what kind of league is that???? The fact that they had an understanding that they'd all join Miami, that's as close to "collusion" as you'll get. Second of all, he made it seem like it was such a tough decision??? really come on now.
thirdly, he had to make a ****in show of it??? "THE DECISION". (read prima donna)
fourthly, he's a drama queen on the floor. i have a lot more respect for kobe. lebron will never be the player kobe was in his prime.

best player in the league today doesn't mean best player in recent history. kobe has that hands down. more game winners, more clutch playoff performances than anyone in recent history in the league.

lebron.... not so hot.

What do you think you would be saying if Shaq, Kobe and Jason Kidd were all on the same team in their prime together? are you kidding me, even MJ's Bulls wouldn't be able to beat that.

You are talking about Lebron leading his team to the NBA finals as a Cav, uh yeah and what happened in the finals... didn't he get swept? Do you think THAT would ever happen to Magic, MJ, Kobe?

H1AND1 wrote:Pippen was a spectacularly great 2 way player and absolutely a top 10 player when playng with Jordan. Is post 28 year old Wade really better than Pippen? Not so sure.

Secondly, love him or hate him, if the Heat only had Wade and Bosh they arent even close to being a championship quality team. The Heat win because Lebron brings it all together. Lebron is a beast and the best player on Earth (with Durant coming up behind him fast). The argument that the "greats" of the past wouldn't deign playing together in no way invalidates how good of a baller Lebron is because it actually showed foresight on Lebron's part. Championship teams ALMOST ALWAYS have two ( or more ) great players. In that sense him joining two other great players in Miami was not some cowardly cop out but actually good foresight. He saw how difficult it was going it alone in CLE. Look back at every championship squad going back 30 years and you'll see rosters with 2 (or more) absolutely elite basketball players + solid role players.

and how many of those teams had 2 or more of those superstar players sign with the same team in the same year of free agency?

Cartman718 wrote:

H1AND1 wrote:Pippen was a spectacularly great 2 way player and absolutely a top 10 player when playng with Jordan. Is post 28 year old Wade really better than Pippen? Not so sure.

Secondly, love him or hate him, if the Heat only had Wade and Bosh they arent even close to being a championship quality team. The Heat win because Lebron brings it all together. Lebron is a beast and the best player on Earth (with Durant coming up behind him fast). The argument that the "greats" of the past wouldn't deign playing together in no way invalidates how good of a baller Lebron is because it actually showed foresight on Lebron's part. Championship teams ALMOST ALWAYS have two ( or more ) great players. In that sense him joining two other great players in Miami was not some cowardly cop out but actually good foresight. He saw how difficult it was going it alone in CLE. Look back at every championship squad going back 30 years and you'll see rosters with 2 (or more) absolutely elite basketball players + solid role players.

and how many of those teams had 2 or more of those superstar players sign with the same team in the same year of free agency?

However it happened they had superstar players. That's all I'm saying. To win in the NBA you _generally_ need 2 stars. There are exceptions but history bears this out. I guess I don't really care if players talk about playing together privately then make it happen. Real talk if Bosh/LBJ/Wade all conspired together to sign with the Knicks would you be mad? With 3 finals trips and 2 chips? I wouldn't.

StarksEwing1 wrote:Dumbest thread ever. I dislike lebron but the guy is the best player since jordan. He carried a bad Cavs team to teh finals and 60 win season multiple times.

Think before you write, yea he did then he gave up on them like a sore loser dose

fitzfarm wrote:

StarksEwing1 wrote:Dumbest thread ever. I dislike lebron but the guy is the best player since jordan. He carried a bad Cavs team to teh finals and 60 win season multiple times.

Think before you write, yea he did then he gave up on them like a sore loser dose

anrst wrote:it's a dumb thread b/c this is a trite argument... it's old... who cares... you brought nothing insightful to the table.

fitzfarm wrote:I'm sorry, do you think Ewing would have joined Jordan, or Hakeem would have joined Malone and Stockton. Or magic joining bird or issah ..not a chance Not only did they hate each other they were loyal... And wanted to prove they were the best vs each other. Lbj is a coward, duche if he didn't have wade or bosh no championship he'd still be a loser. Jordan was the best and he did it with pippen who was not in the same caliber as wade, and grant and Luke Longly aren't in the same caliber as bosh.. Hence lbj sucks balls he knew he wasn't as good as Jordan he had to join forces to win and they won't even be a dynasty like Jordan

fitzfarm wrote:None of the 90s guys wanted to share the lime light... Also I don't remember any of them becoming a free agent I feel like there teams locked them up with extensions before that could happen

All of those great old teams had MULTIPLE stars. Isaiah had Dumars (and Rodman, Laimbeer, Salley, etc). Magic had freaking Abdul Jabaar, Dennis Johnson, etc. Jordan had Pippen who was absolutely on the same level talent wise as ANY other player on Miami besides Lebron. Shaq and Kobe? Tim Duncan and Robinson? See a trend? Ok they didn't conspire to play together but ALL these great teams had MULTIPLE stars, just like Miami.