Players who played under tremendous pressure

[red1]

Has any player in NBA history had as much pressure to deliver as bron did? He was crowned a GOAT candidate while still in highschool. Nike did their part hyping him up spreading slogans like witness and chosen1. In miami every single interview, action, and bad play at the end of a game was hyper-scrutinized.

People claim that mental toughness isn't a strong suit of his but I couldn't disagree more. Coming back from the 2011 finals collapse the way he did with two consecutive MVPs and championships - that is the definition of mental toughness.

While I am not the biggest fan of his playstyle, I also respect kobe for the way that he kept it together while being falsely accused of rape and the way he overcame it. Can you imagine how irritating it must be to have the media on your case 24/7 for that shit?

I honestly think that was the fuel that drove him to win two more championships. The motivation from that situation and the desire to prove the media wrong about not being able to win without shaq - that is the reason why he DID eventually win without him.

[Im Still Ballin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01QQZyl-_I

[scuzzy]

Good thread

Only athlete that comes close to mind on Lebrons scale is Ray Lewis pressure after he beat his murder case, took years of fan hatred/media hatred then went on to win a SB, accolades, HOF'r and turned into a role model/inspiration in ppls eyes

Tiger Woods after his hooker accusations but never renewed himself from the pressure

[red1]

He hasn't had any pressures out of the ordinary for a NBA All-Star, he just has not handled it very well.
Moving forward, let's not compare curry to kobe. I knew that Curry was being overrated this season and I knew it was a mistake to put him on the class of players like MJ/LBJ and even Kobe. He just isn't in their class.

[Stringer Bell]

Good thread

Only athlete that comes close to mind on Lebrons scale is Ray Lewis pressure after he beat his murder case, took years of fan hatred/media hatred then went on to win a SB, accolades, HOF'r and turned into a role model/inspiration in ppls eyes

Tiger Woods after his hooker accusations but never renewed himself from the pressure

The most pressure athletes faced is probably long ago. Jackie Robinson facing all kinds of racial hatred and death threats while having the pressure of being a source of pride to the black community.

Joe Louis being asked to be the symbol for America in World War 2 against Max Schmeling because Schmeling was German and a symbol for Nazis (even though he was not one). Even the President basically told Louis face-to-face that he was counting on him to win the fight for America.

You also have all these athletes facing death threats. Mitch Williams screwed up in a World Series game and had these death threats, he didn't sleep one night because he stayed up all night with a pistol in his hand because he was worried someone who come to kill him. Luckily no one did, although Williams messed up again, they lost the series, and he got his house vandalized and eventually moved.

What is wrong with people?

[scuzzy]

The most pressure athletes faced is probably long ago. Jackie Robinson facing all kinds of racial hatred and death threats while having the pressure of being a source of pride to the black community.

Joe Louis being asked to be the symbol for America in World War 2 against Max Schmeling because Schmeling was German and a symbol for Nazis (even though he was not one). Even the President basically told Louis face-to-face that he was counting on him to win the fight for America.

You also have all these athletes facing death threats. Mitch Williams screwed up in a World Series game and had these death threats, he didn't sleep one night because he stayed up all night with a pistol in his hand because he was worried someone who come to kill him. Luckily no one did, although Williams messed up again, they lost the series, and he got his house vandalized and eventually moved.

What is wrong with people?


Yes, well thought

I wasnt even thinking outside the box like that

Boxing - the pressure being such an individual sport, physical endurance/training all for one fight every 3-6 months, the challenge to be undefeated or never amount to much, possible mob gambling influence

International Soccer - representing your entire country - its the only sport they have, every person from little kids to grandparents can recognize you - mobs of crowds/paparazzi, death threats and stalkers

What else?

[red1]

The most pressure athletes faced is probably long ago. Jackie Robinson facing all kinds of racial hatred and death threats while having the pressure of being a source of pride to the black community.

Joe Louis being asked to be the symbol for America in World War 2 against Max Schmeling because Schmeling was German and a symbol for Nazis (even though he was not one). Even the President basically told Louis face-to-face that he was counting on him to win the fight for America.

You also have all these athletes facing death threats. Mitch Williams screwed up in a World Series game and had these death threats, he didn't sleep one night because he stayed up all night with a pistol in his hand because he was worried someone who come to kill him. Luckily no one did, although Williams messed up again, they lost the series, and he got his house vandalized and eventually moved.

What is wrong with people?
I was thinking more along the lines of pressure to win in the NBA. These are all good though. Been meaning to watch the jackie robinson movie for years now.

[AirTupac]

D'Angelo Russel since day 1 he was doomed. LA? Star potential? Scandal? He's gonna surpass all that BS and become a visionary PG.

