Scottie Pippen says he was 'LeBron James before LeBron James'

[Fireball Jr.]

How'd the Heat do this past season with LeBron gone after all his "luck' in South Beach? I wasn't paying attention, how far did the Heat get in the post-season? Can't believe we're more than a decade into one of the greatest careers -- and stories (cover of SI as a high school junior, under the spotlight and microscope for 15 of his 30 years, spectacular performer, game changer and difference maker) -- in the history of the league and people still delight in doing nothing but taking shots and trying to convince the world that LeBron's over-rated. Caucasian, please.

 

[Alsacs]

How'd the Heat do this past season with LeBron gone after all his "luck' in South Beach? I wasn't paying attention, how far did the Heat get in the post-season? Can't believe we're more than a decade into one of the greatest careers -- and stories (cover of SI as a junior, under the spotlight and microscrope for 15 of his 30 years, spectacular performer, game changer and difference maker) -- in the history of the league and people still delight in doing nothing but taking shots and trying to convince the world that LeBron's over-rated. Caucasian, please.

I respect Lebron James as the best NBA player since Michael Jordan on the court and he will go down in history as a top 5 alltime. I still hate the guy and didn't hate Kobe, Duncan, or any great.

Respecting his greatness and then hating how refs never call fouls on him defensively, his constant bitching to refs during games, his press conference to announce the Decision, the fact he and his management team are obviously in bed with ESPN and constant spin that network does for the guy can really turn people off. Lebron James the basketball player is great, but it doesn't mean people can be sick of him. I will be a little sad when Kobe is retired. That player has been selfish during his career and lost games, but didn't have a network/marketing team blowing him and spinning everything for the guy. Kobe was killed by public opinion and overcame it. Lebron was rightfully killed for the decision and ESPN/Nike still spun for the guy.


I root for greatness typically I will never root for Lebron James unless he has USA on his jersey. It doesn't mean I don't respect the guy and yes I am Caucasian, but hate Skip Bayless.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

I respect Lebron James as the best NBA player since Michael Jordan on the court and he will go down in history as a top 5 alltime. I still hate the guy and didn't hate Kobe, Duncan, or any great.

Respecting his greatness and then hating how refs never call fouls on him defensively, his constant bitching to refs during games, his press conference to announce the Decision, the fact he and his management team are obviously in bed with ESPN and constant spin that network does for the guy can really turn people off. Lebron James the basketball player is great, but it doesn't mean people can be sick of him. I will be a little sad when Kobe is retired. That player has been selfish during his career and lost games, but didn't have a network/marketing team blowing him and spinning everything for the guy. Kobe was killed by public opinion and overcame it. Lebron was rightfully killed for the decision and ESPN/Nike still spun for the guy.
I root for greatness typically I will never root for Lebron James unless he has USA on his jersey. It doesn't mean I don't respect the guy and yes I am Caucasian, but hate Skip Bayless.

I agree, awful, awful man-- my gawd, The Decision, too bad Nuremburg's over, we could put the evil b*stard on trial for crimes against humanity. What a horrible, horrible person. ESPN-LeBron, conspiracy. Selfish, too (funny, other detractors beat him up for not being selfish enough, you, know, the whole "he's a choke, doesn't want the last shot").

Kobe's a wonderful guy, great teammate, great shot selection, never in trouble, never whines at calls, and ESPN basically's ignored him since he was a teenager. Has helped create a toxic environment where he's a key reason stars eschew the Lakers, while players want to play with LeBron.

And Jordan ... great family guy, true to his wife, never gambled or swore, never complained about a call, was a great teammate or never ridiculed them just boosted them, best ever. And he made it all on his own, no help from a relatively new company called Nike which latched in to Jordan as their first "face," the star of ads produced by Spike Lee.

Too bad social media wasn't around then so, instead of, say, some random guy with a cellphone camera snapping shots of LeBron with a teammate poolside somewhere in Cali, we could see shots of MJ leaving a casino at 4 in the morning before a playoff game or hanging with one of his many female friends who weren't named "Mrs. Jordan."

I agree: f LeBron. Horrible person, over-rated. Low-life.

 

[Alsacs]

I agree, awful, awful man-- my gawd, The Decision, too bad Nuremburg's over, we could put the evil b*stard on trial for crimes against humanity. What a horrible, horrible person. ESPN-LeBron, conspiracy. Selfish, too (funny, other detractors beat him up for not being selfish enough, you, know, the whole "he's a choke, doesn't want the last shot").

Kobe's a wonderful guy, great teammate, great shot selection, never in trouble, never whines at calls, and ESPN basically's ignored him since he was a teenager. Has helped create a toxic environment where he's a key reason stars eschew the Lakers, while players want to play with LeBron.

And Jordan ... great family guy, true to his wife, never gambled or swore, never complained about a call, was a great teammate or never ridiculed them just boosted them, best ever. And he made it all on his own, no help from a relatively new company called Nike which latched in to Jordan as their first "face," the star of ads produced by Spike Lee.

Too bad social media wasn't around then so, instead of, say, some random guy with a cellphone camera snapping shots of LeBron with a teammate poolside somewhere in Cali, we could see shots of MJ leaving a casino at 4 in the morning before a playoff game or hanging with one of his many female friends who weren't named "Mrs. Jordan."

I agree: f LeBron. Horrible person, over-rated. Low-life.

I already admitted Kobe is a POS off the court and he was selfish on the court from 2005-2007. I just don't feel he was crammed down my throats.

Michael Jordan was from an era where we built people up and we didn't have the cynic media looking to tear people down.

I don't have to like Lebron James as long as I don't go Skip Bayless and just try to troll the guy. James is the best NBA player by a mile and I can't do nothing but respect his talent and accomplishments. People can be annoyed at him though. I never called him a low-life or overrated. He is the classic if he's on your team you love him if he is not you can root against him. That doesn't take away from the fact he will go down in NBA history as a top 5 player of alltime.

 

[Knicks411]

I also think it is important to factor in that comparing eras is difficult. Stats alone do NOT tell the story when evaluating players from the 60s to players today. So these benchmarks don't really tell a compelling story.

For sure, I was just curious. Can't compare stats today vs's the 60's or whatever. Much different era.

 

[RF2044]

How'd the Heat do this past season with LeBron gone after all his "luck' in South Beach? I wasn't paying attention, how far did the Heat get in the post-season? Can't believe we're more than a decade into one of the greatest careers -- and stories (cover of SI as a junior, under the spotlight and microscrope for 15 of his 30 years, spectacular performer, game changer and difference maker) -- in the history of the league and people still delight in doing nothing but taking shots and trying to convince the world that LeBron's over-rated. Caucasian, please.

I said none of what you are attributing. I also didn't say that his success in Miami was "luck." So "caucasian please" right back atcha!

I DID say that they got a lucky bounce in that game 6, which is true.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I never get the people that say Lebron is hated because he is black. It's like a lame excuse. So why did I grow up with Kevin Garnett being my favorite player?

 

[Cusefan0307]

How'd the Heat do this past season with LeBron gone after all his "luck' in South Beach? I wasn't paying attention, how far did the Heat get in the post-season? Can't believe we're more than a decade into one of the greatest careers -- and stories (cover of SI as a junior, under the spotlight and microscrope for 15 of his 30 years, spectacular performer, game changer and difference maker) -- in the history of the league and people still delight in doing nothing but taking shots and trying to convince the world that LeBron's over-rated. Caucasian, please.

Ridiculous. See my post above.

Lebron is Tom Brady. It's no different. When you are the best people will say anything to get you off their throne