Prescient, but even then I didn’t think they’d get the top pick three times in four years. Ultimately, in the grand scheme of things it is hard to say it was a mistake, as James went to eight straight NBA Finals, became a champion in Miami and then made things right with Cleveland. Because of the backlash, we’ll probably never see something like it ever again. If anything, The Decision—which raised money for charity!—was ahead of its time. LeBron was open and honest about his move and clear on what he wanted to achieve with the Lakers in 2020. But James has operated under the kind of microscope no athlete in history has had to contend with and this often cited as his greatest gaffe. LeBron Raymone James Sr. (/ l ə ˈ b r ɒ n /; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely considered one of the greatest NBA players in history, James is frequently compared to Michael Jordan in debates over the greatest basketball player of all time. They threw rocks at a billboard with his face on it. James was roundly criticized for the segment, which sparked a wide range of emotions among Cavaliers fans, many of whom burned LeBron jerseys in effigy. And the Cavs were forced to tear their whole team down and start over. Aesthetics aside, James’ choice was clear. All of that has combined to build him into a figure with arguably unparalleled influence in the history of the league. Fans who accused James of cowardice also charged him with hypocrisy. Even a fellow player, Enes Kanter, a center for the Boston Celtics known to be politically outspoken, posted tweets that appeared to be directed toward James without naming him. But James and Carter, who sat down for two extensive conversations, have more to say. The mass panic regarding LeBron James’ departure from Cleveland is almost laughable after a decade of reflection. At the end of LeBron’s first stint, Cleveland was a directionless mess. One of LeBron James' most controversial moments of his career came in 2010 when he made "The Decision" on live TV. Which is why I believe the Miami Heat pep rally actually rubbed more people the wrong way. In Miami, James won two championships and capped his departure by bringing Cleveland its first ring in history-making fashion. “He knew that it wasn’t about him,” James said, referring to Ali, adding that Ali knew that he would receive backlash and might go to jail. Everybody is on pins and needles across the country, particularly those teams who are in the running for LeBron James. “I also don’t think that every issue should be everybody’s problem.”. LeBron James’ ”The Decision” show produced one of the most memorable moments in South Florida sports history. Then they got super specific in their noodling. and one of its most important international markets. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Was it poorly executed? As an unbiased journalist in a jet-lagged haze wandering around JFK, I found it intriguing. I remember waiting an absurd amount of time for the players to actually come on stage. But … Nine years after “The Decision,” there are other cultural forces at play: Social media use is much more ubiquitous. James went from a great player to a business titan, who made activism on certain social issues a part of his empire. A decade later, how should we feel about The Decision? Maybe not. The Houston Rockets are reportedly working with the NBA office to review a video of James Harden at a club. (Farewell, Shaq and Antawn Jamison.) But in some ways, James’s history with activism has been as enigmatic as it has been common. But that was because I, like many, thought LeBron and Wade (and Bosh) was more unfair in the moment than it actually turned out to be. LeBron James manövrierte sich mit "The Decision" 2010 ins Abseits. I don’t think we can forget the millions James raised for charity that night, an impactful act of giving in a career filled with them. It was 10 years ago today that the most anticipated free-agency period in NBA history began, culminating on July 8, 2010, with The Decision and LeBron James announcing that he was taking … But the next year, in 2008, James spoke out about Darfur on ESPN: “At the end of the day we’re talking about human rights. For some reason they added in Shaq at the last minute, and then crashed out of the playoffs against the Celtics. Did James’s public image change overnight? Interview by John Kerfoot. After the 2018 Finals, it was almost a relief that he left; the prospect of watching the Cavs inevitably lose to the Warriors again and again was too much. My fault.) Plus, and this shouldn’t be forgotten either, it was decade-altering decision on the court. Andy Hall Follow on Twitter June 22, 2020. In Hong Kong, protesters burned James jerseys, shot baskets at a hoop with his face on the backboard, and turned images of him into memes — including a depiction showing him embracing Chinese cash. James further incensed his critics when he added: “Yes, we do all have freedom of speech. SpringHill Entertainment. Nearly 10 years after LeBron James announced his decision to play for the Miami Heat on a live show on ESPN titled “The Decision,” the network revealed on Saturday that the idea for the show actually came from a fan. As Sports Illustrated’s resident Heat fan, let me tell you, The Decision was one of the best nights of my otherwise meaningless life. Moving to Miami may be the best thing he ever did. LeBron James ‘The Decision’ to air on Sunday; Catch ‘behind the scenes’ footage in his infamous move to Miami Heat. Somewhere in my 2011 Facebook