On July 8, 2010, LeBron James changed the landscape of the NBA for years to come with a few simple words. To this day I don’t even know what words came out of LeBron’s mouth after he said he was taking his talents to South Beach. LeBron James' 'The Decision' remains one of the worst sports breakups in history Charlotte Wilder & Mark Titus remember LeBron James' infamous breakup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. And all James did then was announce on national television that he was going to a different team. Ten years ago, LeBron James made "The Decision" to "take my talents to south beach," namely departing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. Ten years ago, LeBron James announced his decision to take his 'talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat' on national television. That was in 2010, when James, after seven seasons in Cleveland, said during a special on ESPN titled “The Decision” that he was taking his talents to Miami, to play for the Heat. The Heat got two rings. The only thing cooler than The Decision was the Heat’s welcome party for the Big Three the next night. “I also don’t think that every issue should be everybody’s problem.”. That type of spectacle is not needed in today's media landscape, but it is understandable why James chose to go that route. “He knew that it wasn’t about him,” James said, referring to Ali, adding that Ali knew that he would receive backlash and might go to jail. The issues of China and protests in Hong Kong are far different from N.B.A. The Decision was made by LeBron James during a one hour televised broadcast that built to this moment. There was no urgency to be good right away and look for quick fixes. Three players tested positive or had inconclusive COVID-19 tests, and through contact tracing, four additional players are now quarantined. One said: “FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.”, James, one of the greatest players in N.B.A. It was 10 years ago today that the most anticipated free-agency period in NBA history began, culminating on July 8, 2010, with The Decision and LeBron James announcing that he was taking … James has carefully cultivated an image of willingness to engage with political issues throughout his career, including stands on police shootings and a high-profile endorsement for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016. Lewis is finishing his second season as co-defensive coordinator at Arizona State under head coach Herm Edwards. Widely considered one of the greatest NBA players in history, James is frequently compared to Michael Jordan in debates over the greatest basketball player of all time. Several Chinese companies cut ties with the Rockets. I feel just as great about The Decision today as I did on July 8, 2010. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to … James’s announcement to head to Miami to pair with Dwyane … How should we feel about LeBron James's decision to head to the Miami Heat 10 years later? On July 8, 2010, LeBron James changed the landscape of the NBA for years to come with a few simple words. 2020 has been full of unprecedented obstacles, sadness, revitalization and triumph, and that's been represented across multiple levels of the beautiful game. Protesters hold photographs of LeBron James in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Was he supposed to trust Dan Gilbert with his peak years? The Houston Rockets are reportedly working with the NBA office to review a video of James Harden at a club. Second, they could build through the draft–and they were bad, which meant good picks. James’s announcement to head to Miami to pair with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh changed the course of the media landscape and ignited the player movement era that inspired guys like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and more. Last month, Gov. Chris Mannix and Howard Beck on the on the start of the 2021 NBA season and more! Am 8. In Hong Kong, protesters turned images of James into memes — including a depiction showing him embracing Chinese cash. LeBron got to do his thing with his pals. LeBron James Tried To Get NBA Champ To Take Pay Cut To Join Cavs Before “The Decision” ATLANTA - DECEMBER 29: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on December 29, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. But James and Carter, who sat down for two extensive conversations, have more to say. His business empire has expanded past basketball and into entertainment, with his name helming dozens of television and film projects. 