In case you missed it, the Washington Wizards won the NBA draft lottery Tuesday night, which means former Kentucky guard John Wall is expected to become the overall No. 1 pick in the league’s June draft.
In a slightly related development, Boston grabbed a 2-0 lead over Orlando with its second road win in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. The LA Lakers were also up a game on the Phoenix Suns heading into Wednesday night’s Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
So why the review of obvious facts? Just thought we’d provide you a bit of real news in the wake of the hot, new reality TV show “Dancing with LeBron.”
It’s as if the NBA has now become the LeBron James network, every news outlet dissecting the current Cleveland Cavalier’s next move. Will he tell his home state of Ohio goodbye and set sail for Chicago, New York or Miami, holding up those franchises and others as if his first name were Jesse instead of LeBron?
Does the James Gang now include current Kentucky coach John Calipari, who has been rumored to be part of a package deal, though Never Silent Cal has strongly denied that rumor?
Is James even considering playing for less to win a championship, since he keeps telling anyone, “All I care about is winning. That’s my only thing, my only concern.”
If that’s true, perhaps he’ll wind up in LA with the real king of the NBA — Kobe Bryant. They’ve already been a big hit as puppets in Nike commercials. Let them join forces and they’d become the puppet masters of the basketball universe.
It’s ridiculous, of course. All this hype over a guy who’s won the same number of NBA championships as the LA Clippers, Charlotte Bobcats, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Hornets combined.
In other words, zero.
Bigger. Faster. Stronger.
That’s the trifecta most often mentioned by all those LeBroniacs determined to make the case that James is one step up the evolutionary ladder from Michael Jordan.
And on physical stats alone it’s hard to dismiss that assertion. After all, James stands 6-8 and weighs 250 pounds. Jordan’s 6-6 and played most of his 15 professional seasons between 205 and 215.
But the real question regarding the would-be King James is whether or not bigger-faster-stronger leads to better. Especially in light of the LeBracle just turned in by the Cavs during their second-round playoff loss to Boston last week.
This is not to underrate the lordly Celtics. Just ask the Magic this morning.
But that’s still no excuse for the way James seemingly quit on his teammates in a game 5 home loss then reportedly quit obeying his coach down the stretch of the game 6 clincher in Beantown.
Yes, James was almost certainly hurting with a sore right elbow on his shooting arm against the Celtics. Yes, he obviously has less talent around him than Jordan ever did during his six title runs in Chicago. There are no Scottie Pippens on the Cavs. One can argue that they don’t even have a Dennis Rodman, Bill Cartwright or John Paxson.
Not to defend LeBron too much, but come the playoffs — where weaknesses in personnel and coaching are far more easily exposed — it has become clear that the James Gang is a one-man band.
Yet before His Heirness can replace His Airness as the greatest NBA player ever he’s going to need at least one ring.
To help accomplish this he has already declared he will quit copying Jordan’s No. 23 and instead wear former Celtic legend Bill Russell’s No. 6, since Russell won 11 title rings.
It would seem more appropriate, however, for James to wear No. 1. In part because that’s all he seems to care about and in part because he’s yet to win championship No. 1.
But given the entertainment world of today, there’s always a chance he could dance his way to a trophy if he can’t dunk his way to No. 1.
He could call it the LeBronba. Pardon Cavs fans if they all perfect their Limbo moves between now and the time James decides to stay or go.
E-mail Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com