Next question.

Yarp.

[sportjames23]

Cleveland = Greatest beta city of all time. Cuckold capitol of America.


I say damn, son. :oldlol:

[ScarSymmetry]

Answer: Beta colluding phagotte.

[90sgoat]

Get the feeling he won't.

He's very clearly declining. As much hyperbole as there was about his good, not great post season run against putrid conference competition ... And an overrated Finals. He very visibly is inferior ability wise from even his 2014 self. In short he's past his prime and it is only going to get worse.

2009 to 2013 prime / peak LeBron is well out of the equation now. Less burst. Less athleticism. Less stamina. Regressed defender. Less consistent shooter.

Then we throw in a very young, very talented, but very fragile and often injured Kyrie Irving.

A prime / peak Love that doesn't totally fit Cleveland's roster, might've been overvalued based off hollow stats on bad basketball teams (Bosh lite) ... The decision to trade away Wiggins might bite them in the ass. Love is closer to his prime exit than he is peaking with a championship caliber team.

All lends itself to a bleaker future than any LeBron and Cav fan would've liked to admit.

This was a season they could've stole won without the lofty expectations and pressures LeBron led teams don't flourish under ... Yet they failed. Even with injuries, and a slumping MVP Curry they had an opportunity and blew it.

West keeps getting better and better as well. More and more stacked by the season.

Agree with everything but Love's stats are not overrated, he is just a player that needs a specific setup like Dirk needed Tyson Chandler DPOY quality next to him. Put Love on the Spurs insted of Aldridge and don't tell me you don't see him thriving with that passing game and having someone like Duncan to deter defensively? Love is above average in the post too. I think he could have done well with Kobe too in a Gasol role.

[90sgoat]

:biggums:

I don't even like LeBron, but I don't see how any rationalist can say his inability to land a championship in Cleveland will outweigh his career's workmanship.

Are there more than 10 players in NBA history that you can cite who accomplished any semblance of the following resume?


Two MVPs.
Two Finals MVPs, while also seasonally overlapping with two regular-season MVPs.
Twice the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, while also being a two-way force to win MVP in the same seasons.
All-time PPG-leader for elimination games (albeit, we will need to see how well that's sustained moving into the future).
His astronomical stats that need no break-down.


There is no denying that he's cemented his way in the top 10, and Anthony Davis/Kevin Durant are the only active players who can riffle those top-10 standings out of any current players.

MJ
Kareem
Bird
Magic
Russel
Wilt
Shaq
Duncan
Hakeem
Kobe

That is 10 with a better rep than Lebron. Then there are guys like West, Oscar right outside.

Lebron is barely, by a thin thread, top 10, maybe just maybe edging out Hakeem or Kobe.

His top 10 status will not last 2 decades.

[kamil]

The most frustrating thing about this picture is trying to work out what race the guy on the far right is.

Why does it matter?

[FLDFSU]

I don't care about anything he did in Miami. Forming a super team, in your prime and in the weakest conference in NBA history, is useless. I'm a huge basketball fan and my intellect on the subject was not fooled by that BS.

He needs to win in Cleveland. I mean damn, his team is still the most stacked...but at least he'd get it done where he originally needed to get it done.

God you are such a moronic racist.

STFU

[RedBlackAttack]

Cleveland = Greatest beta city of all time. Cuckold capitol of America.
http://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/617/908/2908617.gif

[k0kakw0rld]

Single Handedly made Cleveland a relevant sport city lol with championship dreams. 2 finals never had a full roster vs the Warriors and throughout the entire 2015 playoffs. His legacy is safe he is a lock top 10 player.

[stalkerforlife]

God you are such a moronic racist.

STFU

Wanna fight?

[DonDadda59]

http://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/617/908/2908617.gif

Facts are facts. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. :confusedshrug:

You burned his jersey and denounced him (rightfully so, mind you) when he ripped your hearts out on National TV and tucked tail to run to Wade County. Astronauts reported being able to see the light from the Bron Jersey bonfire from Space. You watched, sick to your stomachs, from afar as he brought gold and glory to another city. You basked in sweet revenge, cooing in ecstasy as Old Man Duncan and the Spurs ran a train on him in the finals.

But of course when he announced that his carpetbagging days were for the moment at an end, that he was done (allegedly) sowing his royal oats... you welcomed him back like nothing had happened.

Your city has suffered heartache from your sports teams more than maybe any other major sports town in America. And you forgave the biggest betrayal ever and treated this scumbag who won 'ships for a city that already won without him like he was some heroic savior doing something noble when in reality he was just trading up, getting a younger woman after his trophy wife started to sag a bit.

When you look up 'Cuckold' in any dictionary, the definition comes equipped with a map of the city of Cleveland.