'The Decision' revisited: How LeBron James used free agency to empower players to control their own narratives James was the first superstar to announce his decision … Via that show he did with Jim Gray on ESPN, James raised 3.5 million U.S. dollars and donated all the money to charity. (Farewell, Shaq and Antawn Jamison.) (That led to one of the most unfortunate covers in recent SI history; we had a great Shaq story and threw him on the cover when Cleveland was up 2–1; three straight L’s and we looked pretty dumb. Much like LeBron’s career as a whole, The Decision wasn’t perfect, but our lives are all more interesting for having experienced it. We’re not talking about money. When LeBron James attempted to bypass traditional media channels with 'The Decision,' fans were practically hardwired to reject it. The Decision was made by LeBron James during a one hour televised broadcast on ESPN. That’s because I was too busy cheering, screaming, hugging friends, and calling family members in the immediate aftermath of his announcement. LeBron James’ ”The Decision” show produced one of the most memorable moments in South Florida sports history. In fact, everyone I had a conversation with was excited to see where he would go and if it would be their team (Sorry Knicks fans). Fans who accused James of cowardice also charged him with hypocrisy. The word Judas was bandied about liberally. LeBron James führt die Lakers nach dem Tod von Kobe Bryant zum Ziel und überzeugt auch als Wortführer gegen Ungerechtigkeit. Der SPORT1-Kommentar. But in some ways, James’s history with activism has been as enigmatic as it has been common. / Are you ready to go LeBron? We’re talking about people’s lives being lost and that means a lot more to me than some money or a contract.”. Nearly 10 years after LeBron James announced his decision to play for the Miami Heat on a live show on ESPN titled “The Decision,” the network revealed on Saturday that the idea for the show actually came from a fan. While James announced his decision to join Miami Heat, 'The Decision' TV special faced a lot of backlash, as people accused the current Los Angeles Lakers star of being selfish and seeking the spotlight.As per recent reports, the NBA star came to regret his decision immediately after it aired. Following the decision from Netflix, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James praised the company for taking down the show. In 2010, LeBron James went live on television to announce his departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Moving to Miami may be the best thing he ever did. In other parts of the country, it was a moment some would like to forget. Thank you very much. Free NBA Tickets: tinyurl.com/hothoopsA compilation of the best reactions after LeBron James announced his decision to join the Miami Heat. LeBron James The Decision: Backstory of The Decision. ‘The Decision’ was heavily criticized at the time, especially because LeBron was leaving his hometown team Cavaliers in such an unprecedented fashion. Yes, in July 2010, LeBron James announced on live television that he would leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and sign with the Miami Heat. LeBron Raymone James Sr. (/ l ə ˈ b r ɒ n /; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). We’re not talking about contracts here. Not to mention the whole production foreshadowed the modern age of sports media a bit and we all have talked about LeBron nearly every day since. The LeBron James, Anthony Davis factor in Kyle Kuzma’s extension decision NBA Rockets star James Harden’s spicy IG post right after Adam Silver comments on trade request Shai Werts had three touchdown runs and threw a 65-yard scoring pass to help Georgia Southern beat Louisiana Tech 38-3. Ultimately, the Heat's 'Big Three' was a trio to remember—from the highlights, friendships and the iconic photo capturing Dwyane Wade celebrating James's dunk. For some reason they added in Shaq at the last minute, and then crashed out of the playoffs against the Celtics. Despite that, this was the very first time that a player was so vocal about his decision and called the shots. The program was an opportunity to boost his brand and drew intrigue from a large audience. On this day, ten years ago, ESPN aired “The Decision” by LeBron James. The Cavs shipped Williams to the Clippers for an unprotected pick (and Baron Davis’s edible contract), which turned into Kyrie Irving. LeBron James became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010, after playing seven seasons with the Cavaliers. Ironically, by the end of James’s second stint in Cleveland, the Cavs sort of felt like the 2010 team. And yet, the potential harm to James’s business interests caused by Morey’s Twitter post cannot reasonably be separated from his criticism of the general manager. Even a fellow player, Enes Kanter, a center for the Boston Celtics known to be politically outspoken, posted tweets that appeared to be directed toward James without naming him. Multiple lawmakers, including Rick Scott and Josh Hawley — two Republican senators — criticized James for seemingly blaming Morey for the Chinese government’s actions. