It’s hard nowadays to go a day without hearing, seeing or talking about NBA all-star LeBron James. James entered into the league in 2003 and has dominated his competition night in and night out.
Recently James won his first NBA Championship against the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving him another successful accolade to go along with his awards for NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA scoring champion and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player. But, there is one award he has showed little interest in adding to his trophy case.
James is constantly being compared to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two of the best players to lace up a pair of sneakers. The problem with being compared to players like Jordan and Bryant is the pressure of always being judged and evaluated by their accomplishments.
Unlike James, Jordan and Bryant have participated in NBA’s Dunk Contest, both coming away with fashionable wins. James, on the other hand, has yet to take his flight to the cylinder for whatever excuse he has given the last few years. Every year as NBA All-Star weekend draws near, everyone locks in on James to find out whether he will participate in the dunk contest, and each year he stays consistent in sitting out of that competition.
James is one of the most explosive players in the NBA, and not being involved in the dunk contest is a shame. At 6 ft. 8 in. and 250 pounds, James has all of the physical elements he needs to bring havoc to the rim. It’s evident in his recent pre-game warm-up dunk contests. James has creativity and athleticism that shows his potential dominance if he ever decided to enter into the competition. With these mini dunk shows in his pre-game, James is successfully teasing the NBA fans.
Although I understand James has his right to do as he pleases, it just blows my mind he doesn’t want to put on a show. As an athlete, you are paid to win and to entertain the faithful fans along with NBA fans everywhere. Jordan and Bryant took their talents to the floor and put on shows many will still talk about today. For example, not many people forget Jordan’s dunk from the free throw line. That’s what sports are all about, the unforgettable. It should be a privilege to use your God-gifted talents and to give the fans a night to remember.
During the halftime of an NBA game a few weeks ago, NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson said he will pay next year’s dunk contest winner a million dollars, which he made it seem obvious as an incentive to bribe James into entering the 2014 dunk contest.
We can only wait and see if James will take Magic up on his offer, and remain the king of his domain.
