LeBron James has dribbled through his basketball life with the burden, and blessing, of talents that are more or less as vast as the universe.
He is, finally, prepared to make peace with his potential. This is the season LeBron will rule the NBA.
He’s not winning any popularity contests. I’d estimate 85 percent of Americans are rooting against LeBron and his Heat as they prepare to tangle with Kevin Durant and the Thunder in the NBA Finals. LeBron may never earn forgiveness for his dunderheaded departure from Cleveland.
But he looks ready to finally grow into his nickname. It’s time for King James to begin his NBA reign.
Hank Egan lives in Colorado Springs, where he’s savoring retirement after a long basketball journey. He served as head coach at Air Force and the University of San Diego before working as an assistant with the Spurs and Warriors. He finished his career in Cleveland, where he spent five seasons coaching LeBron.
Egan, talking in his thick Brooklyn accent, laughed as he considered LeBron’s skills. He’s seen dozens of the greats, including Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
“LeBron may be the most gifted one I’ve ever seen,†Egan said.
But those immense gifts became, strangely enough, LeBron’s biggest problem. Egan and other coaches pushed LeBron to become more fundamentally sound and more disciplined, but it’s hard to listen when you’re dominating games and collecting MVP trophies.
“He never really understood he needed to grow,†Egan said.
The past two seasons served to humble LeBron. Playoff defeats to the Celtics in 2010 and the Mavericks in 2011 forced him to listen to the often-harsh words of his critics, who are legion. He became more adept at scoring with his back to the basket. He doesn’t disappear in the tense final moments of games.
We’re seeing the mature version of LeBron, who was magnificent in the just-completed Eastern Conference finals triumph over the Celtics, averaging 33.6 points and showing everyone, including himself, the Heat is his team. Dwyane Wade is a stupendous player, but he’s LeBron’s sidekick.
LeBron retains one of the best air shows in basketball history. LeBron soars in flight space above the rim reserved for a fortunate few. Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins, David Thompson, Gus Johnson and Julius Erving once flew in these spaces.
LeBron still soars, but he's become much more effective on the ground. That's the reason for the heightened danger of his game.
Egan has been impressed by LeBron’s new approach. He sees a superlative talent who now embraces the required basics of the game. The natural has become a devoted student.
But Egan isn’t quite ready to place the crown on LeBron. This is not a knock on LeBron’s status. It’s recognition of the Thunder’s deep collection of talent.
I asked Egan to predict the winner of the Finals.
“I have no prediction, but I have some advice: Don’t put any money on this one,†Egan said.
In other words, the series is virtually dead even. Durant is the game’s second-best player.Â
He’s skinny to the extreme in contrast to LeBron’s linebacker-like frame. He’s strenuously avoided the spotlight, choosing to play in the flatlands of Oklahoma. He is the anti-LeBron.
This looming LeBron-Durant matchup could be the start of a great NBA rivalry, right up there with Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell and Larry Bird vs. Magic.
I have immense respect for Egan’s basketball knowledge, but will go against his advice. I’m not betting money. I am making this prediction:
The Heat will silence the Thunder. This is, finally, LeBron’s moment.
Twitter: @davidramz
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