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Everybody is on pins and needles across the country, particularly those teams who are in the running for LeBron James. It may seem hard to believe, but The Decision was just over 10 years ago. An upcoming episode of Backstory confirms that the idea behind ESPN's The Decision show came not from LeBron James but from a fan identified only as … It was an unusual position for one of the most popular athletes in the world. As an unbiased journalist in a jet-lagged haze wandering around JFK, I found it intriguing. Juli 2010 verkündet LeBron James seinen Wechsel von den Cleveland Cavaliers zu den Miami Heat. Jetzt wurde enthüllt, dass die NBA in Person von Ex-Boss Stern die Show sogar verhindern wollte. And I remember nodding along in giddy agreement as LeBron rattled off how many championships he expected to win in Miami. James was maligned as a narcissist by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, in a letter that was widely mocked. Or that The Decision was the brainchild of a group of 20-somethings trying to shake up the traditional media model. James’ show was a seminal moment for that reason. Maybe not. Nine years after “The Decision,” there are other cultural forces at play: Social media use is much more ubiquitous. Speaking at practice on Tuesday, James said he was aware of some negative reaction toward him but did not feel a need to connect with every global geopolitical issue. Which is why I believe the Miami Heat pep rally actually rubbed more people the wrong way. Was it cruel to Cleveland? ESPN's exclusive broadcast of Lebron James' choice, "The Decision," was not Lebron… Plus, and this shouldn’t be forgotten either, it was decade-altering decision on the court. Ultimately, in the grand scheme of things it is hard to say it was a mistake, as James went to eight straight NBA Finals, became a champion in Miami and then made things right with Cleveland. © 2020 ABG-SI LLC. James was roundly criticized for the segment, which sparked a wide range of emotions among Cavaliers fans, many of whom burned LeBron jerseys in effigy. Fans called him out for chasing a ring, while others thought this would end his career. NBA I don’t think it needed an hour, or 437 questions from Jim Gray before LeBron got to his infamous “I’m taking my talents to South Beach” line. If you don't remember, James was arguably the greatest free agent in NBA history. How LeBron James' Infamous Decision Changed The League Forever NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Kevin Arnovitz, an NBA writer for ESPN, about how LeBron James' decision … On the Chinese mainland, his comments have been met with enthusiasm. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Kevin Arnovitz, an NBA writer for ESPN, about how LeBron James' decision to take his talents to South Beach 10 years ago has changed the league. Anthony Wallace/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images. Fans may have been upset that James did not choose their team on The Decision, but ultimately he accomplished what he was trying to achieve. But James has operated under the kind of microscope no athlete in history has had to contend with and this often cited as his greatest gaffe. LeBron James’ TV special The Decision largely defined the 2010s in the NBA. To be able to have Chris Bosh and then LeBron James, to welcome us to his team, it's not about an individual here. After all, the Chinese buy sneakers, too. “I think when the issue comes up, if you feel passionate about it or you feel like it’s something you want to talk about, then so be it,” James said. In 2010, LeBron James went live on television to announce his departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers. While James announced his decision to join Miami Heat, 'The Decision' TV special faced a lot of backlash, as people accused the current Los Angeles Lakers star of being selfish and seeking the spotlight.As per recent reports, the NBA star came to regret his decision immediately after it aired. As for James' choice to leave the Cavaliers for the first time, it is difficult to say it was the wrong decision. It’s why he paired with a master wordsmith like Lee Jenkins in 2014 to announce his intention to return to Cleveland. After much build up during “The Decision” special on ESPN, James … LeBron James Faces Backlash Unseen Since ‘The Decision’ The issues of China and protests in Hong Kong are far different from N.B.A. All of that has combined to build him into a figure with arguably unparalleled influence in the history of the league. After the 2018 Finals, it was almost a relief that he left; the prospect of watching the Cavs inevitably lose to the Warriors again and again was too much. The way James went about The Decision will likely never be replicated, and with good reason. Of course. Ten years ago, LeBron James announced his decision to take his 'talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat' on national television. Andy Hall Follow on Twitter June 22, 2020. Would James do it again? After spending seven years in Cleveland, James made the decision to move to South Beach, along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Somewhere in my 2011 Facebook feed is a conspiracy theory that the NBA would rig that year’s lottery for Cleveland to offset the loss of James. Fans in Cleveland burned his jersey. If anything, The Decision—which raised money for charity!—was ahead of its time. The backlash to The Decision always mystified me. Prescient, but even then I didn’t think they’d get the top pick three times in four years. It may seem hard to believe, but The Decision was just over 10 years ago. James immediately regretted the ESPN TV special, which generated considerable backlash among fans across the NBA, who reacted by burning James' Cleveland Cavaliers jersey and calling the star out on social media. 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