Most Kings Get Their Heads Cut Off

So I decided to let the groupie ass fans and haters go at it first.Yea, I said my little piece, but for the most part, I let them speak. Haters claimed he was over. He’s trash, etc, etc. Dick riders brought up the Lakers…when nobody was even talking about them. I let the sports sites have their go. What did they say? Shit, I don’t know. With no guaranteed football, and, possible complications with next year’s NBA season, I haven’t been to ESPN.com or watched the channel in awhile. Now, out of my writing hibernation, I decide to speak on something everyone else has already talked about. A wise man once said “I will not lose, for even in defeat there’s a valuable lesson learned, so that evens it out for me” I believe this rings true for the main party involved, and his “witnesses”

“You know you’ve become a star because you’re the biggest target out there. When everyone’s on the court, they’re coming for you. When the opposing player walks into the arena, they’re thinking about upstaging you. You’re like a trophy to them. They’re thinking ‘If I’m better than this guy, the spotlight turns to me.’ So, you know you’re a star when everyone’s coming for you”
-Jay Z

A while back, Deshawn Stevenson called Lebron “overrated” during a heated Cavs v Wizards playoff series. James responded by saying that responding directly to Stevenson would be like “Jay-Z responding to a one hit wonder like Souljah Boy” Stevenson got Souljah Boy to come out before the Wizards introduction, Jay-Z recorded a freestyle to Too Short’s “Blow the Whistle” in which he took several shots at unnamed people and claimed Lebron wasn’t overrated, but instead underpaid. The Cavs would go on to win that series. Years later however, Stevenson, still a scrappy role player, finds himself becoming an NBA champion as his Dallas Mavericks beat out the Miami Heat and their star player, the still championship ringless Lebron James. Maybe, instead of the “Blow the Whistle” freestyle, Jay should have just released another song, titled “Most Kings” for Lebron.

“Build me up, to break me down, to build me up again, they like ‘Hov we need you back, so we can kill ya ass again’”
Jay-Z “Most Kings”

It’s been said that when Lebron came in the league, Allen Iverson told him “Watch out, they used to love Kobe too,” The irony isn’t lost on me that these words allegedly came from Allen Iverson, who now finds himself exiled to Turkey to play ball. Originally, the people loved “The King”. He was drafted to Cleveland, near his hometown of Akron. While the team missed the play-offs his first year, (as fellow rookies Carmello Anthony and Dwayne Wade took their teams to the play-offs) their record improved, and, the city of Cleveland saw financial gains over previous years. Although James entered the league as a passer who lacked a jump shot (compared to Magic due to his size and court vision) Lebron quickly became viewed as the heir to the true throne, the next Michael Jordan. To most (especially the younger crowd) this was fine. The last cat that was looked at as the heir apparent actually played against Michael Jordan. Sure, he wasn’t “Air” Jordan at that time, but the fact Kobe was on the same court as Jordan at one time, and that he tried to style on him (during an All-Star game) completely turned most of the young crowd off. If Kobe had enough “swag”, like say, an Allen Iverson, it would have been fine, however Kobe didn’t wear chains, and he didn’t rap about “fucking bitches and getting money” like Allen “Jewelz” Iverson, he spoke multiple languages and played basketball. Kobe’s life was basketball, to the younger “street” crowd, that wasn’t cool. To white America on the other hand, it was great. Kobe was the clean cut acceptable Negro, who played the opposite to Iverson…up until his case in Colorado. After being hit with rape charges, Kobe lost the favor of white America, most of his endorsements, and the superstar treatment (ie foul calls) given to the league’s best. Lebron wasn’t just a savior for Cleveland, he was a savior to everyone. He was far enough away from Mike to be compared to him, and, more importantly, he was the new clean image pushed by the NBA, who many believed would humble the “arrogant” Kobe Bryant, and win multiple championships.

