The Four Seasons of LeBron James

The Four Seasons of LeBron James

By Host Alex Strizak with commentary by NBA Analyst Ben Huff

There's a lot of symbolism in the four seasons. There's the growth of spring, the fun in the sun in the summer, the changing of the leaves in the fall, and the inevitable creeping of the cold in the winter (unless you live in California like me (In that case just picture your head in the freezer all day).

But with LeBron James, the real symbolism I see with the four seasons is in music.

The song "Who Loves You" by the band The Four Season w/ Frankie Valli summarizes most of LeBron's career where he's had so many critics doubting his abilities. In the Broadway Show Camelot, Sir Lancelot sings to Guinevere "But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn. How I'd leave you in autumn I never will know." We are in the autumn of LeBron''s career and I think we can break down his career into the four seasons.

Spring

Saying LeBron James was hyped up coming out of high school is understatement. After dominating high school basketball in the state of Ohio, it seemed to be fate that the NBA team in Ohio got the first pick in 2003 when LeBron was draft eligible.

Now for you youngsters out there, up until 2005 high school basketball players could get drafted without going to college. This rule change in 2005 was due to the NBA worrying that these younger high school athletes would come to the NBA too early which leads to worse competition.

However, LeBron doesn’t fit that description; as he is worthy of joining the company of Kobe Bryant, Moses Malone, and Darryl Dawkins as being the rare type of player that was ready for the NBA out of high school. Not only did he look ready to play in the NBA, he looked ready to save a franchise.

Hometown hero. Franchise player. Hall of fame potential. These are all pressures we’ve seen put on athletes and most of the time, the athlete doesn’t live up to the fan base’s wild expectations. But LeBron is not your ordinary story. He entered the league and immediately played 39 minutes per game while scoring over 20 points per game. He earned his nickname “King James” because he was becoming the king of basketball.

Not only were the stats solid, but just watching him play electrified the crowd with his athletic ability to be faster and stronger than everyone else. LeBron joined a Cavaliers team that had only won 17 games the year before, and in his first season brought them 35 wins and an NBA Rookie of the Year award.

It took another year before LeBron would average over 31 points a game while shooting 48% from the field  and leading the Cavaliers to his first playoff appearance. James would average 30 points but the #1 seed Pistons would prove too much in the Eastern Semis…

LeBron would lead the Cavs to their first NBA Finals appearance the next year where they would be swept by the Spurs. LeBron would win his first MVP in 2009 and the Cavs would keep knocking on the door of the NBA Finals… Yet they still hadn’t won a title with James.

Then the 2010 season happened. LeBron was having another MVP season and took Cleveland back to the playoffs as the #1 seed. But the Cavs couldn’t get it done against the Celtics in the Eastern Semi-finals… Many blamed that LeBron James just didn’t have enough talent around him and 100% agree with that… Others blamed LeBron’s inability to be clutch and lacked the “Kobe Bryant clutch gene” to find a way to win (I totally disagree with this). But a title hunt came up short once again  for a city that hadn’t seen one in any sport win a championship since the Cleveland Browns did in 1964 and that was before the NFL-AFL merge which means the Indians 1948 World Series title was it.

The excitement of a playoff run was quickly wiped away with the removal of a jersey on the way to the locker room, and a TV special for a free agency decision…

Ben Huff

It was during these years where we saw LeBron as mortal. Probably the only time in his career that we can say this. While still being an amazing athlete, he struggled with his outside shot which led to defenders backing off. But despite his poor outside shooting, he would still average 27.8 PPG in his first stint with Cleveland. As a die-hard Lakers fan, this is when I first started to be threatened to replace Kobe Bryant as the best in the world at the time. He carried terrible supporting cast on his back in the first seven years with the Cavaliers so now I don’t blame his for leaving Cleveland, but back then, it was a different story.

Summer

Welcome to Miami. Lebron would join the likes of former MVP and NBA champ Dwyane Wade. He would immediately receive scrutiny for this decision. Leaving the city that you’re supposed to rescue will rub people the wrong way.

Especially when it feels like you’re hopping on someone else’s team to get a title. Especially the way he did a huge TV special titled “The Decision.” I thought it was a bad decision unless he announced he was staying in Cleveland. It just really looked like he was showing up the city of Cleveland that he was supposed to be creating a dynasty for. But I have forgiven him for this and so should you...

I don’t think the lack of a supporting cast in Cleveland was the whole reason he left. I look at it differently… I think of this time in LeBron’s career as his college time.

He goes to Miami for 4 years to learn how to grow his game into one that can win a title. In the process he wins two MVP’s, got his shooting percentage over 50% every season since except for one (2014-15), got his 3 point shot more consistent, and he learned what it takes to win a championship. Plus, making millions of dollars while playing in Miami with your best friend D-Wade sounds like a pretty nice time. Adding two titles on top of it makes it all the sweeter.

We’re also in a sporting world where players rarely stay with one team their whole career. There are very few superstar players that haven’t went to at least one other team. Kevin Durant, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul… These are just a few… But it’ll be rare to see anyone like Kobe, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady anymore with salary caps and the easy access to the free agent market (especially in the NBA).

But in the end, the important part of LeBron’s time in Miami is that it put him in the position to bring a championship to the place he was destined to…

Ben Huff

Until the last few years, I considered his move to Miami as cowardly and selfish. My mislead dislike for LeBron officially started when he said he was taking his talents to South Beach. I would foolishly say that he was nowhere near the player Kobe or Michael were. I said that his name shouldn’t be spoken in the same sentence with them. I believed that a player should stay with a team to show loyalty and respect for the organization and the fans. While Kobe stayed with the Lakers for 20 years, LeBron went to Miami and I held that against him for a long time, as if I was a Cleveland native. With all the stats, MVP’s, and eventually the dreaded two championships with Miami, I still didn’t respect his game.

