CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 16: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers rallies his teammates in huddle prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena on December 16, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
LeBron James might be the most iconic basketball player of all time. Michael Jordan previously held that title, but the circumstances that surround James’ career are such that his impact on the world might actually be greater. We live in a world where athletes are so accessible due to social media, and James has embraced that and takes his role as a model for kids seriously.
LeBron is especially accessible, often putting out candid, unedited videos recorded on his mobile device on the Uninterrupted series with Bleacher Report. He frequently responds to political issues and tragedies that spark a conversation such as the Las Vegas shooting on his personal social media. All of this makes it come as no surprise that LeBron decided to wear special “equality” shoes in his game in Washington D.C. against the Washington Wizards.
LeBron James explains why he wore the black and white Nike Equality 15s against the Washington Wizards on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/917PzwP65V
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) December 18, 2017
“Obviously, we know where we are right now. We know who’s at the helm,” James said. “Us as Americans, no matter the skin color, no matter the race, no matter who you are, we all have to understand having equal rights and being able to stand for something, speak for something and keeping the conversation going.
“Obviously, I’ve been outspoken and well-spoken about what’s going on at the helm here. We’re never going to let one person dictate us Americans — how beautiful and how powerful we are as a people. Equality is all about understanding our rights, understanding what we stand for and how powerful we are as men, as women, black or white, or Hispanic. It don’t matter your race, whatever the case may be. This is a beautiful country.”
It was obviously a very calculated move to wear the LeBron 15 Equality PEs in our nation’s capital. LeBron has not been silent with his issues with our current president, especially on Twitter after Donald Trump called out NFL players for protesting the national anthem.
The King is in the middle of one of his best seasons ever, which is astonishing considering he’s in the 15th season of his career. He is one of the front runners for MVP and revitalized the now 23-9 Cleveland Cavaliers after a sluggish start to the season.
LeBron is third in points per game (28.2) and second in assists (9.3) per game. He is averaging 8.3 rebounds per game which would be the second highest mark of his career if sustained.
His efficiency is off the charts. LeBron is leading all star players with a .658 true shooting percentage. He is shooting 57.2 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from behind the three point line, both career highs, and that’s with taking more threes than he has since the 2009-10 season, his last in his first stint in Cleveland. The King’s 77.5 percent shooting from the free throw line is his best since the 2011-12 season.
There might not ever be a player of LeBron’s caliber again. His ability to sustain greatness for his entire career is uncharted territory. If he won an MVP this season or any other, he would be the first to do so in his 15th season or later. That would be one way to catch the ghost of MJ.
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