![]() ![]() LeBron electrified and showed the potential of how good he could be and of the greatness to come.James Hype is a real product of our age, a DJ who has played many incredible gigs for sure, but whose star has risen on the tide of YouTube and social media sharing. In that moment all the hype culminated in one inspiring performance. In that game he hit fade away threes, cut to the lane in fierce fashion, and played outstanding defense. In a career-defining game against the Pistons during the 2007 playoffs, LeBron scored 29 of the Cavaliers' last 30 points including 25 in a row, marching them into the finals. After several gutsy and dominant performances in which he was unstoppable, LeBron started to get mentioned as one of the best players in the NBA. Last season, LeBron willed his team into the playoffs and then put them on his back and carried them into the finals. ![]() He wants to be the one taking the last shot, and the majority of the time, he makes it. When the game is on the line, LeBron James wants the ball. In one game LeBron made a defining statement that he will not shy away from pressure he will thrive and excel in it.įrom that very first game, LeBron established his style and approach to basketball. Nobody remembers that Cleveland lost that game, and yet that moment will be forever embedded in the minds of sports fans as LeBron’s coming out party. In his first professional game, LeBron James scored 25 points, had nine assists and six rebounds, and even managed to theft four steals. Unlike so many others, LeBron looked directly into the eye of the hype storm and attacked it like he does when streaking down the lane toward the basket. Before his first game, the hype was in full hurricane force, but the unflinching James was not fazed. The notorious Sam Bowie, who was drafted before Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, is regarded as one of the biggest mistakes in sports history.Īnd 1998’s first pick, center Michael Olowokandi, was forced out of LA because of his poor play and was berated by the fans.Įntering his rookie season, no player in NBA history had faced higher expectations or been given so much attention as LeBron.īecause of the propaganda, the way James played was going to be closely scrutinized, his mistakes severely ridiculed, his demeanor analyzed, and his worth questioned. It is very easy for would-be stars to fall into either basketball obscurity or the purgatory of fans’ disdain.īut certain rare players with special qualities and strengths survive and prosper under difficult circumstances.įormer first overall pick Kwame Brown succumbed to the hype, never living up to it. Athletes who lack the strength or maturity to deal with the media hype and pressure of professional and public expectations often find themselves wondering where things went wrong.īig names who can’t measure up often lose their confidence, under-perform, and are quickly forgotten. Professional sports are an unforgiving place for failed athletes. ![]() Needless to say, James faced incredibly intense pressure to succeed. Nike signed a $90 million contract with the King before he played in his first NBA game. ![]() He was such a dominant player that the media dubbed him “King James” and “The Chosen One.” James was being hailed as the next Michael Jordan, after being drafted as the No. ![]()
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