Fall

Welcome home. The King returns to his throne in Cleveland. After four straight NBA Finals appearances, LeBron would bring Cleveland to the title game his first year. Instead of regressing with age, he has improved and grown into even more of a threat. His new skill set and ability to find a way to win took Cleveland to a new level that they couldn’t reach before he left. His first year back would come up short of a title as the new kids on the block (the Warriors) took the series in 6 games.

But that only motivated The King more… In fact, so much that his head coach David Blatt got fired halfway through a season for a team that would take the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Even though they went down 3 games to 1 against the Warriors, LeBron would find a way to win 3 three straight and make a legendary block of Iguodala in Game 7. And finally for the great city of Cleveland, a CHAMPIONSHIP!

LeBron would shoot 52.5% from the field while averaging 26.3 PPG 9.5 RPG and 7.6 AST which was good enough to win him Finals MVP.

A magical moment for LeBron and for Cleveland… One that couldn’t be repeated the next year as LeBron would reach his 7th straight NBA Finals but would be downed the Warriors with their newest addition: Kevin Durant.

LeBron would leave that NBA Finals 32 years old, knowing he’s going into his final year of his contract with the Cavaliers. So far, now 33 years old, LeBron James has arguably had the best season of his career. He’s almost averaging a triple-double per game while shooting over 54% from the field and over 36% from 3 point land…

His playoff performances have impressed the most this season. Going into The Finals, he is shooting 54.2% while averaging 34 points per game. He carried his team through a very tough and well coached Raptors team and an even tougher and better coached Celtics team…

Now, he sets himself up for Part 4 of the battle with Golden State…

I don’t think they stand much of a chance against the Warriors, but having the best player in the world at least gives you some hope… But I’m more concerned about what happens after these Finals because it’s a big decision that will possible decide where LeBron’s legacy will end.

Ben Huff

His return to Cleveland was finally a choice I agreed with. And he achieved what I thought was impossible, bring a championship to Cleveland. I was still not happy though… because I had to admit that LeBron is one of the greatest of all time. It still pains me to admit this as a Lakers and Kobe fanatic, LeBron is better than Kobe. Watching a pure shooter is always exciting, but efficiency is key to the most important goal for any player, winning a championship. LeBron has been the most efficient player since Jordan… if not better. The most awe-inspiring part of LeBron is his development. Every time he pulls up or spins away for a fade, I say “no way” but its dead on, nothing but net. Watching this year’s playoffs, he has cemented his pure dominance. While I understand that his competition in the playoffs hasn’t been great, he has. He does everything for the Cavs in his 15th year in the league. Something we have never seen to this extent.

Winter

Most likely, the Warriors will be the NBA Champs when this season ends… Then what?...

LeBron will have to decide if he stays in Cleveland or if he once again leaves his town where he has built his legacy.

This decision is more complicated than you think. LeBron staying in Cleveland has a lot of implications. Cleveland has a lot of bad contracts that are locked up for the next two years which will hinder LeBron’s ability to bring in the players he wants to squad up with. LeBron doesn’t like feeling trapped like that.

The other reason LeBron might be steered to leaving Cleveland again is their owner. It’s been pretty clear that there are a lot of people out there who don’t like Dan Gilbert… I’m not saying LeBron is one of them, but I’m not saying LeBron is not one of them. Ya feel me?

Apparently, James low-high fived Dan Gilbert which looked like one of those exchanges you give someone when you don't really want to talk to them... But I wouldn't read too much into the handshake.

Instead, I can tell you first hand that having superiors that you don’t trust or don’t feel like are helping you is a terrible feeling. And I know LeBron has the type of ego and basketball brains to not box himself in like that with an owner that is thought of as subpar.

So then the next question is: Where does LeBron go?

Houston has the most mature talent that could use LeBron’s talents… But, in my opinion, that’s too similar to what Kevin Durant did going to Golden State and so it’s not a favorable decision in LeBron’s mind.

The Lakers have a lot of flashy young talent and a flashy town for LeBron to live in. But it feels like this is still Kobe’s team and I think that’ll make LeBron want to avoid going there.

The 76ers have super young talent. They have the money for LeBron and some of his friends. But I’m not sure how LeBron and Ben Simmons would work together with both of their strengths coming from handling the ball as a big who can move.

Honestly, we have no idea where LeBron could go… Some say the best fit is Houston, while other people have crazy ideas of LeBron going to Atlanta (including me… They have a new arena, all the money in the world to let LeBron bring in who he wants, and they’re in the East so LeBron only has to worry about Boston).

The point is that this decision is a big one for LeBron… It’ll be the last big move of his career that could go a long way in deciding how his legacy is finished… I have no idea what decision would be the best for him, but either way it’ll be an interesting one.

The band The Four Seasons sang "Big Girls Don't Cry" and whatever decision LeBron makes, we must honor that and respect it because he has earned it.

Ben Huff

Where Lebron goes, nobody knows… probably not even himself. I would love for him to come to the City of Angels in a purple and gold jersey, have him develop our young core players into the next great group of All-Stars as he enjoys his final years in the league on the beach in Malibu or in the flashing lights of Hollywood. But if he truly wants to be seriously thought of as the greatest of all time, he needs at least one more ring, preferably with an young, up and coming team. This team is not the Lakers. Moving out to the Western Conference, will not help him reach the top spot on the Mt. Rushmore of NBA greats. The best chance to win another ring is with Philadelphia alongside Simmons and Embiid. Philly has the talent and the supporting cast that can bring Lebron another ring. It is now where I recognize the true dominance and greatness of LeBron James. It took too long for me to realize it, he is the true king. But who wants to be a king when you can be a god? Right, Eminem?