The Chosen One

<![CDATA[<p style="text-align:auto"></p><figure><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/84c03e_8858e7d98be04199a5231381261422e7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1480,h_986,al_c,q_80/file.png" width="1480" height="986" title="Image"></figure><p style="text-align:auto">Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images</p><p style="text-align:auto"></p><p style="text-align:left">As basketball fans, we always have arguments on who are some of the greatest NBA players of all time, especially around this season. People tend to throw out names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabaar, Bill Rusell, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlin, and many more. Unfortunately, at 23 years old, I didn’t have the chance to see some of the great players of the NBA that came before me. I always hear stories from my father about the greatness of Michael Jordan and how he dominated the NBA. I may not have seen Michael Jordan play, but I am honored to see Lebron James career from beginning to end.</p><p style="text-align:auto">nFrom getting drafted by the Cleveland Cavilers in 2003, to winning two championships in Miami, and fulfilling his dream of bringing the Cavilers a championship in 2016. Lebron James had a storybook career, but he’s definitely had his fair share of critics. Lebron once said “I love the criticism it makes you strong”, as the media and fans criticized him, he used it as motivation to play at a higher level. James’ playing career is like a good book, as you move onto the next chapter it keeps getting better and better. A moment that silenced critics for days was the epic 3–1 comeback to the 2016 NBA Final. When his back was against the wall and most thought the Golden State Warriors had the championship in the bag, Lebron turned his game up a notch to give us a finale to write in the history books.</p><p style="text-align:auto">nLebron James off the court ventures have been just as good if not better than his play on the court. From opening his “<em>I Promise School”</em> for at-risk kids in Akron, Ohio to donating a whopping $2.5 million of the proceeds from “<em>The Decision”</em> to the Boys and Girls Club. Lebron has given back in such a manner that we have not yet quite seen from a basketball player before. “More Than An Athlete” is a standard that Lebron has molded his entire career on and he has even built an empire called “<em>Uninterrupted</em>” where sports athletes have a voice. Of course, fans can argue about where Lebron James should be placed on the NBA all-time list, but you can’t take away how great he is off the court. Just as my father used to tell me stories about Michael Jordan, I look forward to telling my children how great Lebron James was on and off the field.</p>]]>