Chasing the Ghost

Lebron James. King James. The Chosen One. He is a three-time champion and two-time gold medalist. Many would consider him the best player in the NBA, and one of the best of all time. Some say he deserves a spot on Basketball’s Mt. Rushmore, but one thing is for sure, he will undoubtedly be a first ballot hall of famer. Yet with all the praise, honor and accolades he has received he is still not satisfied; there is something that is still missing.

Lebron James has been in the media’s spotlight since he was a teenager. He was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, where his mother struggled to make ends meet, and often times he would have to go live at friends’ houses for an extended amount of time. These friends would eventually turn into teammates and brothers, which was something he lacked being the only child. Basketball was his safe haven. Like many inner-city youth, sports were his escape from reality. While playing basketball he didn’t have to worry about things that a child should never have to worry about. He began getting attention from local and national media while in high school, and he was given the name the “Chosen One,” which was plastered all over the front of once popular Slam Magazine. He was dubbed the messiah of basketball, the second coming. Second coming of what though?

King James, as many refer to him, was drafted first overall in the 2003 NBA draft. Straight from high school to the pros, he became an instant success. King James seemed fitting for such a skilled player. When you watched him play you knew he was very special, and one day he would be considered basketball royalty. He struggled he first few years in the league, until he finally got a legitimate chance at a NBA title in 2007. June 14, 2007 those dreams were put on hold when the San Antonio spurs elimated the King and his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in just four games. He tried to come back again the next year, and after a few more failed attempts he decided to take his talents to south beach and create a superteam with best friend Dwyane Wade and fellow all star Chris Bosh. While in Miami he was able to go to four straight NBA finals, and before returning to Cleveland he was able to get a pair of NBS championships as well.

Since his return to Cleveland he has gone to three more NBA finals and won one more championship. While this may be more than enough for most players The Chosen One is not satisfied. He has been dreaming of this since he was a kid and he is finally living his dream, while remaining at the top of his game, but yet it is not enough! Lebron is chasing the ghost of the G.O.A.T., the greatest of all time, which is not Lebron, but Michael Jordan. He is the one player who most of the players in the league today model their game after. Everyone wants to be like Mike, and can you blame them? MJ, as many people call him, has gone to six NBA finals, winning every one as well as being named the MVP of the finals all six times. He has a shoe brand name after him, Jordan, which is highly successful, and is considered the greatest NBA player ever by most. Michael Jordan is that one player that no one could stop, and he knew he could not be stopped. He had that killer instinct his whole career, even while going up against many of the dominant teams in the 80s. Michael Jordan was so great even Lebron, whom many kids of this generation consider the greatest, knows that he is the second coming of Michael Jordan. But being the second coming is not good enough for him. He wants to be greater than MJ and to do so he must chase that ghost, and win at least three more championships before we can even consider that conversation. Lebron, as great as he is, knows that there is someone greater than him, and until he is considered the GOAT, he will forever be chasing the GHOST!

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