Miami Heat’s LeBron James reacts during the first half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff basketball series against the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, May 11, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)When it comes to LeBron James, it may be time to evoke five words no parent – or National Basketball Association general manager, for that matter – ever wants to hear:
Doesn’t play well with others.
Just sayin’. Some guys make others around them better (Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan come to mind). Others don’t (think Patrick Ewing, Amare Stoudemire and Dominique Wilkins).
The first group is dripping with championships (18 total). The second has none.
This isn’t to tattoo James with the latter label, despite his subpar efforts throughout the Miami Heat’s loss to Dallas in this year’s NBA finals. But when you’ve just completed your eighth year in the league – and your first with two All-Star teammates who each played better than you against the Mavericks – well … you just may be more of a show pony than an alpha dog.