[FatComputerNerd]

Not NBA but field-goal/extra point kickers in Football must play under immense pressure.

[MP.Trey]

He hasn't had any pressures out of the ordinary for a NBA All-Star, he just has not handled it very well.
Yeah, every NBA All-Star was a household name at age 18. Every NBA All-Star has had cameras/media following him and documenting damn near every breath the man took since age 16. Every NBA All-Star plays for his hometown team trying to bring them their first professional championship in over 50 years. Every All-Star gets comparisons to MJ before even stepping on an NBA court. LeBron's just another typical All-Star.

[AintNoSunshine]

Lebron, granted some of it self inflicted










Kobe













Everyone else.

[RedBlackAttack]

If we are talking just strictly modern basketball players (post-1980), I'd say LeBron and Jordan are the two that were under that kind of intense scrutiny to win titles.

You have to be old enough to remember it and to have lived through it, but there was a time when Jordan was referred to as the greatest individual player in the NBA who was not capable of leading a team to a championship.

He was clearly a different kind of athlete almost the second he stepped on the court as a rookie. His second season, which was almost completely lost due to injury, ended with him going toe-to-toe with one of the greatest teams of all-time (1986 Celtics) and scoring 63 points in an overtime loss. The Bulls were swept and so the intense pressure began.

From that point forward, every season Jordan was ousted from the playoffs, the whispers got louder.

I guess the difference is, LeBron's scrutiny started when he was a sophomore in high school. His junior year, Akron SVSM lost to Roger Bacon High School in the OHSAA State Final and LeBron was thrashed for it (he didn't play up to his high standards in the Final).

As we know, that spotlight followed him through his first eight years in the league before he finally got one. And, I might argue that the crowd wasn't truly silenced until a little over a month ago ... when he won a championship for Cleveland, not while playing on the Goliath he helped build in Miami.



If you go outside of basketball, there is a list of athletes who've faced greater or an equal amount of pressure to win championships. Team sports help ease some of that burden, even for the LeBrons and MJs of the world.

When you're out there by yourself, it's a different kind of pressure. That being said, LeBron has answered the bell while being under the kind of microscope I don't think many people would be able to handle.

Like him or not, his ability to play basketball under that burning spotlight is impressive.

[Papaya Petee]

If we are talking just strictly modern basketball players (post-1980), I'd say LeBron and Jordan are the two that were under that kind of intense scrutiny to win titles.

You have to be old enough to remember it and to have lived through it, but there was a time when Jordan was referred to as the greatest individual player in the NBA who was not capable of leading a team to a championship.

He was clearly a different kind of athlete almost the second he stepped on the court as a rookie. His second season, which was almost completely lost due to injury, ended with him going toe-to-toe with one of the greatest teams of all-time (1986 Celtics) and scoring 63 points in an overtime loss. The Bulls were swept and so the intense pressure began.

From that point forward, every season Jordan was ousted from the playoffs, the whispers got louder.

I guess the difference is, LeBron's scrutiny started when he was a sophomore in high school. His junior year, Akron SVSM lost to Roger Bacon High School in the OHSAA State Final and LeBron was thrashed for it (he didn't play up to his high standards in the Final).

As we know, that spotlight followed him through his first eight years in the league before he finally got one. And, I might argue that the crowd wasn't truly silenced until a little over a month ago ... when he won a championship for Cleveland, not while playing on the Goliath he helped build in Miami.



If you go outside of basketball, there is a list of athletes who've faced greater or an equal amount of pressure to win championships. Team sports help ease some of that burden, even for the LeBrons and MJs of the world.

When you're out there by yourself, it's a different kind of pressure. That being said, LeBron has answered the bell while being under the kind of microscope I don't think many people would be able to handle.

Like him or not, his ability to play basketball under that burning spotlight is impressive.
You would argue that because that's clear as day. His haters did everything they could to discredit his two rings, but it's almost impossible to do now.

[ArbitraryWater]

Jesse Owens? Dont know much about him, but just saw a trailer lol....

[Prime_Shaq]

I didn't like LeBron before because he seemed prematurely crowned when he didn't achieve anything yet, glad to see what he has become. In terms of the modern era I think its him.

[jstern]

Kevin Durant. But in his mind. He seems shook about being 27 years old and feeling as if he's going to end up as a ringless legend. Could have easily won a ring this last season, but the pressure just got to him. And despite having a team that could have easily won it all, if not for him choking because of the overblown pressure in his head, feeling as if he's under a microscope and every single person in the world is laughing at him, he decided to destroy his contending team, and join a 73 win team. Surely he's guaranteed to win a championship or two, even if he gets injured for the season. In his head he is ringless Lebron times 3, and that's a lot of pressure.