“Media mettles, niggas sue you, you settle, every step you take, they remind you you ghetto. So it’s tough being Bobby Brown, to be Bobby then, you gotta be Bobby now”
Jay-Z “Most Kings”

So now, we’re here. The decision was horrible and a testament to Lebron’s arrogance, Lebron’s sub four point fourth quarter average in the finals was proof he’s a choke artist, and the big 3 need to be disbanded cuz they’ll never win…or so says a lot of the same media and or groupie ass fans who built Lebron up. Every move Lebron makes, on and off the court is over scrutinized. The story after the finals wasn’t Dirk overcoming the Heat, Jason Terry’s tattoo being validated, or even J Kidd finally getting a ring…it was the same as it had always been…Lebron. Sure, Lebron’s comment after the loss was assholish, but what do you expect from a kid in his mid 20′s with the weight of the world on his shoulders due to his ability to play a game? He wasn’t properly prepared for this. Until around 7th grade, Lebron lived life like any other kid from an impoverished neighborhood. Lebron didn’t have the benefits of an NBA father like a Kobe Bryant, or Stephen Curry. While they walked at the feet of legends, Lebron was probably watching cartoons. When Lebron entered the league, he didn’t join a great franchise like the Lakers or Celtics. He joined the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their biggest moment in NBA history came in a loss. They couldn’t handle a star as big as Lebron. They took advantage of him while they could, then dissed him as he left to seek what he felt he deserved, a chance to win.

The biggest thing Miami had to offer James, even better than the weather, women, and lack of a state tax, was a mentor. Although James and Dwayne Wade came in the league at the same time, Wade is two years older than Lebron. While Lebron spent his time fighting to be competitive in Cleveland, missing the play-offs his first year, Wade helped lead his team to the play-offs his first year, and to an NBA title his second. Wade knows what’s it’s like to be the man when the pressure is on, but he has the extra experience two years in college and life will give you that Lebron lacked. In Wade, Lebron has someone by his side who knows what’s it like to deal with pressure of being a superstar on and off the court. Although for the most part James has handled himself exceptionally well off the court, what he hasn’t done well with is preparation. In the NBA, teams pay people to study footage of the other teams superstars. They work daily doing nothing other than watch footage, and creating schemes to take away other teams advantages. If something works for you this year, by next year, there is a defensive scheme devised to stop that. Lebron has skated by on his athletic ability and physique. At times, it appears James has improved his jump shot, however, in the clutch, as we’ve all witnessed…it’s unreliable. He’s been given credit for improving his defense, however, instead of becoming a better defender skill wise, all Lebron has done is increase his dedication to defense, and used his speed and ability to close gaps to pressure shots on the help out. On ball, he’s the same defender he’s always been. A huge knock in Lebron’s game is his post-up offense. James always finds himself bigger than his defender, due to the fact no one his size has the speed to keep up with him. However, when defended by Jason Kidd or Deshawn Stevenson, James was close to useless with his back to the basket. Not only has Wade shown his ability and dedication to improving his own game (Don’t give him any space on the outside, he’ll burn you when it counts), but his presence challenges Lebron, that’s probably the motivation James needs. That’s something Cleveland couldn’t provide. While some now look at James as Pippen to Wade’s Jordan, he may actually be Kobe to Wade’s Shaq. Instead of being a consistent side kick to Wade, Dwayne Wade may give James the time to get his feet straight, and become the hands down best player in the league some mistake him as now.

It’s easy to understand why Jay-Z would align himself with Lebron. They both come from areas where they weren’t given much, and have taken themselves to places few may have expected at their birth. Jay can relate to Lebron on several levels, even in defeat. Like Lebron, all of Jay’s decisions haven’t led to success. Some of his 40/40 clubs had to be closed down…bad investments. While older and legendary in the rap game, in the business world, Jay-Z is still very young, and has valuable lessons to learn. Like Lebron, he wasn’t born into this, and may have not have completed all the preparation for the role he already plays, I’m sure with the time in front of both of them, they’ll both end up quite alright before their time is done. When it’s all said and done, maybe the other song Jay-Z recorded for James, “History” of the “More than a Game” soundtrack, will be more fitting for James’ career.