LeBron James’ achievements seem to come in overwhelming waves. When he won his first championship, Finals MVP and third league MVP in 2012, James went abroad to win Gold in the 2012 Olympics. The following year, he ruled the NBA all over again. When he dropped 41 against the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, he became the first player since Shaquille O’neal to repeat that level of a scoring performance the next game. After 12 years of legendary, unmistakable brilliance, James has earned dominion for the last decade, but no ambition has touched what he reached this year.
The franchise’s first NBA title ended Cleveland’s drought at a very exhaustive cost. No man has played as much basketball as LeBron James in the last six years, and while there’s no award for that, James understood after the Cavs Parade that it was time to step back and enjoy the moment.
“I could use the rest,” James said.
Informing Team USA through his agent, Rich Paul, James’ international records extend to multiple medals including consecutive gold medals. Per cleveland.com,
“He is one of three players to play on three Olympic teams, is among the select few to win an NBA championship and a gold medal in the same year (2012), and steps away as Team USA’s all-time leading scorer (273 points) and second-leading rebounder (95 rebounds). He owns one of two triple-doubles in Olympic history.”
Turning down Rio will be difficult and possibly a mid-life crisis for the 31-year old King, but we all know, he’s far from leaving the throne.