[RedBlackAttack]

Jesse Owens? Dont know much about him, but just saw a trailer lol....
You serious? Lol

The guy walked into Berlin, Germany at the height of Hitler's rein and personally sh!t all over his theory that "pure" blond haired, blue eyed whites were far superior in every way to any other race, and blacks were near the bottom of his list alongside Jews (we know how warmly he thought of them).

Strangely enough, Owens was so dominant that Hitler was reportedly impressed and a "fan" of his ability to run ridiculously fast. He may have even requested a private meeting iirc.

Unrelated: Owens is another product of the state of Ohio. What is with Ohio producing freakish athletes in all sports? :oldlol:

[BlakFrankWhite]

Wily.

But unfortunantly he wilted under the pressure.

[knickballer]

Some of the big soccer stars when they play for country. Messi and Ronaldo for example have tons of pressure on them when they play for Argentina and Portugal as they have the pressure of carrying a nation. In particular, Messi is often compared to Maradonna who won them a world cup. But when they play for their clubs they don't have much pressure as they play for very talented sides.

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

Some of the big soccer stars when they play for country. Messi and Ronaldo for example have tons of pressure on them when they play for Argentina and Portugal as they have the pressure of carrying a nation. In particular, Messi is often compared to Maradonna who won them a world cup. But when they play for their clubs they don't have much pressure as they play for very talented sides.

And their have been some countries that have killed (or tried to kill) some of their soccer players if they screwed up some way and lost.

(There was a report a couple of years ago that a referee handed out a red card to a player or two.... and was killed a couple of days later...... I believe it was some fans that killed the ref but that kind of behavior happens quite often...)

[FatComputerNerd]

And their have been some countries that have killed (or tried to kill) some of their soccer players if they screwed up some way and lost.

(There was a report a couple of years ago that a referee handed out a red card to a player or two.... and was killed a couple of days later...... I believe it was some fans that killed the ref but that kind of behavior happens quite often...)

That is seriously nuts.

It's a ****in' sport geez.


Sad that soccer/futbol has such nationalistic and xenophobic elements too. Damned hooligans. :facepalm

[feyki]

Harrison Barnes :oldlol:

[bdreason]

LeBron has played with more pressure and expectation than maybe any athlete in the history of sports.

[SexSymbol]

The last time he played with great pressure was 2011 as he "finally" had a great team around him and got to the finals.
The vast majority then saw him as an underperformer in the playoffs after 10 and 11 failures there, that's the exact and only reason why OKC were favored by vegas to win the finals and why he had zero pressure in those finals to perform great, because if he failed, everybody would've thought the same thing, and if he performed above good level, he's adding to his legacy.
In 2013 he faced some pressure against the Spurs as they were pretty equal teams, but he was shrinking from it for most of the series. Doe we have to admit, his G7 is one of the GOAT games.
In 2014, there was even less pressure for him to perform than in 12, because he has been to 3 straight finals and tired and wade and bosh were falling off and everybody just knew that spurs would win. Then he played one good game to get Heat the win to solidify the theory that he's doing it all on his own and then obviously suffered the worst loss in finals history and it didn't really affect his legacy, because he was shying away from pressure in those finals by not taking nearly enough shots to justify those "great" stats.

Then he did the genius move to go back to cleveland, it's a young team with most talent in the nba, but young, inexperienced and that has never won, so again, zero pressure in 15, because how can you compete against the vast experience of '15 GSW, and obviously injuries to Love and Irving which were at least arguably, a blessing in disguise.
We get to 16, and there's again ZERO pressure as you're going against the best regular season team of all time, although with injuries and questionable suspensions.
07 finals he obviously had zero pressure with a Cavs team that could've won the finals if he had played 5 percent better, because of being young and inexperienced and going against a two time champ in Duncan. People don't understand that Cavs would've swept Spurs if Bron player a little better, all close games.

He faced real pressure in one finals, and then arguably in 13. That's it for his career, media always tried to spin him out as an underdog in case the man lost. Listen, I like LeBron, but he reminds me of Hillary, average, but system made him a candidate for the highest honor.

[JT123]

The last time he played with great pressure was 2011 as he "finally" had a great team around him and got to the finals.
The vast majority then saw him as an underperformer in the playoffs after 10 and 11 failures there, that's the exact and only reason why OKC were favored by vegas to win the finals and why he had zero pressure in those finals to perform great, because if he failed, everybody would've thought the same thing, and if he performed above good level, he's adding to his legacy.
In 2013 he faced some pressure against the Spurs as they were pretty equal teams, but he was shrinking from it for most of the series. Doe we have to admit, his G7 is one of the GOAT games.
In 2014, there was even less pressure for him to perform than in 12, because he has been to 3 straight finals and tired and wade and bosh were falling off and everybody just knew that spurs would win. Then he played one good game to get Heat the win to solidify the theory that he's doing it all on his own and then obviously suffered the worst loss in finals history and it didn't really affect his legacy, because he was shying away from pressure in those finals by not taking nearly enough shots to justify those "great" stats.

