The 2010 offseason saw a seismic shift in the NBA landscape, particularly in the star player movement front, after LeBron James took his talents to South Beach. Creating a superteam of stars in their prime with the Miami Heat was unprecedented. However, it was far from a whimsical decision by James and the organization.
Before 2010, LeBron’s impending free agency was widely discussed in NBA circles. Even Michael Jordan shared in 2009 what he thought the former Cleveland Cavaliers superstar should do when asked about the possibility of James joining the New York Knicks the following year.
“He’s made his mark in Cleveland,” Jordan said. “I know New York fans would love to have him, but you need a lot more components than just one player. He’s done a heck of a job in Cleveland, and they deserve to have him there. He’s from that area.”
Jordan probably spoke from experience
James leaving Cleveland seemed like a long shot before the 2010 offseason. After all, he was the hometown hero, racking up individual accolades. In addition, superstars were expected to be loyal to the franchise that drafted them.
However, the Ohio native couldn’t steer the Cavs to a championship in his first seven seasons in the league. In contrast, MJ earned his first ring in his seventh campaign in Chicago.
It’s worth noting, though, that Jordan had several things that James didn’t, including a star teammate in Scottie Pippen and an elite coach in Phil Jackson. Still, “His Airness” believed staying in The Land was the best route for LeBron. He had several reasons to think so, given that his decision to stick through everything with the Chicago Bulls in his earlier and prime years resulted in six titles.
Jordan probably also had an underlying reason to encourage James to stay with a small-market team, as he owned one, the Charlotte Bobcats, at the time.
James’ surprising decision
To the shock of many, the legendary small forward chose Miami over the Cavs, Knicks, Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Jersey Nets. Obviously, it was met with much derision, including a sneaky criticism from MJ, who claimed he wouldn’t have thought of calling Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to play on one team.
In hindsight, the move proved fruitful for James, as he was finally able to get over the hump and clinch his first ring. It took him a year before finally becoming an NBA champion, though, because the Dallas Mavericks rained on his parade in the 2011 Finals.
We can only imagine how different the NBA would be had the four-time MVP listened to Jordan and others who advised him to stay home in Cleveland in the summer of 2010. He could have turned out to be a more beloved figure because of his loyalty, although his case in GOAT discussions probably wouldn’t be as strong as it is now.
