“I leave the game in good hands.” It was 19 years ago, almost to the day. During his final All-Star Game which would punctuate the final year of his playing career, Michael Jordan had pronounced these words during a speech with the air of transfer of power in front of the young guard of the NBA, then composed of Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter and other Tracy McGrady to name a few.
Almost two decades later, these memories have necessarily resurfaced, to see Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the same photo, three players who have accompanied three generations and who have in turn taken on the honorary role of NBA ambassadors.
The “Washed King” still has some laundry to do
Michael Jordan took over from Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Then, during the Draft that followed the (last) retirement of Michael Jordan, LeBron James landed. And the one who was presented as the future of the league has held his rank for 19 years now, with his share of failures, victories, and responsibilities.
“I carry this title of ambassador. No one told me to do it, but I figured if I didn’t, who would? So I took on this responsibility, and I will continue to do so until the end of my career., said LeBron Jameswho again proved on Sunday that he had nothing of a “Washed King” (washed king).
In turn, LeBron James ended up eclipsing all his competitors. His return to Cleveland, where he offered the first title in Cavs history after a stunning NBA Finals against the Warriors, undoubtedly marked a turning point in his career and the legend he wrote game after game. His title in 2020 with the Lakers only confirmed the immense player he was, a generational icon.
“It’s a responsibility, that’s for sure. Others carried it before me, keeping the level where it was and making it better than it was. You have to represent the league with the utmost respect.”he added. “There are so many generations looking for inspiration. And it’s always cool to see guys come to our league and say their favorite player growing up was LeBron James. It means something to me, because I feel like it’s more than just playing basketball.”
Adam Silver doesn’t want to think about it yet
While he has said several times that he wants to play with his son Bronny Jr before leaving the NBA, leaving the league a little more time before turning around, “after LeBron James” has cause for concern for the league, which does not yet have this “generational” player able to take up the torch.
“I want to be absolutely clear. I’m not ready to talk about the post-LeBron era”said “commissioner” Adam Silver recently. “And I don’t think it’s because I’m in denial. He won a title less than a year and a half ago. From my perspective, LeBron James still plays at the highest level in the league. At some point, one or more new players will emerge, I believe, to take the leadership of the league. It seems that is always the case. I’m just not ready in the slightest to start thinking about the league without LeBron James, because he’s still as committed as ever to the competition and the league in general.”
Between Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, who are already well into their thirties (both 33), and the expected arrival of Zion Williamson, who has looked like a big flop since the start of the season and has undoubtedly measured the way he still had to go before claiming the title of league ambassador, we find players like Giannis Antetokounmpo (27 years old) or Luka Doncic and Ja Morant (22 years old). But to be an NBA ambassador is to be its face on and off the court, to be its embodiment through performance and attitude.
As smiling as killers on the field, Luka Doncic and Ja Morant have the potential to embody this mega star who will become the face of the NBA when “King James” hangs up. But not right now…
| LeBron James | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2003-04 | KEY | 79 | 40 | 41.7 | 29.0 | 75.4 | 1.3 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 20.9 |
| 2004-05 | KEY | 80 | 42 | 47.2 | 35.1 | 75.0 | 1.4 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 27.2 |
| 2005-06 | KEY | 79 | 43 | 48.0 | 33.5 | 73.8 | 1.0 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 31.4 |
| 2006-07 | KEY | 78 | 41 | 47.6 | 31.9 | 69.8 | 1.1 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 27.3 |
| 2007-08 | KEY | 75 | 40 | 48.4 | 31.5 | 71.2 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 30.0 |
| 2008-09 ★ | KEY | 81 | 38 | 48.9 | 34.4 | 78.0 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 28.4 |
| 2009-10 ★ | KEY | 76 | 39 | 50.3 | 33.3 | 76.7 | 0.9 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 29.7 |
| 2010-11 | MIA | 79 | 39 | 51.1 | 33.0 | 75.9 | 1.0 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 26.7 |
| 2011-12 ★ | MIA | 62 | 38 | 53.1 | 36.2 | 77.1 | 1.5 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 6.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 27.2 |
| 2012-13 ★ | MIA | 76 | 38 | 56.5 | 40.6 | 75.3 | 1.3 | 6.8 | 8.0 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 26.8 |
| 2013-14 | MIA | 77 | 38 | 56.7 | 37.9 | 75.0 | 1.1 | 5.9 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 27.1 |
| 2014-15 | KEY | 69 | 36 | 48.8 | 35.4 | 71.0 | 0.7 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 25.3 |
| 2015-16 | KEY | 76 | 36 | 52.0 | 30.9 | 73.1 | 1.5 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 25.3 |
| 2016-17 | KEY | 74 | 38 | 54.8 | 36.3 | 67.4 | 1.3 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 26.4 |
| 2017-18 | KEY | 82 | 37 | 54.2 | 36.7 | 73.1 | 1.2 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 27.5 |
| 2018-19 | ALL | 55 | 35 | 51.0 | 33.9 | 66.5 | 1.0 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 27.4 |
| 2019-20 | ALL | 67 | 35 | 49.3 | 34.8 | 69.3 | 1.0 | 6.9 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 25.3 |
| 2020-21 | ALL | 45 | 33 | 51.3 | 36.5 | 69.8 | 0.6 | 7.0 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 25.0 |
| 2021-22 | ALL | 41 | 37 | 52.2 | 35.3 | 74.8 | 1.1 | 6.8 | 7.9 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 29.1 |
| Total | 1351 | 38 | 50.5 | 34.5 | 73.4 | 1.2 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 27.1 | |