Then he did the genius move to go back to cleveland, it's a young team with most talent in the nba, but young, inexperienced and that has never won, so again, zero pressure in 15, because how can you compete against the vast experience of '15 GSW, and obviously injuries to Love and Irving which were at least arguably, a blessing in disguise.
We get to 16, and there's again ZERO pressure as you're going against the best regular season team of all time, although with injuries and questionable suspensions.
07 finals he obviously had zero pressure with a Cavs team that could've won the finals if he had played 5 percent better, because of being young and inexperienced and going against a two time champ in Duncan. People don't understand that Cavs would've swept Spurs if Bron player a little better, all close games.

He faced real pressure in one finals, and then arguably in 13. That's it for his career, media always tried to spin him out as an underdog in case the man lost. Listen, I like LeBron, but he reminds me of Hillary, average, but system made him a candidate for the highest honor.
What you have just typed is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever seen. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this forum is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Fire Colangelo]

The last time he played with great pressure was 2011 as he "finally" had a great team around him and got to the finals.
The vast majority then saw him as an underperformer in the playoffs after 10 and 11 failures there, that's the exact and only reason why OKC were favored by vegas to win the finals and why he had zero pressure in those finals to perform great, because if he failed, everybody would've thought the same thing, and if he performed above good level, he's adding to his legacy.
In 2013 he faced some pressure against the Spurs as they were pretty equal teams, but he was shrinking from it for most of the series. Doe we have to admit, his G7 is one of the GOAT games.
In 2014, there was even less pressure for him to perform than in 12, because he has been to 3 straight finals and tired and wade and bosh were falling off and everybody just knew that spurs would win. Then he played one good game to get Heat the win to solidify the theory that he's doing it all on his own and then obviously suffered the worst loss in finals history and it didn't really affect his legacy, because he was shying away from pressure in those finals by not taking nearly enough shots to justify those "great" stats.

Then he did the genius move to go back to cleveland, it's a young team with most talent in the nba, but young, inexperienced and that has never won, so again, zero pressure in 15, because how can you compete against the vast experience of '15 GSW, and obviously injuries to Love and Irving which were at least arguably, a blessing in disguise.
We get to 16, and there's again ZERO pressure as you're going against the best regular season team of all time, although with injuries and questionable suspensions.
07 finals he obviously had zero pressure with a Cavs team that could've won the finals if he had played 5 percent better, because of being young and inexperienced and going against a two time champ in Duncan. People don't understand that Cavs would've swept Spurs if Bron player a little better, all close games.

He faced real pressure in one finals, and then arguably in 13. That's it for his career, media always tried to spin him out as an underdog in case the man lost. Listen, I like LeBron, but he reminds me of Hillary, average, but system made him a candidate for the highest honor.

You can't possibly be this stupid.

LeBron was dubbed as the Chosen one as a 16 year old. ESPN was airing his High School games with Bill Walton, Jay Bilas and Dickie V. You either weren't around at the time, or didn't follow basketball. LeBron has literally been sitting under a microscope since 14 years old, he had THAT much hype.

I remember reading a Sports Illustrated article that talked about nothing else but how LeBron was going to dominate the league - this was when he was 16 years old.

Then he got drafted to his hometown as the #1 pick, immense pressure to win one for the cursed city of Cleveland (of all the teams to pick him). And he would come close while carrying them to the Finals for the first time in franchise history. Dude was only 22 at the time, but was scrutinized for every bad play he made.

You touched on 2011, but he had so much pressure in the 2010-2011 season (granted he brought it onto himself) after the Decision. Started out the season going 9-8 or something, and people started doubting/criticizing. He followed it up with a 21-1 run that would bring them atop of the Eastern Conference.
He ultimately wilted under that pressure and failed to win a championship in his first year. But what made me respect him was the amount of work he put in that summer to further perfect his game.

Now dubbed by the media as the "Frozen" One, he had so much pressure to win a ring in 2012. His legacy was going to go down the drain if he failed to win one this year - and he followed up with a spectacular season, and some unbelievable games in the playoffs.

45/15/5 - Game 6 vs Boston
29/10/7 - Finals against the Thunder

So he finally won a ring, the pressure is off right? No. Now the question was whether or not LeBron can repeat.

LeBron followed his 2012 season with once again a spectacular regular season including the win streak, and a dominant showing in the playoffs. Down 10 at the start of the 4th quarter in a crucial Game 6 - LeBron scored 15 in the 4th to bring them back in position for the Ray Allen shot.