Watch any cuckold pornography video on the internet, there are literally hundreds of thousands of them if not millions, and then I dare you to argue against Cleveland being that one pasty, bald White cuckold... LeBron being his promiscuous, lusty wife... and that dark-skinned pipe-slanging gentleman plowing her being the city of Miami.

I dare you.

[GoSpursGo1984]

If he does not win another championship he has no case for top ten all time.

[houston]

still top 10 of all-time

[kennethgriffin]

i used to think detroit was the worst place in america

then i thought.. well cleveland isnt too far behind in terms of bad economy and a run down city


then i factored in sports teams and general happiness among its citizens


atleast detroit had the redwings dominating for a while. and the bad boy pistons in the late 80s then winning again in 2004

the tigers had the best baseball player in the world for a little while not too long ago

the lions had one of the greatest football players of all time




but clevelands had nothing. just a choker that quit on them and helped win rigged titles for another city that barely even counted due to a lockout/ray allen shot




so in the end. cleveland is the sh*ttiest place in america... bar none

[ArbitraryWater]

Alright, so repeatedly losing helps in your all-time ranking? Losing cannot be a good thing career wise. You are right that LeBron is already one of the top ten players of all-time, but repeatedly getting to the finals and finishing 2 for 8 or whatever is not going to help his case. Whereas if he can get at least one more in Cleveland, that will boost him a lot.
And I didn't mean he'd slide all the way down to #50 all time or something, but it'd be hard to put him in the Top ten for not getting it done. Yeah people were hurt, but in 40 years, all people are going to see is Warriors 4, Cavaliers 2.

:biggums:

Overall just a shallow way to look at it... the 70's are long 40 years ago, and we look at Kareem's finals loss with the Bucks and know his teammates were injured, we know he did his part, so even that is untrue...

[BasedTom]

Thanks ESPN

[RedBlackAttack]

Facts are facts. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. :confusedshrug:

You burned his jersey and denounced him (rightfully so, mind you) when he ripped your hearts out on National TV and tucked tail to run to Wade County. Astronauts reported being able to see the light from the Bron Jersey bonfire from Space. You watched, sick to your stomachs, from afar as he brought gold and glory to another city. You basked in sweet revenge, cooing in ecstasy as Old Man Duncan and the Spurs ran a train on him in the finals.

But of course when he announced that his carpetbagging days were for the moment at an end, that he was done (allegedly) sowing his royal oats... you welcomed him back like nothing had happened.

Your city has suffered heartache from your sports teams more than maybe any other major sports town in America. And you forgave the biggest betrayal ever and treated this scumbag who won 'ships for a city that already won without him like he was some heroic savior doing something noble when in reality he was just trading up, getting a younger woman after his trophy wife started to sag a bit.

When you look up 'Cuckold' in any dictionary, the definition comes equipped with a map of the city of Cleveland.

Watch any cuckold pornography video on the internet, there are literally hundreds of thousands of them if not millions, and then I dare you to argue against Cleveland being that one pasty, bald White cuckold... LeBron being his promiscuous, lusty wife... and that dark-skinned pipe-slanging gentleman plowing her being the city of Miami.

I dare you.
I don't see how Miami is the BBC in this scenario. I mean, aren't they currently being reverse-cuckolded? This is like a cuckold scenario, but one in which the person doing the cuckolding actually fell in love with the pleasure-seeking white girl, who eventually went back with her pathetic husband.

Miami went out and bought her the pretty dress she saw in the window (Shabazz Napier) and then, when that love wasn't reciprocated, bitterly threw daggers from afar (every Pat Riley interview since this time last year).

Don't get me wrong ... this whole thing has been a bit pathetic, both for the white wife, the person being cuckolded and the cuckolder.

But there are no winners here.

[sd3035]

His legacy right now is a choking statpadder who didn't live up to the hype

I don't see how it can get much worse

[Lebron23]

His legacy right now is a choking statpadder who didn't live up to the hype

I don't see how it can get much worse


Durant and Westbrook are still ringless Simon.

[sd3035]

Durant and Westbrook are still ringless Simon.

OK you got me I'm Simon

You're like the filipino sherlock holmes

[Lebron23]

OK you got me I'm Simon

You're like the filipino sherlock holmes


I want to see LeBron vs. Durant in the NBA Finals again. A Healthy Thunder, and Rockets are my picks to advance in the NBA Finals in the Western Conference.

[sd3035]

I want to see LeBron vs. Durant in the NBA Finals again. A Healthy Thunder, and Rockets are my picks to advance in the NBA Finals in the Western Conference.

That's good for you, are we friends now?

[AnaheimLakers24]

2/7 is coming