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LeBron James And The City Of Cleveland’s Complicated Relationship

By Ben Gibson

Mar 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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LeBron James
Jan 12, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) argues a call during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Cavaliers defeat the Mavericks 110-107 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The Mounting Pressure

If those two tangible opponents weren’t enough, the pressure on LeBron to bring Cleveland a title also is weighing on this team. While I wouldn’t go as far to say it is actively hurting the Cleveland Cavaliers’ chances of winning a title, it certainly isn’t making it any easier.

If the Cavaliers fail, and LeBron loses again, it will add even more pressure next season. Despite being a yearly fixture in the Finals, the idea — the flawed idea— of him not having some sort of “clutch gene” will only get worse.

If you need any more proof of how these created narratives influence our perception, consider that Kobe has the reputation of being the guy you want taking the shot when you’re trailing in the playoffs, much more of one than LeBron, then go look at their statistics in that situation. (Hint: LeBron is much better.)

Despite this, the idea that James isn’t a closer still persists, and the idea that you want Kobe to take the last shot for you is still a thing as well. These narratives, these story lines, have a way of manifesting themselves in the real world, so don’t think that LeBron doesn’t feel this extra pressure.

LeBron James 2015-16 Shot Chart | PointAfter

If Cleveland goes another season without a championship and the Warriors continue to be an unstoppable force (sorry San Antonio, Duncan and friends have to retire eventually), then we’ll be left to wonder if LeBron will stick in Cleveland.

In many people’s minds, he’ll need more than his current two NBA titles to prove he’s one of the best ever. If it looks like the Cavaliers aren’t going to have the team around LeBron to win one, then all bets are off concerning his future.

As unbelievable as James leaving the Cavaliers again would be, he doesn’t need them. Cleveland, the team, and the city, need him. LeBron can live with the fact a city 40 miles north of Akron hates him, as the people that cheer for him now are the same ones that lustfully booed him in 2010. Six years later, he’s become the city of Cleveland’s only hope again. For some people to see LeBron James as a “winner,” whatever that means, he has to bring Cleveland a title.

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That is only one way to untangle the strangeness of the relationship between him and the city.

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