And of course, LeBron had one of the GOAT game 7's in the 2013 Finals.

Won't touch on 2015 and 2016, you'd have to be retarded to think LeBron has zero pressure AFTER promising Cleveland he'd win one for them, and after trading their future in Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love in order to win now.

[SexSymbol]

You can't possibly be this stupid.

LeBron was dubbed as the Chosen one as a 16 year old. ESPN was airing his High School games with Bill Walton, Jay Bilas and Dickie V. You either weren't around at the time, or didn't follow basketball. LeBron has literally been sitting under a microscope since 14 years old, he had THAT much hype.

I remember reading a Sports Illustrated article that talked about nothing else but how LeBron was going to dominate the league - this was when he was 16 years old.

Then he got drafted to his hometown as the #1 pick, immense pressure to win one for the cursed city of Cleveland (of all the teams to pick him). And he would come close while carrying them to the Finals for the first time in franchise history. Dude was only 22 at the time, but was scrutinized for every bad play he made.

You touched on 2011, but he had so much pressure in the 2010-2011 season (granted he brought it onto himself) after the Decision. Started out the season going 9-8 or something, and people started doubting/criticizing. He followed it up with a 21-1 run that would bring them atop of the Eastern Conference.
He ultimately wilted under that pressure and failed to win a championship in his first year. But what made me respect him was the amount of work he put in that summer to further perfect his game.

Now dubbed by the media as the "Frozen" One, he had so much pressure to win a ring in 2012. His legacy was going to go down the drain if he failed to win one this year - and he followed up with a spectacular season, and some unbelievable games in the playoffs.

45/15/5 - Game 6 vs Boston
29/10/7 - Finals against the Thunder

So he finally won a ring, the pressure is off right? No. Now the question was whether or not LeBron can repeat.

LeBron followed his 2012 season with once again a spectacular regular season including the win streak, and a dominant showing in the playoffs. Down 10 at the start of the 4th quarter in a crucial Game 6 - LeBron scored 15 in the 4th to bring them back in position for the Ray Allen shot.

And of course, LeBron had one of the GOAT game 7's in the 2013 Finals.

So okay, he was dubbed as the chosen one from 14-16 years old right? Doesn't that make him better and more accustomed to pressure as he enters the NBA as he has previously been considered the best and is MUCH more adjusted to exposure and the lights than an average NBA draftee? I'd argue that a guy who has a breakout year in the NBA, especially on a good team, has more pressure to perform next year, then a guy who's drafted to a bad team and has all the plays layed out to him. And don't talk about these articles as anybody cared about them, I've seen so many "young guy will dominate the league" articles that there's probably a hundred or more young chosen ones growing up right now, there's even articles like that on bron's son.
Hype doesn't always equal pressure. You can be hyped as the best player in the game but if your team is "hyped" as the worst supporting cast you don't have the insane pressure to perform as you can always fall back to the argument that your team is shit. Which is the case for most bron's career.

Your 2012 argument just doesn't make sense as you contradict yourself. So if the media frames him as the frozen one, that defines him as a player, which means that the media, and with them, then fans, expect him to freeze. If you're called the frozen one, that the person calling you that doesn't expect you to heat up, isn't that fair to say? So if he's expected to freeze, there's no PRESSURE for him to heat up or in more literal sense, win, because he's known as a loser, at least at that point, right? Yes, he had great games, yes, he had good to great finals, but the point is that vast majority of people didn't expect him to perform at that level based on his previous showings, which in turn means that there was zero pressure.
I agree that there was pressure on him in 13, but much less than before as he has proven the haters wrong and won a ring at that time.

I don't even think you read most of my post, because you repeated a lot of things that I said, about LeBron having one of the GOAT g7s in 13 and huge pressure in 11.
I'm sorry, but I'm just not following your argument for 12 as you contradict yourself in the same sentence.

[SexSymbol]

What you have just typed is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever seen. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this forum is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Nice copy paste, mate.
You are welcome to refute any of my points with solid arguments, until then, don't interfere when people try to discuss things.

[Fire Colangelo]

So okay, he was dubbed as the chosen one from 14-16 years old right? Doesn't that make him better and more accustomed to pressure as he enters the NBA as he has previously been considered the best and is MUCH more adjusted to exposure and the lights than an average NBA draftee? I'd argue that a guy who has a breakout year in the NBA, especially on a good team, has more pressure to perform next year, then a guy who's drafted to a bad team and has all the plays layed out to him. And don't talk about these articles as anybody cared about them, I've seen so many "young guy will dominate the league" articles that there's probably a hundred or more young chosen ones growing up right now, there's even articles like that on bron's son.
Hype doesn't always equal pressure. You can be hyped as the best player in the game but if your team is "hyped" as the worst supporting cast you don't have the insane pressure to perform as you can always fall back to the argument that your team is shit. Which is the case for most bron's career.

