Superman never seems to get his just due in the comic book universe. Take a survey of fans and many will submit to you Batman — an “ordinary” man with extraordinary wealth and training — or other more down-to-earth characters as their favorite superhero. Unlike Peter Parker, whose spider-centric powers were the result of a science exhibit accident, Superman was ahead of the game from the start. He was born into supernatural being, which has resulted in the otherworldly being from Krypton falling victim to the sliding scale. Sound familiar?
With apologies to Dwight Howard — who stole the nickname from Shaq anyway — LeBron James is the NBA’s Superman. Emerging from the shores of Lake Erie, James was garnering Sports Illustrated cover stories when he was barely old enough to legally drive a car, let alone take on the NBA’s best and brightest. He was anointed the NBA’s guiding light before he ever played a minute of pro basketball. With a combination of physical gifts and a hoops instinct that far outstripped his peers, James was “The Chosen One.”
On the eve of James’ professional debut in 2003, SI’s Jack McCallum penned a story that’s haunting in retrospect. The burden Lebron was about to carry, given the gifts bestowed on him by brands and companies eager to clasp on to his ascendent cape of superstardom, was unheard of at the time:
NBA officials will tell you that we’ve seen this before, a phenom receiving big bucks, arriving amid much fanfare. But they’re kidding themselves and they know it. No one has gotten this much this soon, no one has ever entered any league under so much scrutiny. The three-year, $10.8 million rookie contract he’s getting from the Cavaliers is Monopoly money to James, who has endorsement deals worth more than $100 million. “I’ve been around the game for 40 years,” says Cavs coach Paul Silas, “and I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s scary.”
With those gifts came a certain entitlement from basketball fans, as if anything short of perfection would be a letdown. James was a little entitled himself, to be fair. “The Decision” and the Heat Welcome Party look ridiculous then and now. Perhaps turning Sports Illustrated‘s infamous headline as a tattoo wasn’t the pinnacle of humility, either.
But who could expect a sensible response after being told the world was yours at such a young age? Most 18 year olds struggle to handle the responsibility that comes with going to school and living on their own simultaneously. Try being the future of a multi-billion dollar industry while you’re still navigating the ropes of adulthood.
To boot, James is battling the ghost of Michael Jordan, who has become a symbol of impossible flawlessness that no man could live up to. Not even, as it turns out, Jordan himself:
The difference is that James has failed in a media cycle that never ends, never allowed a moment of respite from his past misgivings.
And yet, James has emerged from his youth as an extraordinary basketball player and person. He organized a powerful team photo in the wake of Trayvon Martin‘s death and spoke unequivocally about how there’s no place in the NBA for Donald Sterling, using his platform to take a stand on what he felt was right and wrong. On the court, James is the walking dream for coaches: a selfless star who consistently makes the right play even when others can’t see it yet. When he’s whipping cross-court, no-look passes like they’re straight out of his grainy high school videos, you see the tracings of his prenatal greatness.
#WeAreTrayvonMartin #Hoodies #Stereotyped #WeWantJustice https://t.co/tH6baAVo
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 23, 2012
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In the eyes of many viewers, nothing should be out of his reach. If James desires something, so should it be according to the word of King James’ Gospel; locations on the court are akin to countries claimed by manifest destiny. It’s easy to mock him for his failures and dwell on mistakes when you operate under the premise that success should be a given and not a goal.
But unlike Kal-El, James operates within the realm of humanity despite possessing gifts of a demigod. He is susceptible to failure and restricted by the steady slope of progression. His improved shooting and post prowess came only through diligence and practice we all aspire to. Even as LeBron has climbed to what appears to be his peak, he still fights off competitors of comparable might seeking to dethrone his Heat.
The playoff collapses that besmirched his reputation created the pillar of excellence standing before us today. From the ashes of hardship, he rose to a level that even his strongest supporters may have never thought possible. Men have wilted under dimmer lights. James has succeeded in maximizing gifts others have wasted due to disinterest or circumstance, using assets rather than possessing them.
He has surpassed Larry Bird in individual honors, equaled Wilt Chamberlain in team success, and placed himself among the greatest to ever step on hardwood. If he retired tomorrow, he would go down as one of the 10 best players in the history of the sport, despite critics attempting to downplay his feats.
There are only so many chances to watch someone of his stature put it all together. Cheer for him to push further. Root for LeBron, so we can see how high Superman can climb.
Will you be rooting for LeBron?
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