Will the King become a warrior?

If God would put together the skills and body type to create a complete basketball player, he would have certainly made Lebron James his prototype.

Lebron James is a supremely gifted athlete.  He is 6’8” tall, 280 pounds, runs so fast and jumps so high that he can block a dunk attempt with his face.  He can score every which way possible and has extraordinary court vision that he sees plays unfold before they actually happen.  He is the equivalent of a basketball genius.

But alas, genius doesn’t win championships.  Heart will.

Miami lost to Boston on their home court.  Now they trail 2-3 heading to hostile Celtics territory for Game 6.  If they lose, they go home to disappointment, with a chorus of boos that would last until next post-season when they have another chance to redeem themselves.  If they win, they have a game 7 where James can still yet claim the big game player that he was long touted to be. 

The pressure that has been placed on the broad shoulder of Lebron is simply too heavy for one man to carry.  He was expected to dominate not only in the regular season where he is now adjudged a 3-time MVP, but more so in the post-season where his extraordinary gifts should elevate him to immortality, like Jordan, Bird, Magic and Kobe did several times in their respective NBA careers.

Though James scored 30 points in Game 6, he was far from dominant in the fourth quarter when the game was tough and close.  It was Dwyane Wade, the supposed lesser half of Miami’s dynamic duo, who played with desperation – blocking shots, diving for loose balls and demanding the ball; all these while James waited for his chance to look pretty.

James has once again fallen victim to his own pride.  He was already being compared to the all-time greats even when he was in high school.  Unfortunately, he correlated this adulation to greatness even before he could accomplish anything significant.  He called himself the “King” without conquering anything.  He tattooed his body with “The Chosen One” even before he can actually separate himself from his peers. Now, he is left alone, high and mighty yet unproven, where he placed himself to be.

In olden times when Kings became Kings not because of lineage, they first fought and conquered.  If James wants to win, then he better go down his throne and mix it up with mere mortals because that’s the only time he can make his own legend.  He must not believe the hype drummed up for him because unless he wins a championship, he would still be considered a loser.  That’s how high expectations are for him and his gifts.

I hope it’s not too late.  I hope Lebron can summon his fighting heart to do what must be done in the clutch, where it matters most.  I used to be a Lebron basher because of his arrogance, but now that he seemed to have been genuinely humbled I now want him to succeed, to be an example how one man can redeem himself despite a great fall.

I want the aging Celtics to win to prove to the world that experience can win it over youth and athleticism.  But I don’t mind seeing Lebron win it for the Heat.  I want him to play with the fire of Wade.  Physically, there is no limit to what James can do.  Unfortunately, it is only the heart that can push James’ body to unleash its full potential.  The world waits.  And that’s an unfair pressure on a single person’s shoulder.  As they say, to whom much is given, much is expected.