The authors of this article named three of the great players of the Lakers, but left out the fourth....Kobe Bryant.....how could they do this?
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"In the end, he decided to join that string of all-time greats — including Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal — and make his way to the Lakers midcareer."
Kobe played at the Lakers all his life, so he isn't included in this sentence for that reason. Same thing for Magic (although MJ was drafted by the Lakers, and Kobe originally by the Hornets, who traded him.)
5
Thanks for the correction....
Well... were LeBron a bit younger this could certainly put the Lakers in a top contender position. As is .....I doubt they can catch GSW or for that matter..Houston. As the young guys mature ....LeBron will begin to fade. Certainly they are BETTER but .....lets see if they come up with ONE more stud
Gee, income inequality anyone? To throw a ball in a hoop. Oh, well.
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Throwing a ball in the hoop generates how much money for team owners and networks? People get apid for how much money they make others.
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If you think you can do it at the NBA level, give it a shot! This is America, you get paid what someone thinks you are worth!
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He gave Cleveland its first sports championship since the 1960s, so they can’t complain about anything.
They’re set for another 50 years.
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I will always be grateful for what LeBron and the Cavs did for Northeast Ohio in 2016.
My ancestors settled in Cleveland in the 1890's, when it was a beautiful city, with sparkling rivers and a lake jumping with fish.
By the time I graduated high school in "69, unregulated industry had decimated our ecosystems, the downtown river burst into flames and melted the railroad bridges.
Then, industry moved on, the economy sank and Cleveland jokes came along.
In LeBron's "I'm Coming Home" statement in '14, he promised to uplift NE Ohio, and between his athleticism, determination and philanthropy, he has done that.
The joy that shot through the systems of all of us who love NE Ohio on Father's Day in 2016 willl never leave us. It was much more than a sports win.
The joy of that moment and the parade of the Cavs and Jim Brown (attended by 1.3 million) united us - inspired us - and lifted up our spirit as a region and a community.
LeBron and the Cavs even uplifted Obama on a hard day - visiting the White House on 11/10/16. And he has spoken up for our true American values and freedoms.
I wish LeBron and his family the best of everything and pray for their health and safety.
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I do admire Mr. James talent...but, the monies we pay these athletes says so much about what we value in this country and what we don't. Recently, in the course of a conversation with an Uber driver, he talked about his love of teaching elementary school children, but, he was still young, and looking for jobs that would pay more money. Here we have it, the richest country in the world, in history, and we can't find enough money to keep an enthusiastic male teacher in his elementary classroom.
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Babe Ruth made more money than the President in his day. Why? Because he made a ton of money for the owners of the Yankees. This is nothing new. teachers ever make as much money as top jocks? Not in America's history. Teachers cost Americans, its called taxes. But that's another story with many angles.
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I'm a Clevelander. I have so appreciated what this wonderful young man, incredible athlete and fantastic philanthropist has done as a local citizen. I hope he has many more amazing years ahead of him. Even if it is not with our Cav colors.
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I agree 100 percent and let me add, "Underpaid at $154 million."
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Well, LBJ gave his all to the Cavs, that's for sure. It'll be very interesting to see who the Lakers have on the floor when the season starts to help out LBJ, and also how far they'll be able to go in his first season. Should make the playoffs, for sure. The team's been playing entertaining basketball, so they should be great to watch.
In the East GSW and the Rockets are simply too strong at the moment, so nothing much might change there, but the West might give a collective sigh of relief. The Celtics, 76ers, Pacers and Raptors are now in a great position to take advantage. Super interesting to see what happens to the Cavs, too, since it was LBJ who dragged them so far this season.
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LeBron is in for a rude awakening in the Western conference. In the Leastern conference, where he has spent his entire career, he could count on on dormats each years (the Raptors being the latest in a line of many). Oh, some of those teams played good defense, but there were no juggernauts. Let's remember that the best team LeBron faced in several years out East were the Pacers, led by David West, young Paul George, and Roy Hibbert. Not exactly the Warriors or Spurs (or peak Dirk Mavs, or peak Nash Suns....) This year LeBron had to suffer the indignity of a 7 game series against a Celtics team with its two best players in street clothes.