feed is a conspiracy theory that the NBA would rig that year’s lottery for Cleveland to offset the loss of James. James' announcement to leave the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in … And since the Cavs were winning (up until it mattered), they weren’t getting any help in the draft, unless you consider JJ Hickson helpful. What were the ramifications of LeBron James’ decision? ESPN’s “Backstory: The Decision” reveals new insight on LeBron James’ infamous night back in 2010 that shook the NBA world. history, tried to clarify earlier comments with posts on Twitter, saying that Daryl Morey did not consider the “ramifications of the tweet.”, a bill that would allow athletes to seek endorsements. The way James went about The Decision will likely never be replicated, and with good reason. On the Chinese mainland, his comments have been met with enthusiasm. On this day, ten years ago, ESPN aired “The Decision” by LeBron James. But The Decision also laid bare so many of the issues in how both the fans and media view athletes, issues that are still being corrected today, though progress has been made. Speaking at practice on Tuesday, James said he was aware of some negative reaction toward him but did not feel a need to connect with every global geopolitical issue. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Today marks the 10-year anniversary of LeBron James’s televised special, The Decision. It may seem hard to believe, but The Decision was just over 10 years ago. Juli 2010 verkündet LeBron James seinen Wechsel von den Cleveland Cavaliers zu den Miami Heat. James went from a phenom to a champion in Miami, allowing him to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history. And I remember nodding along in giddy agreement as LeBron rattled off how many championships he expected to win in Miami. “The Decision” saw LeBron announce his decision to take his talents to the Miami Heat on live television, resulting in Cleveland Cavaliers fans burning … When LeBron James attempted to bypass traditional media channels with 'The Decision,' fans were practically hardwired to reject it. There was no urgency to be good right away and look for quick fixes. To this day I don’t even know what words came out of LeBron’s mouth after he said he was taking his talents to South Beach. One issue holds global importance, and involves a nexus of politics, sports and business. free agency. After all, the Chinese buy sneakers, too. If that remains true through the end of his career, it will be an impressive accomplishment in itself. Ten years ago, LeBron James announced his decision to take his 'talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat' on national television. ‘The Decision’ was heavily criticized at the time, especially because LeBron was leaving his hometown team Cavaliers in such an unprecedented fashion. As a Cleveland native, I, uh, didn’t take it quite so well. James left a middling basketball situation for a true chance at a dynasty, capitalizing on his talent as he hit the prime of his career. Fans may have been upset that James did not choose their team on The Decision, but ultimately he accomplished what he was trying to achieve. I maintain that people were only mad about The Decision after LeBron didn't say what they wanted him to. championships and a settled legacy. James has previously been criticized for initially keeping silent about certain issues, such the 2014 shooting in Ohio of a 12-year-old African-American boy, Tamir Rice, by police. That type of spectacle is not needed in today's media landscape, but it is understandable why James chose to go that route. Ten years ago, LeBron James announced his decision to take his 'talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat' on national television. The scope of the backlash, compared with “The Decision,” is different for several reasons. Let’s be honest, no one was mad about "The Decision" until LeBron James didn’t say what they wanted him to.Not one, not two, not three, not any of y’all were that upset going in. Fans called him out for chasing a ring, while others thought this would end his career. James may be criticized for taking a short cut to get championships, but it was an attractive offer and he later kept his promise with his home state. Am 8. In all seriousness, was The Decision the most tactful thing LeBron has ever done? And more than that, James is different, in part because of that backlash from nine years ago. Ironically, by the end of James’s second stint in Cleveland, the Cavs sort of felt like the 2010 team. While player empowerment and star player movement did occur in the decades prior (see early examples of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson, among others), James’ TV show on ESPN was a pioneering event for players showing authority and control over the content associated with their brand. Fans in Cleveland burned his jersey. After losing to the Magic in the 2009 conference finals, they decided they needed athletic wings, so they went out and got Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker, a shooting guard who simply could not shoot. free agency. James has carefully cultivated an image of willingness to engage with political issues throughout his career, including stands on police shootings and a high-profile endorsement for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016. LeBron James The Decision: Backstory of The Decision. The breadth of the criticism was unusual. 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