Your 2012 argument just doesn't make sense as you contradict yourself. So if the media frames him as the frozen one, that defines him as a player, which means that the media, and with them, then fans, expect him to freeze. If you're called the frozen one, that the person calling you that doesn't expect you to heat up, isn't that fair to say? So if he's expected to freeze, there's no PRESSURE for him to heat up or in more literal sense, win, because he's known as a loser, at least at that point, right? Yes, he had great games, yes, he had good to great finals, but the point is that vast majority of people didn't expect him to perform at that level based on his previous showings, which in turn means that there was zero pressure.
I agree that there was pressure on him in 13, but much less than before as he has proven the haters wrong and won a ring at that time.

I don't even think you read most of my post, because you repeated a lot of things that I said, about LeBron having one of the GOAT g7s in 13 and huge pressure in 11.
I'm sorry, but I'm just not following your argument for 12 as you contradict yourself in the same sentence.

There are different kinds of pressure:

When everyone expect you to come in a dominate the league as a 18/19 years old, that's pressure.

When you're exposed to the media, and get hyped up as the next Michael Jordan before you start to grow pubes - there's pressure to live up to those expectations.

When you're getting criticized, and doubted - there's pressure to prove the doubters wrong.

You think Kobe didn't have pressure when "analysts" were talking about how his style of play was detrimental to his team? You think Kobe didn't have pressure to win rings after Shaq left the Lakers? Hell yes he did, that's what fuelled his championship run from 08-10.

Going by your logic, Kobe didn't have any pressure to win after Shaq left, because everybody already thought he couldn't win anymore.

[SexSymbol]

There are different kinds of pressure:

When everyone expect you to come in a dominate the league as a 18/19 years old, that's pressure.

When you're exposed to the media, and get hyped up as the next Michael Jordan before you start to grow pubes - there's pressure to live up to those expectations.

When you're getting criticized, and doubted - there's pressure to prove the doubters wrong.

You think Kobe didn't have pressure when "analysts" were talking about how his style of play was detrimental to his team? You think Kobe didn't have pressure to win rings after Shaq left the Lakers? Hell yes he did, that's what fuelled his championship run from 08-10.

Going by your logic, Kobe didn't have any pressure to win after Shaq left, because everybody already thought he couldn't win anymore.

Kobe didn't have that much pressure in 08 due to Boston just being a better team, he just played bad and got fouled and uncalled for it in the last games. And it's kinda unfair to compare the two in this kind of field as Kobe loves to put pressure on himself from various bullshit reasons, and LeBron generally tries to stay away from that. And I don't think that any of these ways are wrong, they're just polar opposites. There's a difference between being hated and being pressurized and I think you're mixing up the two.
And I don't agree that "everybody already thought he couldn't win anymore.

Don't act like LeBron was the first next MJ. Iverson, Carter, Tmac, Hill, all were hailed as the next MJ. I'd argue that Grant Hill has had the same amount of hype as LeBron.

Nobody really expected for him to come in and dominate the league at 18, stop it. Just because you read the word dominate on some of those articles that are made for people to click on them or read them in newspapers doesn't mean jack shit, like I said, there's so many people with these kinds of articles that it's ludicrous to think only LeBron's articles were legit and realistic expectations.

As regards to the bolded, you're confusing pressure with motivation. Pressure is when things change if you fail, not just when you succeed, and nothing changes for bron career wise if he fails in 12 finals.

[KiiiiNG]

Nobody really expected for him to come in and dominate the league at 18, stop it. Just because you read the word dominate on some of those articles that are made for people to click on them or read them in newspapers doesn't mean jack shit, like I said, there's so many people with these kinds of articles that it's ludicrous to think only LeBron's articles were legit and realistic expectations.
You couldn't be more wrong. Nobody had as high expectations coming into the league as LeBron... the only one close is Kareem.

[SexSymbol]

You couldn't be more wrong. Nobody had as high expectations coming into the league as LeBron... the only one close is Kareem.
You should check in on more history of the game man, google Grant Hill, invest some time into basketball's history before arguing it so confidently.

Wiggins had insane amounts of hype too, you would hear his name even on this forum 4-5 years ago. But we all know it means nothing, like people knew back in 01-03 about lebron

[scuzzy]

You should check in on more history of the game man, google Grant Hill, invest some time into basketball's history before arguing it so confidently.