In the West each year, there's a minimum of one series against a legitimate contender. Sometimes two, if you don't have the best regular season record in the NBA. He will find his path to the Finals is MUCH more difficult.
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Did he face bad teams in the 3 Finals he won? Its teams not only him. He had help with Miami and Cleveland and will need more help with LA than what they now have.
I don't know that this works for the Lakers. James will be 34 years old in December- he is the best player of his generation but nobody beats time and his time is coming to an end. If the Lakers sign another top level player to team with him it is a different story but so far they have been unable to do that.
In their present makeup they have a number of young players-and James. He will certainly take a lot of shots, maybe too many, and score points but when there is only one star and he is old it may be a reprise of Kobe Bryant's last years with the Lakers.
This decision for James looks to more about going where he is comfortable outside of basketball fully realizing that his years of competing for a championship are over. Really what filthy rich person would rather live in Cleveland or Houston instead of L.A.? For the Lakers it is about creating a buzz to sell regular season tickets to watch James and perhaps getting into the second round of the playoffs.
Great stuff. LeBron will get schooled by Steph Currey and the rest of the Warriors for the rest of his career.
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Bad move for the Lakers .... LBJ's career arc is on the down slope, and his selfish habit of throwing under performing teammates "under the bus" will not endear him to his new co-stars. His individual stats look good on paper, but his finals record of defeats verses wins reveals his true value to a franchise like the Lakers. MJ's 6-0 finals record is the gold standard by great player who learned to trust his teammates and play team (dare I say Triangle) ball in a game where there are 5 players on the court. LBJ's selfish DNA is too deep to change - he'll always take the big bucks, complain about every foul and deflect blame for losses because he actually believes he's The King.
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Coffeeman: LeBron "selfish?" Not so fast. Statistics indicate that virtually every one of his Cav teammates had better numbers when he was on the floor. Yes, he would become virtually a one-man offense in the final minutes if the game was close. But the fact that he took the Cavs to four straight finals speaks for itself. And he never had teammates on a par with Magic's Abdul Kareem-Jabbar and James Worthy.
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I've been in LA enough to know that there is no team in the city that commands the respect and love of their fans like the Lakers do. I grew up in Boston and then moved to Phoenix. There is not a team I hate more than the Lakers. People tell me that sometimes I chant "Beat LA" in my sleep. But I go way back and I understand why their fans are so loyal. West and Baylor and Magic and Shaq and Abdul Jabbar and Kobe are a full house and then some. During the playoffs there was nonstop basketball talk everywhere in LA. And as former coach, it was clear to me that most folks knew the game. The Lakers have another following -- a lot of blacks in both Boston and Phoenix. Traitors, but mostly serious basketball fans who have been won over by the Laker thing. I'm glad that a team with that kind of fan base gets to cheer for LeBron. And I suspect I will be talking a lot more in my sleep from now on.
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Boston fans don't EVER cheer for the Lakers or the Yankees, whose fans are about glamour and glitz and what's hot. Obviously that's what LeBron is buying into.
"Sports"?
Ha!
It's a BIG business.
Boring.......
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So boring it draws how well on TV? Where do YOU think the money comes from to pay Lebron and the others? Anything making billions is BIG business.
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A magical move by the Lakers GM. A key first step in dethroning Golden State. When you acquire the best and brightest player in basketball you are on your way. The King will regain his throne within two years. Make your sports bet now.
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I'll be your huckleberry. One man can't beat 5 or 6 all stars. It will be the same old, same old for LeBron. He'll be rich, but the only ring he will be wearing is the one he got in Cleveland.
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How about two rings in Miami?
And he'll also be wearing the two rings he got in Miami. I guess you "forgot" about those rings.
The best and classiest athlete, ever. His rag to riches story isn't just about being a gifted athlete, it's about having a powerful mind and heart.
Hope you and your family enjoy your new home. Cleveland will miss you but know that one day you will return.
And here's hoping a future generation of James's offsprings to thrill us in the game!
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Cleveland’s last championship team before 2016 was the Browns, yes, but NOT in 1962 as the authors of this article claim, but rather in 1964. In 1962 the Green Bay Packers won the NFL Championship.
