Go back to previous topic
Forum nameOkay Sports
Topic subjectAs an ambassador/icon/business person he is the clear winner
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=8&topic_id=2630175&mesg_id=2630237
2630237, As an ambassador/icon/business person he is the clear winner
Posted by obsidianchrysalis, Tue Nov-14-17 08:31 PM
He's outspoken about social issues without inflaming the status quo, like you said he's created a new era of mobility for ballplayers who can now not only choose their destination but also through their attractiveness bring other star players into a team to play, and has found success as a pitchman, business owner, and cultural icon.

But as a basketball player, he's less of an influence. Not so much because of his style of play, but because he's the only athlete capable of playing his style. In music terms he'd be Public Enemy. Arguably the best at their particular style and shattered the ceiling on what was possible. But because no one else was in their lane, they really never passed the torch to anybody and the same is the case with LeBron.

You could maybe say that Ben Simmons is his heir apparent but again, that's only one player. Like him or not, the real game changer has been Curry, if only because now kids are shooting in the aim of being the next Curry like kids worked on their jumping and aerial game after seeing Jordan.

As far as LeBron's game influencing the league, again he's been such a iconoclastic player that it's impossible to build a team of similar players. Likely the influence you refer to is the result of European basketball influencing coaches like D'Antoni and Phil who influenced Pop whose style filtered into Kerr.

But hey, to me LeBron is the best of his generation and is the heir apparent to Jordan, not Kobe, as the best 'winner' in the game.