In mid-February 2002, the magazine Sports Illustrated, The Weekly Bible of American Sports published a number that remains for history. featured on the cover Lebron James smiling, in his high school uniform, under the title ‘Selected’The chosen one, the new figure of world basketball.
trying to find the heir of the world Michael Jordan, the first global star, the player who took the NBA to all corners of the planet. At a time when social networks did not exist, the cover had a worldwide impact. “LeBron James Is So Good He’s Already Considered The Heir his Airness& rdquo;, collected journalist’s article election grant, who traveled to Akron to photograph LeBron’s World, and who died while covering the World Cup in Qatar.
Twenty years later, time has elevated that cover to prophetic status. four NBA championships, four Finals MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, among other achievements, Lebron James has become a planetary star and his latest triumph completed this past morning the breaking of the NBA scoring record he held Kareem Abdul-JabbarThe 38,387 mark set since his retirement in the 1988–89 season already gives him an undeniable place among the greats of all time.
to get it, lebron He needed 36 points and eventually finished the game with 38, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. was the only but of the night that fell against the Lakers oklahoma city thunder, Who did not tarnish the feat.
“All your help, all your passion has helped me reach this point,” he said after achieving it and receiving the baton from Popeye. abdul jabbar in a symbolic act. “Never in a million years would I have seen anything better than this magical night.”
ghetto up
If you had to find the epitome of what the journey to the top means, no better story than LeBron’s. escaped the grief of boondocks, one of the poorest and most struggling areas on the outskirts of akron, He overcame a childhood full of uncertainty, raised by a single mother, Gloriawho made him, at the age of 16, after his father, Anthony McClelland, He will leave them when he finds out about the pregnancy. He survived a difficult adolescence, stumbling around in social housing and friends’ houses, until his fortunes changed when he went to live with the family of his first coach, Frank Walker. And he finally stood on a basketball court, in his four years of high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High SchoolWherein with that cover speaker in Sports Illustrated, his popularity skyrocketed in the United States, to the point that some of his games were televised nationally.
“It’s more to me that he’s a basketball star, he’s one of the symbols of the sport, be that as it may Muhammad Ali But also one with an incredible personal story, who came out of the ghetto, with nothing, and rose to the top”, explains the author of the book, NBA expert, journalist Davide Chinellato of La Gazzetta dello Sport. ‘Biography of King, LeBron James’ (Editorial Corner) Published recently in a conversation with El Periodico in Spain. “The theme of family is fundamental to LeBron and the one on which his life revolves. He is not an ordinary player who wants to win money. He always wanted to create something more important than himself, leaving a legacy, the black community, his city, Akron, wanted to help his school…” he explains.
His biographer states, “He is not the typical player who wants to make money. He always wanted to create something more important than that, leave a legacy.”
live in the shadow of Jordan, LeBron has had to deal with an emotional burden for most of his career. The journey to find your own path hasn’t been easy, however the experience ahead kobe ​​byrant The Olympic teams at Beijing-2008 and London-2012 provided a lesson in leadership and commitment, which he absorbed, to project a career that would allow him to sit at the table of the best: Jordan, Kobe, Jabbar, Russell, Magic, “Jordan is the best, though judging by LeBron’s numbers…” he admitted, just moments ago, Dirk Nowitzki.
effect of decision
In his early years he was branded as selfish and accused of lacking leadership Cleveland, despite reaching the NBA Finals, the first in team history, in which they lost to the Spurs. He was sentenced to hell for staging his escape from Miami on a television program. Decision, which brought together over 10 million viewers on ESPN to explore their new destination. But after four finals and two rings Dwyane Wade and Chris BoshReceived forgiveness and redemption by returning home and winning the first championship horseman, as promised. then departed in July 2018, after losing a further two finals, to join lakers, With whom he won his fourth ring, he found more understanding than disapproval among his army of followers.
excellence has marked his career to earn the nickname King. The terms of sporting greatness and longevity have acquired a new value at the age of 38 and after 20 seasons at the highest level. His numbers (30 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists) are still dazzling and no one would dare to argue with him that he is still one of the best in the league, as evidenced by the fact that all Star which will be held on 19 February salt Lake City, He would play in his 19th All-Star Game, another league record.
“Jordan is the best, though judging by LeBron’s numbers…”, says Dirk Nowitzki
“At the time, after the decision, he was probably one of the most hated athletes in America. But now that he’s in the final stages of his career, after winning in Cleveland and setting Kareem’s record, he has completely changed the way fans talk about it. Now they do it with admiration,” he says. David Chinellato, The author of his recent biography.
play with your baby
Surrounded by a group of experts who have looked after him throughout his career, no one dares to put an end date on him. His ambition is still present in every game. “I want to win. Losing doesn’t sit well with me,” he warned those responsible for the Lakers shortly before, putting pressure on him to strengthen the team and be able to fight for championships. But LeBron has another personal challenge in his head, which he’s already spoken about. He wants to continue the hiatus for a few more seasons to match up with Brony, the eldest of his children, who is starting to stand out in high school.
“I want to stay on track Brony. Either in a match with or against the same team. I don’t mean we go one on one in a match, but I would prefer something along the lines of Ken Griffey Sr. Y Jr.”, he assures, with the idea of ​​reenacting one of American sports’ most emblematic moments in the baseball league, the match between the father, 40, and his 20-year-old son. This will not happen until at least the 2024/25 season, when branny may declare himself eligible in the ‘draft’ of nba, But, LeBron, Selected, feel strong. “The way I’m feeling and my body reacting this season, I know I can play for a few more years,” he predicted on his special night.
