Even the loudest of LeBron James critics—yes, even Skip Bayless—has to admit he has accomplished a hell of a lot during his NBA career. With the Cleveland Cavaliers cruising through the Eastern Conference Playoffs yet again, there's not a lot left to discuss regarding James until the NBA Finals roll around.
And if you ask James himself, he's no longer worried about the constant shots at his legacy or what people think about his historic credentials. As he told Cleveland.com following Friday night's 21-point victory over the Toronto Raptors, his legacy is beyond reproach.
"What else do I have to prove? Seriously, what else would I have [to do]? I've won championships," said James. "I won my first one and I've won for my teammates, I came home and won. There isn't anything I have left to prove."
In the sense that he has solidified his place among the game's greatest of all time, LeBron is correct. He could retire tomorrow and rank as a statistical giant, the owner of a boatload of individual awards, and tremendous success from a team perspective. The ring he won in Cleveland was the cherry on top of a Hall of Fame career, with the historic 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors representing a first in league history.
But there are those who will continue to pit him against the likes of Michael Jordan, whose ghost has loomed over James' career from the very beginning. LeBron himself has admitted to Jordan's legacy fueling his career, and giving up on that pursuit would be disappointing for a player who, based on his play in the 2017 playoffs, has so much left in the tank.
Thankfully, James clarified his initial comment and explained the strength of his legacy was no excuse to rest on his laurels. "I'm not free," said James, "because my passion for this game is so huge, it's enormous, and my desire to be great is ridiculous. My desire to be great, to be great at this game I love so much, that trumps everything else."
Seeing a player of LeBron's stature continuing to push himself to new heights in his mid-30s is something any sports fan can appreciate. Many fans grow to despise guys like LeBron or Tom Brady who dominate their field for such a long time, but even the most resentful opponents eventually develop a begrudging respect.
There's no telling how long his reign at the top of the game will last—his dominance of the Eastern Conference is already staggering—so enjoy the back half of his career while you can. Maybe he should just try shooting left-handed and see if he can still conquer the league that way.
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