LeBron James shows up at Drew League; Earns praise for once – NBA Update
Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has finally done something good, PR wise.
The player, who has faced the wrath of NBA fans across the board, showed up at a Drew League game in California, to the surprise of everyone there. Initially, it was believed that LeBron would just sit around and watch, but the
Miami Heat super star stepped onto the court and put on a show for the attending crowd, and even for some players.
Organisers and his one-time teammates, not to mention the fans, were very pleased with James and praised him for turning up and not acting high and mighty for once. Although, they did not use that term exactly.
James was easily the standout player, but he did not try to upstage the event by hogging the spotlight or anything like that. King James just wanted to be a part of the game and that impressed everyone in attendance.
Here is one account from his teammate on the night,
“It was a great experience to just play with a guy like that,” said Casper Ware, a senior guard at Long Beach State. “He was still passing even though he was LeBron. He just wanted me to play my game. He told me, ‘Don’t stand around
and just throw me the ball. Play your game. I can get mine. Play your game and don’t change for me.”
“He was very cool and down to earth. You could talk to him like any other player.”
Drew League director Dino Smiley praised LeBron for turning up for the game, when he really didn’t have to.
“Seeing him on that court in this community with those kids and the impact he made in that hour and a half of play, this was by far the best day we’ve had in the Drew League,” Smiley said, adding that, “The crowd was just electrified
when he walked in.”
These are the kind of headlines that LeBron James needs to heal his image in the eyes of NBA fans, after what has been an year filled with criticism and PR blunders on his part.
James went from hometown hero to villain when he announced his intention of leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. Joining up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form the most powerful trio in the basketball world did
not help his cause much, as the player was vilified for taking the easy route out.
All through the NBA season, the Miami Heat faced hostile receptions and LeBron’s performances and some comments during the NBA playoffs further damaged his relationship with the public at large.
The few fans that have stuck with the former two times NBA regular season MVP would be hoping that James participates in more activities like this one in order to show his lighter side to the world.
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