LeBron James hints at playing with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors
LeBron James states he would play with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
In the trailer for season five episode four of The Shop: Uninterrupted, LeBron James responds to a question about which remaining NBA playoff team that he would prefer playing for by issuing a preference for playing for the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James is entering the final year of his two year $85.6 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and will be a unrestricted free agent in 2023.
LeBron James' comment in the trailer can be interpreted in a myriad of ways in the absence of the context of the entire conversation being discussed on the unreleased episode:
- LeBron James could legitimately admire the way the Golden State Warriors play basketball and want to play basketball with them as a teammate.
- It could be interpreted as a passive aggressive verbal salvo aimed at Kevin Durant.
- It could be a well timed bargaining leverage tool for his upcoming next contract negotiations with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- It could be LeBron James positioning himself with Golden State as an option to get closer to Silicon Valley for off court business purposes if he does decide to leave the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023.
Golden State Warriors Play Team Basketball
LeBron James possesses a natural proclivity to play team basketball. The Golden State Warriors epitomize team basketball in this era of the NBA. Their offense features a lot of off ball movement and passing that is complimented by other worldy perimeter shooting.
LeBron James' basketball intelligence and appreciation for all aspects of the game is evident in the way that he plays the game. James has been criticized at times for relishing the opportunity to give an assist, as much as he cherishes scoring a basket.
LeBron James has only been the NBA Scoring Champion in one season. James lead the league in scoring in the 2007–2008 season, in which he averaged 30 points per game.
LeBron James could have easily lead the league in scoring because of his size, athleticism, and basketball intelligence.
Instead, LeBron James prefers a more well rounded style of play that gives he and his teammates the best opportunities to win NBA championships.
LeBron James' style of play is a natural fit with the Golden State Warriors.
LeBron James is well aware of this natural fit, as he drafted Golden State Warriors superstar, Stephen Curry to be his NBA All Star game teammate twice.
Passive Aggressive Verbal Jab at Kevin Durant
The comments by LeBron James can be interpreted as a subtle jab at Kevin Durant. The totality of the available LeBron James statement reads, “I would love to get into a pissing match with Draymond [Green]. I love when somebody cusses me out.”
Kevin Durant famously opted to leave the Golden State Warriors following a season in which Draymond Green called Kevin Durant a female dog using profane vernacular.
The subheading of this section could be totally missing the mark. It is quite possible that more context is not needed for LeBron James' comment in the trailer of the show.
Author David Deida stated in his book titled, The Way of the Superior Man, “The Masculine grows by challenge.”
Living out a reality in which most people he encounters are probably prone to be fans of his basketball skill sets or sycophants because of his wealth, LeBron may genuinely appreciate someone that will unabashedly challenge him to evoke growth and improvement within him from the challenges.
LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players that ever lived, and one of the wealthiest people on planet earth, but the way he diets, trains, takes care of his body year round physically, and broadens his horizons to learn about a myriad of subject matters outside of basketball demonstrates that he is a man that realizes that he is not perfect and has room for improvement any given area of his life, just the same as the next person.
Leverage for Next Contract Negotiations with the Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James has been able to move the needle on television ratings and get people to fill arenas to watch him play basketball around the world. Going into the twentieth season of his career the status of his star power remains.
LeBron James may play in the city of stars in the latter stages of his career, but he's definitively a giant star amongst the constellation of stars.
Jeanie Buss and the rest of the brain trust that runs the Los Angeles Lakers organization certainly do not want to miss out on the opportunity to keep LeBron James in the fold with the franchise.
LeBron James may be sending a message to the Los Angeles Lakers front office that he is willing to explore other options in the event that the organization cannot build a roster capable of competing for an NBA championship.
LeBron James Utilizing Golden States Locale in Silicon Valley
LeBron James is a basketball savant. James' affinity for studying basketball and basketball history makes it reasonably plausible that LeBron James has a genuine respect and admiration for the way that the Golden State Warriors play basketball.
However, LeBron James is equally fond of building companies. LeBron James also welcomes abrupt change.
LeBron James notably left his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in what has become to be known in the sports lexicon as “The Decision.” He has since left the Miami Heat, and the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second time.
LeBron James is not overly concerned with remaining in familiar and comfortable surroundings. He cares about achieving goals and will change geographical locales if it is deemed necessary to achieve those goals.
From a basketball perspective, LeBron James on the Golden State Warriors would make them an odds favorite to win multiple NBA titles. The goal of winning more NBA championships will be a very achievable objective for LeBron James as his professional basketball career winds down.
LeBron James can also achieve more goals in the business arena while residing in Silicon Valley as he pivots to the post professional basketball stage of his life.
Signing to the Golden State Warriors would be a great basketball move for LeBron James, as he would not have to carry a team in his latter playing years.
From a business perspective he will have prolonged close proximity access to some of the best business and technological development minds in the world.
LeBron James is not playing chess or checkers with his comments. LeBron James is creating the necessary leverage to create the best opportunities to manifest purpose and maximize the opportunity for him to achieve personal, business, and family goals.
