How LeBron Re-Shaped his and Cleveland’s Legacy

Mathew Huff

6/27/16

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off the unthinkable in this year’s NBA Finals. Led by the chosen one, LeBron James, the Cavs were able to become the first team in NBA history to come from a 3 to 1 deficit in the finals and knock of the regular season record setting Golden State Warriors. What can easily go unnoticed is how easily LeBron’s legacy could have been tarnished along with Cleveland’s if they had lost this year. Let’s put this in perspective, if they had lost, LeBron would have been 2-5 in NBA Finals throughout his career, while the “Cleveland Curse,” would have continued for a 53^rd straight year adding to Cleveland sports fans suffering. LeBron definitely has his fair share of critics already, but if he had lost this year’s finals, a plethora of new critics would have come out of the woodwork. Instead, LeBron and the Cavs pulled off a remarkable feat of defeating a team that looked like they had outmatched Cleveland, was rivaling the 95-96 Bulls for the greatest team of all time, and making history of their own along the way. Not only did LeBron repair his legacy, he also reclaimed his throne as the greatest player on earth right now by clearly outplaying Steph Curry in all facets of the game. On top of that, the cherry on top was delivering his promise to the city of Cleveland, bringing them their first sports title in 52 years, and ending many years of disappointment and suffering. By aiding Cleveland in their quest for a NBA title, suddenly the Drive, the Fumble, and the Shot that added so much salt in Cleveland’s wounds have now been healed providing a new found sense of relief and excitement that Cleveland has not felt in a half of a decade. LeBron is now being put in the discussion with the NBA greats again with Magic, Jordan, Kareem, and his fellow NBA peers of Kobe and Duncan. Suddenly the greatest of all time debates have heated up again, and Cleveland sports fans are rejoicing in what may be one of the most impressive NBA Finals victory in NBA history.