Wiggins had insane amounts of hype too, you would hear his name even on this forum 4-5 years ago. But we all know it means nothing, like people knew back in 01-03 about lebron


Wiggins wasn't on the cover of Sports Illustrated 4 times before he turned 18, nor was any other athlete

Name another player that was given a 90 million dollar contract at 18?

He had multiple HIGH SCHOOL games broadcasted by ESPN with people like Bill Walton, Jay Bilas and Dickie V on the call. Shaq, Kobe, AI, celebs all use to show up to watch his HS games.

His junior and senior year in HS there were pretty much highlights and reports on ESPN from all his games

His last HS game vs Carmelo was pay per view

At 17, When he got busted for signing memorabilia and getting his mom an SUV, it was the top Sportscenter and sports story all over the nation

He was gonna be first pick in the draft two years before the draft ever happened, It was the most hyped NBA draft ever

The only athlete to come close at a young age is Bryce Harper, maybe Sidney crosby and that still wasn't anywhere near the hype LeBron experienced in high school.

Watch the documentary "More Than A Game". It chronicles his High School/AAU team

[Real14]

LeBron failed the most under pressure.

[SexSymbol]

Wiggins wasn't on the cover of Sports Illustrated 4 times before he turned 18, nor was any other athlete

Name another player that was given a 90 million dollar contract at 18?

He had multiple HIGH SCHOOL games broadcasted by ESPN with people like Bill Walton, Jay Bilas and Dickie V on the call. Shaq, Kobe, AI, celebs all use to show up to watch his HS games.

His junior and senior year in HS there were pretty much highlights and reports on ESPN from all his games

His last HS game vs Carmelo was pay per view

At 17, When he got busted for signing memorabilia and getting his mom an SUV, it was the top Sportscenter and sports story all over the nation

He was gonna be first pick in the draft two years before the draft ever happened, It was the most hyped NBA draft ever

The only athlete to come close at a young age is Bryce Harper, maybe Sidney crosby and that still wasn't anywhere near the hype LeBron experienced in high school.

Watch the documentary "More Than A Game". It chronicles his High School/AAU team
Sure, I'm not arguing that he wasn't hyped as fk. And Sports Illustrated isn't nearly what it was back then. And check in on grant hill stakes too, he was just as hyped
But hype doesn't equal pressure of the bat if you're drafted into a bad team in a small, shitty city with no winning culture. Everything he's done pre 2010 was considered a success even if in comparison to other all time greats it was pedestrian at best.

He had more pressure than anybody in 2011 because he was overwhelmingly expected to win AND was hated by the whole word. His whole legacy, at that point, was at stake. And he fainted.

Please explain to me, how 2012 was huge pressure for him if nothing changes in terms of career and public perception?

When you're at the point where success adds and failure doesn't detract you have no pressure and I don't think that's even arguable.

[Kawhi]

Truth to be told, no player faced more pressure than James before G6 in 2012.

[Kawhi]

LeBron failed the most under pressure.
Actually, he's one of few who made it to this level despite the hype and the pressure. Many men have crumbled, he didn't. Your IQ is lacking.

[Fire Colangelo]

Kobe didn't have that much pressure in 08 due to Boston just being a better team, he just played bad and got fouled and uncalled for it in the last games. And it's kinda unfair to compare the two in this kind of field as Kobe loves to put pressure on himself from various bullshit reasons, and LeBron generally tries to stay away from that. And I don't think that any of these ways are wrong, they're just polar opposites. There's a difference between being hated and being pressurized and I think you're mixing up the two.
And I don't agree that "everybody already thought he couldn't win anymore.

wtf are you even talking about.

Why would LeBron go to Miami if he didn't want pressure?

Why would he leave Miami and go to the Cavs if he wanted to stay away from pressure?


Don't act like LeBron was the first next MJ. Iverson, Carter, Tmac, Hill, all were hailed as the next MJ. I'd argue that Grant Hill has had the same amount of hype as LeBron.

I wouldn't go there if I were you, you'd be fighting an uphill battle. Hill's hype wasn't even close to LeBron.


Nobody really expected for him to come in and dominate the league at 18, stop it. Just because you read the word dominate on some of those articles that are made for people to click on them or read them in newspapers doesn't mean jack shit, like I said, there's so many people with these kinds of articles that it's ludicrous to think only LeBron's articles were legit and realistic expectations.

You couldn't be more wrong about this my man, it wasn't just the articles.

I know you live in Europe and all, so there's no way for you to witness the hype. I'm with you, I'm Canadian but let me tell you this - during 2002ish, you could walk into a bar in Toronto.... and they would broadcast LeBron's high school games nationally..... in a bar. Think about that for a second, can you think of another athlete who had that kind of treatment?

Keep in mind that this was in Canada too... so I can only imagine what the hype was like in the States.

