LeBron James

[shoes22]

A retired jersey is no small thing. That's all he should get now.

Normally I’d agree with you, but the Cavs already have seven retired jerseys already (eight if you count Joe Tait). That makes it not really special anymore.

I’m as bothered at LeBron as the next guy for not ever really being dedicated to the city or organization like he put on, but having the same level of recognition as Bingo Smith and Nate Thurmond (who only played for the Cavs for a single season) is a bit much...

LeBron will be going to the basketball hall of fame in a Cavs uniform. The time he spent here produced heights of basketball very few franchises have experienced, and that most never will experience. A statue I think is appropriate, but one of him, Kyrie, and Love I think is equally appropriate for different reasons.

 

[letgocavs]

Reading some of the LeBron hate on here some people are so Damn ungrateful. LeBron didn't have to come back at all.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

The price of a statue was finishing his career here. That went out the window when he chose to go to LA.

A retired jersey is no small thing. That's all he should get now.

This 110%. We got a championship, but LeBron also sealed his legacy. In turn he was given everything he asked for and he has his jersey retirement to look forward to.

The way I look at it, there were three ways LeBron could have gotten a statue: a) won multiple titles here b) played out the rest of his career here c) both a and b, obviously.

Thank you LeBron, but you don't get a statue for 1 title after leaving us twice.

 

[czvo]

LeBron is going to get a statue. Whether or not you think he should is irrelevant, and it'll be especially irrelevant when he retires.

 

[stowfan]

LeBron is going to get a statue. Whether or not you think he should is irrelevant, and it'll be especially irrelevant when he retires.

I'm sure you're right, but one in the interim to celebrate the Championship isn't going to break Mr. Gilbert.

 

[TitleTown]

LeBron is going to get a statue. Whether or not you think he should is irrelevant, and it'll be especially irrelevant when he retires.

OK then. You must have the final say on the matter lol

 

[czvo]

OK then. You must have the final say on the matter lol

I don't, obviously. But common sense says the greatest player to ever put on a Cavs uniform, who led the Cavs to their most successful period in franchise history, and who ended the city's 52 year drought gets a statue whether people like the way it ended or not.

 

[cavsfever]

Can someone name me several of Lebron's former teammates that he clearly made into better players? I'm talking about taking an average player and turning them into a really good player or a scrub and turning him into a solid player. Lebron gets so much credit for making players around him better but i'm just not seeing it.

Boobie Gibson? Maybe

Lebron makes teams better. It's not like he magically bestows extra talent on people such that after he leaves they play better. It's that when he is on the floor he helps teams function more effectively and win more.

 

[Jstock12]

4 statues:
The Block
The Shot
The Stop
The Soup

FYP

 

[MediumBaller]

3 statues:
The Block
The Shot
The Stop

and then a fourth statue of JR shirtless in a car

A fourth statue of "The Look".

 

[OptimusPrime]

Reading some of the LeBron hate on here some people are so Damn ungrateful. LeBron didn't have to come back at all.

He did. His Q-score had never recovered from 2010, so he needed a feel good story rebuild his reputation.

 

[cavsfever]

All of the above is 100% true which is why the Lakers probably won't win another championship with LeBron. But I still think not trading away all their young assets was the right move. There's nobody they could have added (minus all the players that would have to be moved to acquire said player) that would have given them a puncher's chance against GSW this season. At least this way they can cling to the hope that Brandon Ingram or some other young player develops into an All Star caliber player. And because all their non-LeBron signings are just for one year, they still can open up about $48 million in cap space to chase free agents provided they trade Deng's expiring next offseason.

Brandon Ingram has a chance for stardom and they were smart to keep him. But rolling the dice on Kawhi might have still been a better move for them. I think Kawhi playing at his pre-injury all-NBA level is the one shot they have to dethrone the Warriors. I think Lebron plus that Kawhi could do it.

Of course if they can add Kawhi in free agency next year and develop their young players well that could be the best of both worlds, but they are taking a huge risk by letting the opportunity pass to get him this year.

 

[Kiddo]

Lebron makes teams better. It's not like he magically bestows extra talent on people such that after he leaves they play better. It's that when he is on the floor he helps teams function more effectively and win more.

Yeah pretty much like every other star player.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

LeBron will be going to the basketball hall of fame in a Cavs uniform.

I've seen multiple people express this sentiment. Are we sure the Naismith Hall functions the same as the Baseball Hall of Fame in that inductees have a "primary" team? Just in looking at the Hoop Hall site, it would appear the answer to that question is no. They list four HOFers for the Cavs and none of them played more than three seasons here (http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-fam...untry=&loc=&team=5&college=&position=&height=).

 

[TitleTown]

I don't, obviously. But common sense says the greatest player to ever put on a Cavs uniform, who led the Cavs to their most successful period in franchise history, and who ended the city's 52 year drought gets a statue whether people like the way it ended or not.

If enough people think the way I do, then it might not.

We'll see how things go in LA, and how LBJ finishes his career. For now, I would imagine that I'm not alone in my opinion.

I won't be mad if they give him a statue, but I could see Dan sharing my opinion. LBJ only gets a statue if he finishes his career in Cleveland. And that ship has sailed.