Reviewing Creed, as seen in a Philly theater: While We’re Waiting…
December 2, 2015MLB Trade Rumors: Indians discussed sending Carlos Carrasco to San Francisco
December 2, 2015Lee Jenkins is back with another LeBron James-based cover story, and this one may be the most detailed yet. Jenkins, who worked with James on his essay two summers ago, reports out a narrative that depicts the four-time MVP as a restless perfectionist who is absolutely consumed by bringing a championship to the city of Cleveland. The outside has a mustachioed LeBron in a suit and sneakers. The inside is a story that takes us into LeBron’s bedroom, down to Miami and back to Cleveland where only one thing is on his mind.
It’s fantastic #ActualSportswriting that simply couldn’t wait for Monday’s While We’re Waiting… I mean, just read and absorb this terrific lede:
LeBron James lay in bed at 2 a.m., listening to his wife and one-year-old daughter sleep. He had just returned home from Detroit, where the Cavaliers lost to the Pistons and he surpassed Jerry West for 19th on the all-time scoring list. James reveres West—he devoured the Logo’s autobiography four years ago and related to his Finals torment—so James’s wife, Savannah, called with congratulations after the game. “We lost,” he said.
“You’ll get the next one,” she replied.
James grumbled. “I’ll be better when I get back. I won’t bring this negative energy into the house.”
But three hours later he remained restless and turned on the television in his bedroom, muting the sound. He needed a show to help him wind down, maybe a program on his beloved Food Network, where he knows all the top chefs even though his lone specialty is a grilled cheese sandwich. Chopped, The Kitchen or Good Eats would have done the trick, but he queued up an unsettling alternative, recorded earlier that night: Warriors-Raptors. He might as well have mainlined Red Bull.
That James opted for the Warriors game should be surprising to no one. Multiple times this season, the Cavs small forward has referenced the successes had by the team which beat him—despite incredible, heroic efforts—in the NBA Finals and has picked right up where they left off. Jenkins even discusses the scene (you know, this one?) where James absorbed the Game 6 loss, staring blankly into his locker while nothing but the offseason existed ahead.
Despite his play in the NBA Finals, James spent the summer working on improving his already elite game, wishing and believing that he could have done more.
James worked on ballhandling and post skills every morning from 8:30 to 10 at Key Biscayne Community Center with Cavaliers assistant Phil Handy; built strength from 11 to 1 at DBC Fitness with trainer Mike Mancias; shot from 7 to 9 at Immaculata–La Salle High or the University of Miami with business partner Randy Mims. Anybody who visited James expecting a South Beach bash left disappointed. …
James is powerlifting the Cavs. He has already dunked more times in half-court sets than he did all last season, according to in-house stats, and he leads the league in scoring in clutch situations. He has been the best player—and his Cavs the best squad—east of Oakland. “All things considered, our record is pretty good, isn’t it?” James asks. “Well, I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.”
The rest of the story, which is a must-read for any Cavs fan, discusses the team James inherited—”Great young players, part-time pros.”—as well as the one that takes to The Q several nights per week with an increased level of focus and improved attitude toward professionalism. James wasn’t ready to be a leader in 2003, but has more than made up for lost time in 2015. There are nuggets about card games, berating teammates as well as himself, Kyrie Irving’s infamous zero-assist game, and the growth in James’ relationship with power forward Kevin Love. And of course, it discusses the potential changing of the guard between the Cavs and Warriors, but more importantly, he and Steph Curry.
Go. Now.
4 Comments
Part of me loves and appreciates this but another part of me says LBJ has to lighten up a little. I think we’ve already seen him a little to extreme for not even 1/4 of the season played. Multiple call outs of his team not to mention a players meeting, already?
I see things that should bother LBJ though. We saw it last night. The Cavs come out slow. Teams take it to them. Then when the Cavs have had enough they start to respond but it usually requires a lot until the Cavs talent overwhelms in the end. Last night they dug themselves to big a hole against a talented team and they could never get back. I don’t know if the Cavs are just playing things out until Shumpert and Irving return or if there is something else going on.
I’ll leave it to LBJ he’s the leader and he’s around these guys so he knows best. Long way to go.
Granted some players like Mo need to realize it’s not a big party like last time, but hopefully LeBron relaxes a little.
Mo had a great first quarter then disappeared. Don’t get me wrong I’m more then happy he’s back but he’s showing why he’ll be the backup once KI is back.
I like this LeBron so much better than the one who was here before. I just wish he’d learned these things in Cleveland, though it seems like maybe that wouldn’t have been possible. Now we can only hope his best days aren’t behind him.