In My Write Mind

[This article will appear in the June 2006 edition of Black Sports The Magazine.]

It didn’t take long. It never usually does with the great ones. All it takes is growth, along with opportunity and a willingness to outpace your opponent. To go above and beyond.

Jordan had it. Kobe wants it. That ability to will themselves to the next level, that work ethic that carries over to those around them. Forces them to raise their game.

And now there’s LeBron. He’s got it. And this spring, he’s grown immensely. Out of Jordan’s, or anyone’s shadow. Now, he’s out of this world — with a potential for greatness never before seen in someone so young. He’s only 21. And no one let’s him forget that.

What those same people won’t forget is the way he carried his Cleveland Cavaliers on his back as they proceeded to make the Washington Wizards disappear, and take the defending conference champion Detroit Pistons to the brink.

A triple double in his playoff debut, followed by game winning buzzer beaters in two of the next four games. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Not this soon. Not his first time out. Not with such a flawed team that has defensive deficiencies and a rookie head coach. They were supposed to be grateful just to make it to the big dance. They were supposed to take their lumps in what would be a natural advancement to the basketball promised land.

Somebody forgot to tell LeBron.

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Witness. That’s what the tee shirts made up by Nike said. What did you witness this postseason?

Did you see LeBron and Gilbert Arenas go toe-to-toe in the first round, taking turns throwing haymakers and daggers while their teams stood around in amazement, soaking up the moment? Did you witness the words James spoke to Arenas just before he attempted the series-turning free throws? How about the united stand the entire Cleveland team took, flying to St. Louis for the funeral of Larry Hughes’ brother Justin? Did you witness that? The way the team rallied in Hughes’ absence, taking three in a row against what is arguably the best team in the NBA?

I don’t know about you, but I did. Witnessed it all. And really, a part of me couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Didn’t think this team was ready for prime time. And they probably aren’t. Not without a skilled big man and a Pippen-like second banana that would take much needed pressure off of ‘Bron. But all it takes is one camera shot to see the growth in #23, to see him do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Jordan did that consistently. And now there’s LeBron.

He grew as he outpointed Arenas in what amounted to six pick-up games, as he found a way to penetrate the league’s stingiest defense when he needed to and, when he couldn’t, get the ball to teammates in a position to score.

He did more in thirteen playoff games that some people do in an entire career. All at 21.

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After losing to the Pistons in a Game 7 where his team was totally schooled — one that saw LeBron be held to six points in the second half, that saw his teammates shoot a miserable 9 for 41 and 31% overall — James told everyone that would listen that he was educated during this postseason from the series of defensive traps and schemes that were thrown his way by Detroit.

He reiterated that his team “had to grow from this experience” and come back better next season.

And they will. This time, they didn’t make the adjustments. Didn’t rise to the occasion. Didn’t find a way to win. THIS time. And to be fair, they probably didn’t have anything left after such an emotional stretch filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

They’d never readily make that excuse. Instead, as a team, they will make mental notes of what went on – and went wrong — over the course of three exciting weeks.

Now the Cleveland Cavaliers have the experience. Oh yes, and LeBron. Who will be a year better next year at the ripe age of 22. A year greater. We’ll all witness this as it unfolds.

And be thankful for this past spring, when a young man and his team took their lumps and, in the process, gave us all one to grow on.