-Danny Ainge back in 2002 while Lebron was still in high school, -"If I were a general manager, there are only four or five NBA players that I wouldn't trade to get him right now," says former Phoenix Suns coach Danny Ainge, who was in Trenton to see LeBron play for the second time. "I love Jason Williams at Duke, and I've heard of the Chinese guy [7'6" Yao Ming], but if LeBron came out this year, I wouldn't even have to think about it. I'd take him No. 1."

^ Keep in mind that Danny Ainge proved to be a very successful GM. You simply don't say that about someone that you don't expect to dominate right away. You don't waste your #1 draft pick on someone with pure potential either. LeBron was expected to dominate in the league whether you like it or not.



As regards to the bolded, you're confusing pressure with motivation. Pressure is when things change if you fail, not just when you succeed, and nothing changes for bron career wise if he fails in 12 finals.

Yes yes, lets just make up our own definitions now.

[KiiiiNG]

You should check in on more history of the game man, google Grant Hill, invest some time into basketball's history before arguing it so confidently.

Wiggins had insane amounts of hype too, you would hear his name even on this forum 4-5 years ago. But we all know it means nothing, like people knew back in 01-03 about lebron
You couldn't be more wrong. Nobody had as high expectations coming into the league as LeBron... the only one close is Kareem.

[Fire Colangelo]

You couldn't be more wrong. Nobody had as high expectations coming into the league as LeBron... the only one close is Kareem.


Grant Hill wasn't even the #1 pick out of his own draft



More hyped than LeBron :roll:

[KiiiiNG]

Grant Hill wasn't even the #1 pick out of his own draft



More hyped than LeBron :roll:
:roll:

"You should check in on more history of the game man, google Grant Hill, invest some time into basketball's history before arguing it so confidently." ....... LMAO!



And then he brings up Wiggins right after that. You can't make up the levels of stupidity that SexSymbol displays on a daily basis here - Kobe stans should be proud!

[DirkNowitzki41]

No one has even come close to the pressure that LeBron faces. On and off the court, every little thing he does is under a microscope. Pretty sad.

Like shit, can you imagine if LeBron's wife said the NBA was rigged? And then proceeded to choke in game 7? Having your teammate say you will drop 50 then drop an inefficient 17 with horrible D and dumbass turnovers? Hit a fan with a mouthpiece after getting ejected cause you got your shit pushed in?

2012 playoffs, ringless LeBron down 1-2 vs Pacers on the road and in game 4 being down by 10+? And coming to drop 40/18/9? Crazy. Then obv the GOAT game (Game 6 Boston). Down 0-1 in the finals and down by 10+ in game 2 and still manage to win the game and series? Down 2-3 vs the Spurs in the 2013 finals. Still coming back and dominating the series... I can go on and on.

This is why LeBrons amazing resume is so much better than it looks. Goes beyond his 4 mvps, 3 rings, and 3 fmvps.. let alone all-star selections, all nba teams, all D teams, etc.

[MintBerryCrunch]

LeBron had the most from the start of his career.

[Big164]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xKaLrc66oZk/UIMkn8kuj_I/AAAAAAAADt0/gngtM8SuhZ8/s800/%2528Wilt%2520Lebron%2520Scale%2529.jpg

[Hey Yo]

Then he did the genius move to go back to cleveland, it's a young team with most talent in the nba,
Waiters, Bennett, Thompson, Irving, Wiggins etc... = most talent on one team in the NBA??

:oldlol:

[DCL]

all the big name millionaires mentioned have a different pressure. their pressure is to perform so they can satisfy the ego and not get clowned by the public or the media.

but the no-names on the last seat of the bench with no nba contracts, the guys who only know basketball and have no plan B, also deal with another form of pressure - and that is simply to survive and do enough to eat and support a family.

which pressure do you think is more tremendous in life?

[RRR3]

LeBron haters are so ridiculous. They can't admit he is number one at ANYTHING, even if it's bad publicity or hype.

[Fire Colangelo]

all the big name millionaires mentioned have a different pressure. their pressure is to perform so they can satisfy the ego and not get clowned by the public or the media.

but the no-names on the last seat of the bench with no nba contracts, the guys who only know basketball and have no plan B, also deal with another form of pressure - and that is simply to survive and do enough to eat and support a family.

which pressure do you think is more tremendous in life?

Dudes sitting on the end of the NBA bench earn about 10 years of average salary in one year.

You'd have a point if you were talking about D-Leaguers - but then again, how are they different than the average person that has to take entrance exams to get into a good College?

[Uncle Drew]

Waiters, Bennett, Thompson, Irving, Wiggins etc... = most talent on one team in the NBA??

:oldlol:
That was the consensus, yes.