Well the NBA’s regular season is fast approaching, but that’s just prelude to the real show, which comes about 8 months later. That’s right, it’s almost here, folks: the Summer of George Lebron. Bracing for the inevitable whirlwind that will follow King James throughout the year, Tom Withers of the Associated Press sat down for an extensive interview with the Cavs superstar and last season’s runaway MVP.
Untitled Update
Purple-y bluster, which has apparently become mandatory whenever someone writes about Lebron James:
Police halt traffic so the King can pass. [...] Akron. The Rubber City he made bounce again. [...]
Under a green-and-gold "Fighting Irish Wall Of Fame" sign, James, who writes left-handed, said goodbye to his beloved school by scrawling: "The Greatest of All Time. King James. History In The Flesh."
Bold at 17. Possible at 24.
Movie promotion, for his upcoming documentary More Than a Game:
"Basketball was just the vehicle we used," he said, "but the story really has nothing to do with basketball. It's about kids having a dream, kids being loyal to each other and not stopping, whatever happens, to accomplish their dreams."
Excitement about Shaq:
"Something I haven't had in my career is a dominant force in the paint, a guy I can go to and he's going to get us something good. He's the most dominant force to ever play the game, and to have him on my team, I'm humbled."
And what everyone's been waiting for... Some boilerplate statements on his plans for free agency:
"I'm excited about the upcoming season and I have never given any indication that I'm leaving Cleveland," he said. "I've been happy with what the franchise has done for me and my family. It's been great. Hopefully everything goes right and hopefully I can sign a big contract to stay in Cleveland."Might he sign a smaller one to stay?
"That's possible," he said. "We'll see."
But wait: that last part is actually news. Lebron has held his franchise hostage over the past two years by refusing to commit to any longterm contract with Cleveland. Conventional wisdom has held that the Summer of 2010 will be D-Day for Cavaliers fans--they'll either keep their superstar for the next 7 years or they'll lose him forever. But might Lebron hedge his bets?
Committing to max-deal with Cleveland represents a major act of faith, and a willingness to live-and-die with whoever the Cavs surround him with. Lebron may not be ready to take that step. A smaller contract would still keep him in Cleveland, but with heightened flexibility.
So, then: who's excited for the Summer of 2013?
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