Enough of the debate about whether LeBron is better than Kobe - that debate ended a while ago.
LeBron has moved from the ranks of a good NBA player to The Next Michael Jordan.
He still has to win a few championships to cement his place as the next MJ, but he fits all the other criteria:
1. Very Good NBA player
2. Competitive to the point where winning is more important than individual awards
3. Capable of carrying a team of RPs on his back if necessary
4. Ratings draw on TV - must see TV
5. Very engaging charismatic and magnanimous personality
And most important Jordanesque feature - he is a guy that a lot of middle-class white guys believe would hang out with them.
I am not suggesting that LeBron is as good as Jordan was, and that will always be an apples to oranges comparison since they play different positions. But he has become the face and personality of the league - something no single player has been able to do since Jordan. He needs to win some championships to cement the new role, but I think those goals are in his sight, perhaps as soon as this year.
As dynamic a player as Kobe has been, he has never had the charisma and personality to be the face of the league. Too many people in the league, and casual fans, don't like Kobe as a teammate or a player. LeBron will draw the casual fan to a game in a similar fashion as Jordan. All kinds of companies - including non-sporting companies - would love for him to endorse their products. That will grow if he continues to win MVPs and starts to win championships.
Kobe could win a championship this year (and theoretically get out from under Shaq's shadow) but he will never be as loved as LeBron (or MJ).
LeBron has moved from the ranks of a good NBA player to The Next Michael Jordan.
He still has to win a few championships to cement his place as the next MJ, but he fits all the other criteria:
1. Very Good NBA player
2. Competitive to the point where winning is more important than individual awards
3. Capable of carrying a team of RPs on his back if necessary
4. Ratings draw on TV - must see TV
5. Very engaging charismatic and magnanimous personality
And most important Jordanesque feature - he is a guy that a lot of middle-class white guys believe would hang out with them.
I am not suggesting that LeBron is as good as Jordan was, and that will always be an apples to oranges comparison since they play different positions. But he has become the face and personality of the league - something no single player has been able to do since Jordan. He needs to win some championships to cement the new role, but I think those goals are in his sight, perhaps as soon as this year.
As dynamic a player as Kobe has been, he has never had the charisma and personality to be the face of the league. Too many people in the league, and casual fans, don't like Kobe as a teammate or a player. LeBron will draw the casual fan to a game in a similar fashion as Jordan. All kinds of companies - including non-sporting companies - would love for him to endorse their products. That will grow if he continues to win MVPs and starts to win championships.
Kobe could win a championship this year (and theoretically get out from under Shaq's shadow) but he will never be as loved as LeBron (or MJ).
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Why does ne need a bigger market - his market (in terms of advertising potential, and name recognition) is the World. He is an advertisers wet dream - out going personality, likable, fairly well spoken, etc.He does not need NY or LA, or even Chicago to make a name for himself.
