(GOAT – Greatest of All Time – is an acronym that praises someone as the best in their chosen field or industry.)
I have waited a long time to give my opinion about the man I consider the GOAT par excellence, the GOAT by merit and versatility. I am referring to Mr. LeBron James, currently with the Los Angeles Lakers, formerly Minneapolis Lakers – the City of Lakes in the land of 10,000 lakes. I used to think that only Mr. Rodney Dangerfield did not “get any respect.” Apparently, Mr. LeBron James does not get any respect either, despite his ongoing stellar performance and excellence on and off the basketball court. I am old enough and fortunate to have witnessed the heralded arrival of Mr. James to the National Basketball Association (NBA) following the 2003 NBA draft. He was drafted from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Akron, Ohio as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron became the youngest individual to be drafted at the age of 18. Since then, he has been consistently productive, inspiring, and bringing championship honors to the different teams with which he has played. From age 18 to 39, his productivity has remained chart-topping and indisputably awesome. At 39 years of age, his performance on the court has shown no sign of decline, as he reached another milestone by becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 career points. If he were a fine wine, I would say that he gets better with age.
“LeBron is only improving season after season,” Yakshpat Bhargava wrote, remarking that “from the moment the Akron native stepped into the league, his signature moves included a lethal fade-away, a pull-up jumper, and an unparalleled ability to drive to the rim at will. As the years have unfolded, James has refined his skills as a 3-point shooter and, combined with his smooth ball-handling, has elevated himself to one of the toughest players to contain, even in his 21st year in the NBA.” I say what an eloquent expression of the truth I have always known about Mr. James, because I watched it all happening. Hard work, an uncommon work ethic, self-control, and self-discipline keep him in shape for each game. He invests heavily in conditioning himself to keep fit and maintains an uncommon regimen of practice for continuous improvement. It is rare when he is not kept on the court for the duration of games.
Even though some players are pulling their own weight as well, LeBron’s excellence has not been limited to the basketball court as has been the case for those the media enjoy putting on the pedestal. He is a loving family man, an equal rights activist who speaks truth to power, an astute and unassuming business man and philanthropist, a role model and a mentor to young girls and boys, a spokesman for the sport he loves very much and other organizations.
To be all this on and off the court and still not get the respect he deserves and has earned makes me suspicious of a double standard at play. One of the reasons he doesn’t get the respect he deserves is as an African proverb puts it that a speaker of truth has no friends. Plato chimed in saying no one is more hated than he who speaks the truth. That is fine, though, because the truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it. The other reason is envy, and this comes as no surprise considering his longevity, achievements, and numerous milestones. LeBron scores, defends, assists, blocks, leads, and empowers his team mates to bring about synergy.
An obvious, blatant, and unfair double standard is definitely meted to LeBron, even though his prowess spans beyond the basketball court where others were and are known to be lacking. Many do not like LeBron because his spirit irritates their demons. They can’t dull your sparkle, though, for the special gifts you display are bestowed by God. As Dr Seuss would say, “be who you are and say what you feel,” Mr. James, “because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Your versatility and quintessential leadership style make you the GOAT in my book!
You don’t know me but I have watched your basketball career in total amazement from 2003 to date. Offer no excuse for not being an imaginary colossus people expect. I hope you had a convivial Black History Month. Keep up the good work!
Anthony Akubue, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Friday, February 23, 2024.
