LeBron James: An Underappreciated Career Metamorphosis

The hoops world has been buzzing about LeBron James after Michael Jordan’s comments regarding “absolutely” being able to beat James one-on-one in his prime.

Most have spent their time — as fans have often done for years — slamming James and deifying Jordan due to James’ losses early in his career, while not acknowledging the metamorphosis he’s gone through over the last four seasons.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: Could LeBron James Take Michael Jordan One-On-One?

This is not the same man or player that lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals — and James caught far too much flack for that performance — as well as the Cavaliers’ Finals loss in 2007 to begin with.

Before outlining the transformation of James, it’s wise to first put the Mavericks loss into proper context.

Dwyane Wade was still the Miami Heat’s “Batman” even though he publicly stated after James came to the Miami Heat that this was “James’ team.” Need proof?

Wade had a team-high usage percentage of 30.3 to James’ 22.9; with a usage percentage over 35 in the fourth quarter to James’ sub-20 percentage.

This was not because James was “scared of the moment” as sensationalists Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless often stated then.

Nor was it because his teams had a history of losing in the Finals. Rather, it was the fact James found himself playing with a proven champion in the final year of his prime.

Of course Wade was going to lead the way as the alpha dog in their first year together, and of course James would want him to do so while still seeking his first championship.

Furthermore, that Heat team had just come together that season. Thus, to get to the Finals with head coach Eric Spoelstra in their first year as a unit was a feat unto itself. The oddsmakers and casual fans don’t recognize this; and James haters never will.

Just because a team is great on paper doesn’t mean that they should be the expected champions. Intangibles, cohesiveness, coaching and the aforementioned circumstances all matter, and they loom the largest in the most heightened situations.

More from Cleveland Cavaliers

• Latest intel calls Donovan Mitchell’s future with the Cavs into question
• 5 players who will challenge Victor Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Analyzing the Max Strus acquisition
• Ranking the 5 best available shooting guards in 2023 NBA free agency
• NBA Rumors: Cavs have secret weapon to lure LeBron back to Cleveland

Nothing really needs to be said about the 2007 Finals loss apart from this: the Cavs went to the Finals with the second-worst ELO rating as a team around James over the last 31 years. They had no business being there and no one should knock James for dragging a rag-tag bunch that far — in fact, the opposite should be true.

In James’ final season with the Heat, the team — and Wade — was a shell of itself and again, the expectations were far too high. James found himself carrying the entire load and often playing the five due to the dearth of depth on the Heat’s roster.

Since that loss in the 2011 NBA Finals, James has taken charge of all future teams and has grown in both confidence and aggression in the most crucial moments. Wade took a necessary step back in the role of leader and the Heat went on to win two championships behind James’ lead — not Wade’s.

Upon his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers James cautioned the obvious: that it would “take time” to win a championship.

However, due to his exceptional play, drive and leadership displayed in 2014-15, James dragged (post Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love injuries) the third-worst roster over the last 31 years to the Finals — taking two games against one of the most efficient and best teams in history by the numbers.

Again, both he and his team had no business doing this. Furthermore, a 2010 James likely wouldn’t have been able to lead this newest rag-tag bunch to two wins against a far superior opponent.

James has indeed stepped up his leadership, heart, drive, passion, willingness to shoot in the “moment,” all while consistently improving his all-around game over the course of the last four seasons.

Live Feed

King James Gospel

Jordan had continuity and was led by the best NBA coach in history.

James has had to drag terrible rosters further than they’ve had any business going, make a move to finally get partnered with a roster worthy of winning, be coached by the likes of Mike Brown, Spoelstra and a rookie David Blatt in the process of his career, and twist an owner’s arm to get any semblance of continuity upon returning home to Cleveland.

Both Jordan and James’ circumstances couldn’t be any more different, yet people consistently choose to negate these facts.

While there’s little doubt Jordan is the best athlete in the last century and possessed an innate drive and passion unlike any other; the change in James’ style, drive and demeanor has been exponential over the last four seasons while being largely overlooked.

There’s never been a great basketball player that has undergone such an internal transformation in such a short span; and it’s beyond time to take the hater blinders off and recognize the truth before he’s gone.

Will Reeve is a contributing writer for HoopsHabit, you can follow him on Twitter @WillReeveJr or connect with him on Facebook here.

Next: 5 Must-Watch Games For The Los Angeles Lakers In 2015-16

More from Hoops Habit

• The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout