LeBron James may not have won the Championship but he is minting money for Miami Heat – NBA Special
Let LeBron James go. He was the one who failed when the Heat needed him the most. He is not worth it.
Really? Ask the Miami Heat.
James might have failed in the last stretch for the Heat and he might not have lived up to his championship promise, but winning is not the only thing LeBron brings with him. During the last year, the King has emerged as a favourite for the Miami Heat management because he makes them a lot of money. The superstar basketball player has come under fire from most quarters after the NBA Finals, but not from the Heat who continue to be extremely supportive of the player, and for good reason.
Since LeBron James came to the Miami Heat, he and the Heat have been under constant bombardment from the NBA fans and sections of the media. LeBron’s perceived betrayal of the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the formation of a super team at the Miami Heat gave people plenty of reasons to let loose against the player and the franchise.
Despite the adversity, LeBron and the Miami Heat fought their way to a second seed in the Eastern Conference. They then romped past Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls into the NBA Finals. However, when the final trial came, both LeBron James and the Miami Heat failed to deliver against the veteran Dallas Mavericks.
The Finals gave the Heat haters unlimited ammunition to fire at LeBron James for the whole summer, or indeed for whenever it is that the Heat finally win the NBA World Championship with the Big Three. And now it’s just not the haters, everyone seems to be having some fun at LeBron’s expense. However, the Miami Heat have stood by their star through all the criticism for two reasons.
One is that they know LeBron James is still arguably the best basketball player around and if the Heat are to win that coveted NBA World Championship, he is the key to it.
The second is money. A lot of money.
LeBron James made the Miami Heat richer just by joining the franchise.
Dr. Patrick Rishe, a researcher who calculated the LeBron Effect for business magazine Forbes had this to say on the subject,
“I know the Heat’s franchise value went up $60 million after signing LeBron,”
He went on to name the other areas where LeBron James financially benefited the Miami Heat,
“You had ticket sales going up, sponsorships and local media deals going up. It’s hard to think of any one athlete whose changing of teams [is comparable]….”
That’s not all though. The ratings for the Heat’s games soared this season to almost double, compared to the last year. That might have something to do with the Cleveland fans watching the games, hoping to see LeBron lose.
Still all that hate resulted in a lot of money for the Heat and for the NBA at large. The NBA Finals involving the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks were the most watched in the last 10 years, subsequently also the most profitable.
Commenting on the matter, Magic VP Pat Williams recalled the philosophy of Bill Veeck, the late, great sports promoter: “If you’re going to have a rival, have a heated one. Have a hated one. Do it publicly. It’s good for the box office,”
It certainly seems to work.
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