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I'm sorry, there is no one on earth that's worth that kind of money. It borders on the truly bizarre.
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That's a frequent argument and I sense you need to get past it to enjoy basketball, So keep in mind that the owners are worth billions and this is redistribution of their income. And James grew up dirt poor in the worst part of Akron without a family to raise him and yet made all the right moves.
Perhaps you are a fan of the arts.A daVinci sold for $450 million. I hope that doesn't keep you out of art museums. Baryshnikov has a net worth of $45 million. I hope that doesn't keep you from the ballet. And don't let me start with movies or television.
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Get this: he's actually underpaid. How much do you think his team makes off him?
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Well, thank you for the wake-up call! My socialist roots are showing!
Baller LeBron sneakers . Welcome to the Baller family . Should make nice copy.
Big whoop, had enough of the NBA!
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Will this second departure from Cleveland result in another ridiculous temper tantrum letter of malcontent from Dan Gilbert posted on the Cavs' website (and written in comic sans, naturally)? One can only pray.
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A great athlete however $154 million for 4 years is insane
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Funny how people always complain about (mostly black) athletes’ salaries but NEVER about what the (lily white) owners are making.
If anything, Lebron is underpaid compared the revenue he generates for the owners.
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Those complaining about what jocks make don't just mean blacks. Its just that blacks tend to dominate sports. We hear about the high money for white movie stars also, Brad Pitt and his ex-wife for example. Also the jocks are the face of their teams. Lebron was already well known in LA before he gets there. How many know the name of the owner of the Cavs on the streets of LA? They seldom show or mention the owners on TV.
Yeah, but they’d rather see all that money (generated by the players) go into the owners pockets.
Dan Gilbert is the billionaire owner of the Cavs btw (founder of Quicken Loans)
The Lakers won free agency with the lebron signing. Both parties understand that they are no where near being a championship team, but this a start. Fresh start for Lebron and new life put back into a franchise that desperately need it. This was a business decision just as much as a basketball decision, the Lebron brand will reach new heights in the LA market.
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LeBron owes Cleveland nothing. He started his career with his local team, returned to Cleveland after going to Miami, and played his heart out. Cavaliers management never gave him the supporting cast he needed, as Michael Jordan had with the Bulls.
Good luck LeBron, give em *ell.
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You must not be a basketball fan, Kyrie Irving will end up in the Hall of Fame if he stays healthy. Kevin Love is a 5-time all star. Thompson, Smith, Korver, Frye, Shumpert, and Bogut are all quality role players. James always had a top ball handler, lots of 3-point shooters, and Thompson to hit the boards. That was the perfect complement for James. He's not the kind of player who benefits from three superstars who all need the ball.
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Kevin Love was a 18-9 guy in the regular season and playoffs (17-8, up to 19-10 in the Finals), all while being under-utlized and out of position as a spot up 3 pt shooter, a la Chris Bosh 2.0. His regular season PER was 22.4, his best since coming to Cleveland. So don't believe that hype that Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and the ever-hyperbolic Mark Jackson sell on TV: this was not the 2007 Cavs that LeBron was leading this year. LeBron has another top tier player on his team.
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Good luck, Lakers. This man is immensely talented, but he has a commensurate ego. Is it really worth $40 million a year to try and get back into title contention? I doubt it. I suspect he'll be more of a disruptive force than the linchpin of title wins. He's probably doing this more to save money on a move to L.A. when he retires, so he can suss out the movie biz.
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I don't understand this move. Unless Kawhi Leonard is coming to help, they will not challenge Houston or Golden State. If Dwight Howard succeeds in moving there, that still won't be much help. Lance Stephenson is a nice touch. But those are role players. James will need another true all star to even get close to the Western finals. Chris Paul is staying in Houston. Paul George with Oklahoma. The Lakers as they are will take at least a couple seasons to gel and go deep in the playoffs. LeBron James will be 36 years old by then. And in the East, Boston with both guards healthy will be very tough to beat. Unless there's something up James' sleeve, a move that still needs to play out, he won't be winning a championship with this squad any time soon. Makes no sense.
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Yes, there's something definitely up LeBron's sleeve. $154 million.
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If money was the main motivation he could have gotten more to stay in Cleveland.