LeBron James criticized despite his huge list of achievements – NBA Feature
LeBron James won his 3rd MVP title on Saturday, joining a club of esteemed Hall of Famers such as Michael Jordan, Kareem- Abdul Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird. All these men have won the MVP title at least three
times. At just the age of 27, LeBron already has a long list of accolades that he has gathered over the course of his career. His has cemented his name in the history books and will probably go down as one of the greatest ever. And he has just reached his
prime.
However, James has been receiving continuous criticism about not being able to win a championship ring. It is cruel to criticize an individual who has accomplished so much already. But he knows that till the time he wins a championship,
the people will keep talking and will keep doubting him.
“I’d give all three of them back to win an NBA championship. It’s all I care about. It’s all I know” said James after winning the MVP award.
This is the level of desperation James is facing, more so because everyone refuses to give him his due till the time he wins a championship. All other 3 time MVP winners went on to win at least one NBA title. But one needs to put
things into perspective. Only Abdul Jabbar had won three MVP’s at a younger age than James. Moses Malone and Wilt Chamberlain had been crowned MVP three times before they ever won a championship. Michael Jordan and Chamberlain had not won a title when they
James’s age.
Hence, it is quite easy to compare Hall of Famers whole careers with what James has accomplished till now, considering he is only 27 and has a great length of his career ahead of him. Compare him when he retires. At least then
we will have the right perspective.
Pat Riley spoke about the pressures James has faced his entire career and the criticism he has carried with him.
“It’s maddening. It has to be maddening for a lot of these guys that are at his level to be judged like that. He’s part of this culture, this information revolution and all the toxic data that he has to deal with that’s out there”
said Riley
“I think he’ll get his championship. There might be a lot more, too. He’s 27 years old and he’s got 10 more years, at least, ahead of him at a very high level. That’s what I want to see for him. That’s what I’ll be cheering for”
added Riley, who is the head of Basketball operations of the Miami Heat.
James team-mate Dwyane Wade had similar feelings.
“It’s amazing he’s now about to hit his prime. It’s amazing what he’s been able to accomplish thus far, and I know he has so much more that he wants to accomplish. There’s no secret about that” said Wade talking about his team-mate
after he was named MVP.
James will have to silence his critics by winning the NBA championship and there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he will get there. Whether it is this year or sometime later, we will have to wait and see. But till the time it
happens, give him respect for what he has achieved.
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