James' career arc should be viewed with praise and appreciation

By : Basith Syed

Cleveland made him a hero. Miami made him a champion. Los Angeles made him immortal.

LeBron James isn’t just a basketball player – he’s a walking legend, a force of nature, a symbol of dominance that has transcended the game for more than two decades. 

From the moment he stepped onto an NBA court as an 18-year-old from Akron, Ohio he has carried the weight of expectations that would have crushed most. But not LeBron James – he didn’t just live up to the hype, he redefined it. He was given the highest expectations out of any player to ever enter the draft and somehow he managed to surpass all of them. Lebron’s career spans from being labeled a bust if he wasn’t a first ballot Hall-of-Famer to being hailed as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

And it’s about time we appreciate it. 
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LeBron’s legacy began in Cleveland, where he was more than just the best player on the Cavs; he was the entire franchise. Playing for his home team meant a lot for him and his fans. He took a struggling Cavs team and turned them into contenders, reaching the NBA Finals in 2007 with little help. Even though they fell short, LeBron’s ability to carry a team was undeniable. But after years of coming up short and failing to get the support he needed, he made the toughest decision of his career, leaving Cleveland for South Beach, Miami.

When LeBron left in 2010, it’s safe to say the city of Cleveland felt betrayed. His now infamous “The Decision” special was met with anger, jersey burnings, and hatred from the same fans who once worshipped him. But that wasn’t the end of his Cavs story. LeBron’s move to Miami was the most criticized decision of his career. Fans, analysts, and former players called him soft for teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh instead of winning on his own. The superteam era had officially begun, and LeBron was painted as the villain. 

But it was in Miami where LeBron truly mastered the game. Under head coach Erik Spoelstra, and alongside Wade and Bosh, he became the most efficient version of himself. The Heat dominated, making it to four straight Finals appearances and winning championships in 2012 and 2013. The “Heatles” were must-watch basketball, and LeBron’s 2013 season is widely considered one of the best in NBA history. 

While the Miami years were filled with criticism, they were also crucial for LeBron’s development. He learned how to win, how to handle pressure, and how to silence doubters. Without Miami, he wouldn’t have been able to bring a title back to Cleveland. By the time LeBron hit 30, he had notched two championships, silencing the critics who said he couldn’t win. 

But Lebron wanted more, and he wanted to do it on his own terms. In 2014, he made his return home, determined to bring Cleveland the championship the team, and city, had waited for. A now more mature, more skilled, and more polished Lebron would give his all to bring a championship to the city he called home. And in 2016, he and his teammates did the impossible, overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals against the historically unbeatable 73-9 Golden State Warriors. It was the first time in NBA Finals history that a team won after falling behind 3-1 in the best-of- seven series

His performance in the Finals – back-to-back 41-point games, a triple-double in Game 7, the block on Andre Iguodala – cemented his place in basketball history. For many, that was the defining moment that made him the GOAT. And he did all of it at 31, at an age when most players start slowing down or have retired.

By the time he joined the Lakers in 2018, LeBron was 33, and the doubters were louder than ever. But LeBron wasn’t done winning. In 2020, during the NBA Bubble season, he led the Lakers to their 17th championship, proving that even in year 17 and age 35, he was still the best player in the world. Winning a title with a third team added another layer to his legacy. He became the first player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with three different franchises, further separating himself from the GOAT debate. 

Today, LeBron is still competing at an elite level. He’s still putting up MVP level numbers, still making All-Star teams, and still proving that he can compete with the best of the best. When people thought he’d be washed, he instead became the NBA’s all time leading scorer. Most legends fade away. LeBron James? He rewrote the rules. He didn’t just survive his 30s, he thrived in them, winning two more championships and proving that greatness has no expiration date – even as he approaches his 41st birthday during his 23rd season.

Four NBA championships, countless records, and still, after two decades, he’s defying Father Time. But LeBron’s greatness isn’t just in the stats. It’s in the way he’s changed the game, the way he’s inspired an entire generation to chase greatness. It’s in the way he uses his platform, speaking on issues bigger than basketball, giving back to his community, building schools, and proving that an athlete’s influence extends far beyond the court. 

Some debate whether he’s the GOAT, stacking him up against Michael Jordan in an endless argument of rings, accolades, and style of play. But in the end, LeBron James’ legacy isn’t about comparison. It’s about evolution. It’s about taking the game to places it’s never been before and proving that excellence has no limits. The King is still writing his story, and no matter how it ends, one thing is certain: basketball will never see another LeBron James.

And it’s about time we appreciate it.