LeBron Is Not A Ring Chaser

[Soundwave]

He's not going to the defending champions. The Heat are a average team coming into this summer. Getting Bosh made them an above average team, but not a championship contender really. L.A., Orlando, Boston, and probably one or two other teams are still better.

They need LeBron to win a championship.

Secondly, the whole thing about Magic/Bird/Kobe/MJ never left ... lemme ask you ...

Did Magic acquire Kareem via trade?

Did Bird draft McHale and Parish?

Did Jordan go get Scottie Pippen?

Kobe whined, but ultimately it took Jerry West to deal Gasol to L.A.

Point is, it's not like player talent made those teams great. The GM and pure luck really is something a player can't control. Kobe didn't do anything to go get Gasol, it's the front office that does all that.

It's not LeBron's fault he wasn't gift wrapped an ideal situation like Magic or Kobe was right from a rookie season where Kobe has played with stacked teams 80% of his career.

So what if the Cavs didn't sign Wade + Bosh to join LeBron. The point is, everyone wants to see great players play with other great players. Who would want to see Magic Johnson stuck on the L.A. Clippers for the duration of his career?

Now we can see what LeBron can do with two very good players with him -- the same opportunity Kobe has always had, the same one Jordan got, the same one Magic had, the same one Bird had.

Yeah it's too bad it couldn't happen in Cleveland, but that's not LeBron's fault that management couldn't bring in the type of talent he needs to be surrounded by. So he took matters into his own hands to ensure that he had a good supporting cast. So what?

[-playmaker-]

dude he openly admitts that his main motivation in this is to win a ring...that this gives him the best odds...

you're right, it isn't Bron's fault it didn't work out in Cleveland, but he is still chasing a ring...

he took a pay cut, to chase a ring...

[RedBlackAttack]

If this isn't ring chasing, then I don't know what is. Honestly... If the term 'ring-chaser' were in the dictionary, there should simply be a picture of James.

[Soundwave]

A ring chaser IMO is someone who goes to a team that could already win a championship without them and tags along for the ride.

That's not the case here.

The Heat with Bosh + Wade aren't locks to win anything. Odds are they are still a notch below the Magic and Celtics and a couple of notches below the Lakers.

How many of you would bet on the Heat to win a title without LeBron?

*crickets*

If LeBron signed with the Lakers or forced a trade to the Lakers, then I would agree he's a ring chaser, but this is not the same situation.

[DuMa]

Previous known Ring Chasers:

Clyde Drexler in 1995 (succession)
Charles Barkley in 1996 (failure)
Karl Malone in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2006 (succession)

the difference between these guys and Lebron?

[Snoop_Cat]

Previous known Ring Chasers:

Clyde Drexler in 1995 (succession)
Charles Barkley in 1996 (failure)
Karl Malone in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2006 (succession)

the difference between these guys and Lebron?

They gave it their best and didn't cop out in their PRIMES like LeBron is doing

[Soundwave]

Previous known Ring Chasers:

Clyde Drexler in 1995 (succession)
Charles Barkley in 1996 (failure)
Karl Malone in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2006 (succession)

the difference between these guys and Lebron?

The Heat aren't NBA champions.

They haven't won anything for 4 years, and were never multiple title winners either.

The Heat are an average team. Now with the addition of LeBron + Bosh they can be considered true contenders.

The Heat cannot win a title without LeBron. That simple.

[Younggrease]

Previous known Ring Chasers:

Clyde Drexler in 1995 (succession)
Charles Barkley in 1996 (failure)
Karl Malone in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2006 (succession)

the difference between these guys and Lebron?

Lebron is 25 years old and in his prime...

[RedBlackAttack]

A ring chaser IMO is someone who goes to a team that could already win a championship without them and tags along for the ride.

That's not the case here.

The Heat with Bosh + Wade aren't locks to win anything. Odds are they are still a notch below the Magic and Celtics and a couple of notches below the Lakers.

How many of you would bet on the Heat to win a title without LeBron?

*crickets*

If LeBron signed with the Lakers or forced a trade to the Lakers, then I would agree he's a ring chaser, but this is not the same situation.

The guy is ADMITTING right now on SportsCenter that his only goal when making this decision was to get a ring. Another way to describe a person like that: ring-chaser.

To tag along with arguably the best player in the league and create a quasi-all-star team at the ripe, old age of 25.... laughable.

You don't think a team with Wade and Bosh would be competing for a title with or without LeBron James? Really?

[dynasty1978]

Previous known Ring Chasers:

Clyde Drexler in 1995 (succession)
Charles Barkley in 1996 (failure)
Karl Malone in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2004 (failure)
Gary Payton in 2006 (succession)

the difference between these guys and Lebron?

They've won a game in the finals?

[Soundwave]

The guy is ADMITTING right now on SportsCenter that his only goal when making this decision was to get a ring. Another way to describe a person like that: ring-chaser.

To tag along with arguably the best player in the league and create a quasi-all-star team at the ripe, old age of 25.

You don't think a team with Wade and Bosh would be competing for a title with or without LeBron James? Really?

He's admitting he wants a championship. What's wrong with that? Oh no *gasp* a player who actually wants to win something over taking bigger endorsement deals in New York.

[RedBlackAttack]

They gave it their best and didn't cop out in their PRIMES like LeBron is doing

Exactly... This is a new form of ring-chasing that I thought we would never see. He has taken the easy way out and will forever be a loser as far as I'm concerned.

He just conceded that, not only could he not win without another superstar, but he couldn't win without two superstars... One of which is arguably better than him.

Pathetic. LeBron just set the NBA back.

[imnew09]

Lol,
wade + bosh + lebron not NBA CHAMP contender team??
hahaha
watch some basketball dumb ass.

[twolvesfan]

What is so bad about wanting to win rings? I am applauding Lebron for getting out now at age 25 until waiting until he is 31 and still doesn't have a ring (Cough *Garnett* Cough). Unless you have a competent GM loyalty is a bad thing in the NBA.

[Soundwave]

Exactly... This is a new form of ring-chasing that I thought we would never see. He has taken the easy way out and will forever be a loser as far as I'm concerned.

He just conceded that, not only could he not win without another superstar, but he couldn't win without two superstars... One of which is arguably better than him.

Pathetic. LeBron just set the NBA back.

Which great players in NBA history have won without another superstar at their side?

Is it LeBron's fault that he was drafted by Cleveland instead of say whining and asking to be traded to the Lakers like Kobe did?

Would you think as highly of Magic Johnson if he got stuck on the Clippers instead of the Lakers and never won a title there surrounding by medicore-to-above average at best supporting casts?

Great players need to be surrounded by at least one other great player. It's not LeBron's fault that he didn't luck into a situation as good as Magic or Kobe or Bird.