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Message: [QUOTE="JordyG, post: 2736769, member: 6819"] You harp on his constant need to be the center of things. Yet, whether he has a constant "need" to be that fulcrum (which is debatable) he nonetheless, [B]is [/B]the constant center of things. Larry Bird once said if he wanted to have fun he'd rather play with LeBron, if he wanted to win championships, he'd rather play with Kobe. This was well before LeBron became this last second, clutch shooter who demands the ball in tough circumstances. Something he didn't learn until his 30's. The fact is LeBron, at an age where many players start to fade is putting up number equal to players like Kobe in their prime. The fact is this guy is a freak of nature who at 6'8" and over 250 lbs (closer to 260-265) never gets injured, never misses games and has taken teams like this current Cavs to his 8th straight final. Something few others have done, all of which played with Bill Russell's Celtics. Since he's entered the league he has never sat out for more than 15% of a season, which is unprecedented. He has never missed a playoff game. The only other players in the history of the sport that have played a higher percentage of their teams games during the regular season are Stockton and Malone. Many games LeBron missed were foisted on him by his coach as rest. Something Malone has noted didn't occur in his day. No other player has taken as many meagerly talented teams to the finals as had LeBron. Among active players no one has gone to the FT line more than James. Some may say it's because he complains to the refs so much. Yet so did Shaq, Barry and a host of others. In fact many note that, just like Shaq, many fouls aren't called because his size and strength means he doesn't physically react to fouls the same as others. Yes, I agree, he is a prodigious talent. One that knows he is under constant scrutiny. With never a hint of scandal or personal controversy, who decided in this age of media bombardment that he would take control of his narrative and not let the media do it. Who has seen throughout history what happens when athletes let the media set the narrative. [/QUOTE]

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