LeBron James' Legacy

I am not currently on any Schedule-3 narcotics.

James knows that he needs a championship to validate his growing legacy. It's not nearly enough that he drag Cleveland almost single-handedly to the Finals; all that makes him is Charles Barkley, or Allen Iverson.

No, to be truly great, to be the Chosen One that we've suspected/hoped he was, he must win a championship. In Cleveland.

Nothing would validate his greatness more appropriately.

He can't go to a team that's already got championship banners in the rafters. What, he's going to be Just Another Celtic?

I can just see it: LeBron goes to Philly, and there's the video tribute of Julius Erving passing a torch to Allen Iverson, who, grudgingly, gives it to LeBron.

LeBron goes to Chicago, stares at the statue of His Airness, only to get tapped on the shoulder. Michael Jordan, right now, challenges him to a game of one-on-one. (And don't think for one second that Jordan wouldn't do it...or that Jordan wouldn't take it as seriously as any of his Finals games.)

He could even go to Houston, where a sleeping Hakeem Olajuwon "dreams" of LeBron winning the title deep in the heart of Texas.

None of that will happen.

For all of the advantages that Kobe Bryant has over LeBron James, including four championships and a fairly rapid ascent up the career scoring ladder, Kobe Bryant will always be the latest Laker in a line that goes all the way back to George Mikan. Bryant isn't the most clutch Laker ever; that would be The Logo, Jerry West. Bryant isn't even the first aerial artist in franchise history; that distinction belongs to Elgin Baylor. Magic smiled more. Kareem scored more. Shaquille O'Neal might have been more valuable. Kobe has certainly carved himself a niche among the all-time greats...but he can't escape the shadow of the greatness of his franchise.

LeBron would have the distinction of being The Only Cavalier That Mattered. Ever. Up to this point, who are the greatest players in this benighted franchise's history? Mark Price? Brad Daugherty? Ron Harper? World B. Free?

Kobe Bryant would know something about this. Three of his four championships came with an in-his-prime Shaquille O'Neal demanding a double-team in the post. Critics rightly argue that Bryant got looks that Michael Jordan never got in Chicago because O'Neal would have scored 100 if he'd been left one-on-one in his destroy-all-things prime. It was only after his post-Shaq title that Bryant suddenly got elevated into the discussion of all-time greats.

If LeBron James brings a title to Cleveland right now, there would be no one else on the roster that could claim any of the credit. If Amare Stoudemire gets traded to this team (something being considered as this goes to print), the best he could ever be is Scottie Pippen to James' MJ. There would be no torch-passing, no video tributes from Cavalier champions past, no Hot Rod Williams throwback jerseys.

It would be all LeBron, all the time.

He'll get his money, without a doubt. If Michael Jordan could get the skinflints in Chicago to ante up, James will get paid whether its in Cleveland or somewhere else.

But his legacy...?

Even if he took less money to play for a loaded contender, it still wouldn't be the same as if he'd stayed in Cleveland and done the impossible. One thing we've forgotten about Jordan is that the Bulls were moderately awful before he arrived, great for most of his tenure, and moderately awful since he left, which only serves to highlight Jordan's individual brilliance. James could do the same in Cleveland.

I believe he will.